The PASEO project intends to strengthen capacities for the promotion of health through physical activity among sedentary older people in 15 nations. Nations are represented by a scientific institution (associated partner) and (in most nations) a (non-) governmental institution (coll. Partner). Capacity strengthening will focus primarily on building intersectoral structures and intraorganisational means for the promotion of physical activity among sedentary older people. Mechanisms to strengthen capacities are intended to be sustained after the project has ended.
PASEO will assist in co-ordinating and standardising efforts for the promotion of physical activity among sedentary older people in the EU. Especially relevant, PASEO might assist in balancing physical activity promotion efforts across the life-span. Also, PASEO will contribute to mutual learning among the participating nations.
Means of strengthening capacity are (1) assessing existing capacities through qualitative interviews with experts and policy-makers, (2) setting up national alliances (or, alternatively, extending existing alliances) with relevant governmental and nongovernmental organisations through bilateral talks, (3) developing and implementing actions to strengthen capacities through a cooperative planning process with the national alliances in each participating nation, and (4) monitoring the impact of the implementation of these actions on capacities through qualitative interviews, document analysis, and data collection based on the evaluation framework proposed for the Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity, and Health of the WHO.
PASEO expects to succeed in setting up national alliances (or extending existing alliances), which will attempt to agree on and implement actions to strengthen capacities for the promotion of physical activity among sedentary older people.