<< Background >>Αbout 820 million people around the world experience chronic hunger while among them 113 million cope with acute severe insecurity (FAO, 2019), with the estimations being more adverse due to the consequences of COVID-19) pandemic. Furthermore, regarding data from the EU prevalence of food insecurity significantly increased from 9.4% (2007) to 12.2% (2011), with substantially higher rates in Eastern Europe, Cyprus, and Greece. Overall, food insecurity rose in 23 countries and declined in only 4 (Garratt, 2019, Loopstra et al., 2016). According to the first estimates of the World Food Program and FAO (WFP 2020; IFAD et al. 2020), the COVID-19 pandemic could almost double the number of people suffering acute hunger. In fact, the COVID-19 crisis has already brought a new food emergency in Europe, increasing the demand for food up to 50% compared to the pre-coronavirus period, with negative future expectations; over 90% of European Food Banks have reported increasing emergency food assistance demands, due to the rising number of people in need (FEBA, 2020). This is also doubly the case, given the growing expectations of a global recession to not leave anyone behind including vulnerable groups, as part of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations. SUST-AID program recognizes to address the following needs: (1) enhance capacity of food-aid programs in Europe to provide sustainable food-aid of good quality and maximizing the positive impact and social inclusion of vulnerable populations. Even though some European initiatives aim to enhance the capacity of food assistance programs there is a lack of up-to-date relevant policy on the optimal operation of such programs and service quality that incorporate the sustainability aspect. In Southern and Eastern Europe information remains scarce, even though both the need and provision of sustainable food aid are extensive.(2) promote action in line with the SDGs: Τhe project identifies the inter linkages among provision of food aid that ensures sustainable production and consumption patterns in accordance with four main dimensions: health (well-balanced diets), social (cultural habits, social value), economic (better income for producer and consumer accessibility) and environment (green skills development, minimization of food waste). (3) increase nutritional, green and management skills of staff and volunteers of food-aid programs. At the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis 42% of European Food Banks declared a need of volunteers and/or employees. Almost 70% of them managed to find new human resources and over 50% declared that they would continue to involve these new young volunteers in Food Banks’ activities for the months to come (FEBA, 2020). Given the ever-increasing numbers of new employees and volunteers involved in the implementation of such programs there is an emerging need to enhance the vocational capacity of staff and volunteers through innovative VET tools. The aim is to increase their knowledge in regard to nutritional value of food, crucial issues such as food safety and hygiene, green skills development, sustainable food choices accounting for beneficiaries’ needs and preferences, as well as environmental impact of food production and delivery.<< Objectives >>To the best of our knowledge, thematically similar projects implemented with EU funds are scarce.The SUST-AID project will cover the current gaps and needs in knowledge, training and skills by developing and evaluating a VET program for the delivery of sustainable food aid programs. Therefore, participating partners, including NGOs, welfare organizations, and religious organizations are aspired to be empowered with practical knowledge and tools to deliver optimal and sustainable food aid programs for vulnerable populations across Europe. Specific objectives: - Empower staff/volunteers working in food aid delivery programs in offering high quality services to vulnerable populations, in accordance with sustainable production and consumption principles and practices. -Improve green skills acquisition and maximize employ ability opportunities for those who work or wish to work in food aid delivery in Europe -Provide innovative VET pedagogical methods, best practice guidelines, and strategies on delivering high quality, sustainable food aid programs. -Provide innovative VET training curriculum and tools for assessment of skills acquisition, recognition and validation. -Enhance partner capabilities in developing/delivering relevant training. PrRslts Specific Objectives PrRslt1 1.To implement country-specific participatory research (co-creation sessions) using qualitative and quantitative methods (online survey) in all consortium countries and other EU countries (upon potentials) with the aim to specify and present level of knowledge, perceptions, attitudes, self-efficacy, and perceived norms of staff and volunteers working in food aid development and delivery. 2. To develop a Methodology Guide for SUST-AID training program. This will include evaluation and determination of: - knowledge gaps and needs, barriers and difficulties faced in the daily practice of the target group; - main aspects related to sustainable food aid to be included in the training curriculum; - methods and tools to be included in the training curriculum; - key competencies and critical points which the target group should improve after the training. - key factors for getting successful knowledge transference to the target group in terms of trainingapproach. - specifications and approach of the training modules. - technical specifications and approach of the e-learning platform (PrRslt3) in terms of accessibility, usability and applications to be included. PrRslt2 To create, develop and evaluate the SUST-AID training curriculum package, i.e. the training modules, materials and tools that will be used to train staff and volunteers working in food-aid, with the aim to provide them with the appropriate skills for implementing sustainable food-aid programs. PrRslt3 To provide the End Users with the potential to participate in learning activities and to communicate with other learners and instructors, as the platform will also be a central point for exchange of information and ideas (peer-to-peer support); 1. To design and develop an interactive e-learning platform, which will be easily accessible to all interested parties; PrRslt4 1. To provide the End Users with the key competences and skills to educate staff and volunteers working in food-aid towards sustainable food-aid delivery; 2. To shape country-specific policies in terms of food-aid delivery providing input on the actual needs and gaps of the SUST-AID target group through a. a participatory research, b. a co-creation of the training curriculum and c. evaluation of the efficiency of novel training practices.