Nexus-SDG Toolkit as a Serious Game
Creators: name: Draxis Environmental Technologies (Greece)
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2024

description: LENSES Project aims to enhance system understanding, gather and structure knowledge to unravel complexity and manage uncertainty in WEF systems, with their dynamic evolution. To build resilient Nexus systems that recognize climatic, social, technological or environmental change, it is important to assess how actions in one area may affect the coordination of institutions and policies for resource management in another area.

The "Nexus-SDG Toolkit as a Serious Game" is an online, role-playing simulation game that focuses on the challenges related to WEF ΝΕΧUS management and the implementation of Nature-Based Solutions (NBS), while promotes the Nexus paradigm, particularly in the context of the Water-Ecosystems-Food (WEF) Nexus and its alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This toolkit offers a comprehensive and interactive platform designed to engage a diverse range of stakeholders in exploring and addressing complex environmental challenges.The Nexus-SDG Serious Game is designed to accommodate varying numbers of participants, ranging from a single player to multiple players. This flexibility allows the game to be used in different contexts, from individual learning to group workshops. Importantly, the game does not impose geographical restrictions, making it accessible to users from any location. Additionally, the data and information that has been used and integrated in the toolkit are based on Mediterranean pilot cases, something that adds a unique value, making it particularly relevant and beneficial for addressing the specific challenges of Mediterranean regions. Furthermore, the game is developed to be used by a wide range of stakeholders, including farmers, water resource managers, policymakers, environmental NGOs, and other relevant groups, with each participant tto represent a specific role that reflects real-world stakeholder positions in WEF Nexus management. This role-playing aspect is crucial for fostering a deeper understanding of the diverse perspectives and challenges faced by different stakeholders, ultimately leading to more informed and integrated decision-making processes by the use of NBS. The game can be also enhanced by the presence of a moderator who can guide discussions and facilitate the gaming process, however a moderator is not mandatory in order the game to be played, which provides more flexibility. The game is fully functional as a single-player experience, allowing individuals to independently explore scenarios, make decisions, and learn from the outcomes. This autonomy makes the toolkit a versatile educational resource, suitable for both self-directed learning and structured group sessions. Furthermore, it can be used also as an educational resource for vocational or academic training BSc, MSc level in the fields of environmental management, agriculture, water resources, and policy-making. By simulating real-world scenarios and linking NBS to SDG outcomes, it helps participants understand the complex trade-offs and co-benefits associated with different policy choices. This educational aspect is particularly valuable for capacity-building among current and future decision-makers involved in sustainable management practices but also for farmers in order to enhance their understanding on the perspective of the WEF NEXUS and the NBS.

Number of players: One to many 

Ages: 15-105

Target users: WEF stakeholders (e.g. farmers, water users, policy makers, NGOs), all citizens aiming to learn more on the WEF Nexus management towards sustainable development.   

Type: Online simulation game    

Genre: Role-playing, singe-multiplayer, strategy   

Duration: 15’-60’ (depending on the number of players) 

Story

In the Water-Ecosystems-Food (WEF) Nexus systems that societies depend on, intricate challenges are posed significantly influencing current and future landscape. These interconnections call for sustainable strategies to foster our societies' resilience. As a society, it is essential that we build a deep understanding of these systems and their interconnections, as well as to explore ways to alleviate stressors and enhance resilience. In the Nexus-SDG Serious game, players have the unique opportunity to collectively analyze WEF-related indicators specific to a chosen area. Their task involves identifying challenges and strategically selecting Nature-Based Solutions (NBS), based on the co-benefits and trade-offs created. The ultimate target is to maximize collection of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) coins. The Game debrief provides a valuable learning experience, allowing players to gain insights from the collaborative decision-making process and to prioritize the selected NBS.   The Nexus-SDG serious game is an online role-playing simulation game where players move from mere observers of the Nexus challenges to becoming pivotal actors within it. Working collaboratively in teams, players will make strategic decisions in response to diverse Nexus challenges.

 

Objectives



Address WEF NEXUS challenges in the selected pilot areas in the most effective way.

Select those set of NBS that maximize contribution to SDGs, supplied ecosystem services, co-benefits and trade-offs among the WEF systems.

Make salient decisions in collaboration with other stakeholders while exploiting valuable information on the WEF Nexus challenges.


 

Game Instructions: 



Participants select the area for which they want to play the game.

In the next step, participants are divided into teams of stakeholder groups, depending on their role. 

The game has 5 stages. In every stage, all players/stakeholder groups play in their turn, before proceeding to the next stage.

Players in teams discuss the topics and make critical decisions to deal with the challenges they face and the opportunities offered. 

At the end of the whole game participants can observe the results of their decisions in the Game Report and prioritize them, based on the synergies and co-benefits achieved.


  Gameplay Rules: 



Each group may select at least one Challenge in Stage Challenge selection.

Each group may select at least one System in Stage System selection.

Each group may select at least one NBS in Stage NBS selection.

In every game set, a maximum of 15 NBS may be selected.


 

 



LENSES project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme, specifically the Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA Foundation), under grant agreement No 2041.