Supporting quotes for the five identified motivators for establishing CSEPs
| Theme | Quote |
| 1. Shortage of PPE | ‘The only protective equipment available were plastic gloves, so I started researching protective equipment, and found that face shields might be an alternative… That’s how I started producing face shields for a family member, which expanded to other organizations.’ (practical CSEP) |
| 2. Government not taking appropriate or too little action | ‘I was very frustrated that nothing happened in the first few weeks, and that there were many difficulties in collaboration between municipalities. So at a certain point we said, let’s just start our own platform.’ (practical CSEP) |
| 3. Lack of expert and societal diversity in epidemic management | ‘We noticed that perspectives of other groups in society received more attention than ours did. So therefore we created our own stage, our own place, which became this practice.’ (CSEP, representing a societal group) |
| 4. Lack of democratic values in epidemic management | ‘It was unimaginable for me that debate could not take place while very drastic measures were implemented and there was such a complicated political situation. When a situation is complicated and measures are necessary, you have to be able to disagree.’(CSEP, conceptualization of epidemic management) |
| 5. Sense of solidarity | ‘…You have developed a certain skill and suddenly the world is confronted with a threat and you want to do something. You want to do good. I noticed this in the people who joined our practice and worked for free.’ (practical CSEP) |
CSEPs, civil-society engagement practices; PPE, personal protective equipment.