<< Implementation >>The core activities of SUST-AID include: Management activities: are intended for assuring the successful and timely organization, development and realization of all the planned activities. Project Results activities: (1) Co-Created Methodological Guide for people working in food aid development and delivery (PrRslt1). Co-creation activities including qualitative and quantitative research (online survey), will ensure that training will fit the requirements and needs of staff and volunteers of food-aid programs when consortium partners will develop PrRslt2 and PrRslt3. In more detail the aim of this activity is to specify and present the level of knowledge, perceptions, attitudes, self-efficacy, and perceived norms ofstaff and volunteers working in food aid development and delivery. (2) SUST-AID Training package development (PrRslt2). The training package will outline innovative VET pedagogical methods and best practice guidelines to enhancegreen skills, minimize food waste, innovative approaches to create sustainable, local and nutritious food and sustainable food processing and packaging strategies. A training manual, power point presentations and other tools such as videos, case studies, exercises, glossary, reading material per subject, study visits etc will be developed. The training package will also include skill acquisition for communication with diverse cultural and religious populations aiming at social inclusion. (3) SUST-AID e-learning platform (PrRslt3). The platform will provide training modules and assessment tools to evaluate user performance and communication and networking tools to help members create thematic community groups.(4) Guidance for VET trainers and food aid program leaders (PrRslt4). The results of this activity will be specific guidelines for implementing the gained knowledge. This activity is expected to efficiently improve capacity building of VET trainers, food-aid leaders and policy makers to better equip and train staff and volunteers working in food-aid. Learning, Teaching, Training Activities: Vocational Education and Training activities (C1 & C2). Through these activities professionals working in the delivery of food aid and staff and volunteers from participating organizations will be trained, and the training materials pilot tested. Dissemination activities: This activity will ensure that the project results and outputs are promoted to a wide audience of stakeholders at EU level. Activities include the development of newsletters, leaflets,press releases, etc). This activity also includes the implementation of National Info Days and the EU Symposium. Evaluation activities: This activity will ensure that the project is being implemented according to the agreed methodology, timeline and objectives.Technicians will support the researchers with tasks such as creation of tables/figures based on literature review, traslation of questionnaires, technical support (eg google forms creation), etc.<< Results >>Upon completion of this project, we expect the following outcomes: 1. Increased awareness of staff and volunteers working in food-aid regarding: a) the specific key pillars for sustainable food-aid delivery, b) the specific training needs of people who work in food aid provision c) the specific susceptibilities and nutritional needs of vulnerable populations (migrants/refugees, students, elderly, families in need, homeless), d) the need for an inter-disciplinary approach in food aid provision to achieve social inclusion. 2. Acquired new knowledge about providing food aid to vulnerable populations across EU, by enhancing the capacity of the participating organizations, staff/training participants and other relevant stakeholders. Beneficiaries of food aid programs are expected to benefit in the long term from high quality programs, which consider sustainability and promote justice and social inclusion. The ultimate outcome of the project is to gradually incorporate SUST-AID project results into formal and informal systems of training, into daily working methods used by service providers, and into the learning experience of staff and volunteers working in food aid programs. Exploitation of existing network of collaboration among partners and beyond the consortium will facilitate these efforts.Furthermore, the results of SUST-AID for the partner institutions include: Increased awareness (regarding the training possibilities in EU countries) for the partners' representatives and professional communities from the project partner countries; Enhanced competences, knowledge, skills and attitudes of the participants of the C1 and C2 trainings in the field of food aid delivery; Enhanced competences of other users registering on the e-learning platform and using the materials; Increased awareness (regarding the developed training possibilities) of all national participants attending the multiplier events and the EU info days; Increased awareness (from the project results and the e-learning platform) for the professional communities from the countries visiting the web pages of the project partners.