A review of policy strategies around the world through the lens of Wellbeing, Inclusion, and Sustainability

This report explores policy strategies and initiatives from Africa, China, the EU, Latin America, the US, and the Wellbeing Economy Governments (WEGo), by employing a conceptual framework based on the Brundtland and Stiglitz-Sen-Fitoussi report. This “WISE” framework distinguishes the dimensions of wellbeing (wellbeing of current generations), inclusion (distribution of wellbeing), and sustainability (wellbeing of future generations). It also considers the economy, viewed as a means to achieve these dimensions rather than as a goal itself. The aim of this report is to gain understanding of how WISE aspects are being integrated within the policy debate worldwide and the underlying narratives within political priorities, goals, and policies. We also aim to provide insights for the development of the WISE theoretical framework and models that will be developed in the WISE Horizons project. We find that the WISE lens is useful for investigating policies through a broader, more holistic perspective, avoiding focusing only on economic concepts with their limited scope or those that might be specific to certain locations. This is in line with the need for context-sensitive policies and approaches. Our analysis reveals that while most reviewed policy strategies relate to aspects of wellbeing, inclusion, and sustainability, these dimensions are not fully integrated in a comprehensive and balanced manner. Overall, despite global and regional diversity, it is possible to find some common ground. In terms of sustainability, the environmental dimension takes primary emphasis in most policy strategies. The report argues that the concept of sustainability needs to be further expanded to cover a broader range of topics around future generations. Inclusion is frequently emphasised, particularly in terms of poverty, inequality, and protection of vulnerable groups. However, the spatial dimension of inclusion beyond borders, i.e. considering the distribution of global wellbeing, is rare. Wellbeing is relevant in many but not all policy strategies and it mostly lacks holistic integration. Wellbeing often refers to living conditions, health, education, housing, employment, and energy availability. Aside from material considerations, cultural aspects, and heritage (especially in Africa, China, and Latin America), life satisfaction (especially in the WEGo and Latin America), and quality of the environment are mentioned. The interlinkage between WISE dimensions is evident, with the potential to reinforce (win-win) or hamper (trade-oȨs) each other. For example, using mineral revenues to enhance wellbeing today may compromise future wellbeing, while prioritising sustainability could limit wellbeing current. Peace is another example of a factor cutting across both present and future wellbeing, and its distribution. The demographic dimension emerged as an important aspect in all regions as well, encompassing variations in rural-urban settings, age structure (aging or youthful population), population density, migration etc. We will delve deeper into these aspects while advancing the WISE framework. Finally, the governance dimension also emerges as an important aspect from our analysis. In short, while WISE dimensions mostly address the what, there should also be attention given to the how. This includes looking at policymaking processes, policy implementation, and institutional structures

Tourism as an income earner

The International Tourist Research Centre (University of Botswana) has developed a four part program to explore the development of tourism for the wellbeing of African communities. One part of this program is concerned with exploring the value of tourism as an income earner and th is background document sets forth a style of study and some key content areas for that exploratory journey. It highlights the need for researchers to be partners with specific businesses rather than preach to the industry sector as a whole. It emphasises the multi-faceted nature of sustainability and suggests that the partnership motif must apply across the centre's programs as well as externally. The importance of considering lhe research and tourism context of ench African country is stressed. The main stakeholders with whom the researchers and lTRC must work are identified. Adopting a final content focus the document suggests three areas for attention; the close analysis of the income directly and indirectly generated by tourism, the distribution of costs and benefits associated with that income and the need to study the assets and capabilities of communities

Economic valuation of communal rangelands in Botswana A case study

Collaborative Research in the Economics of Environment and Development (CREED) is a joint initiative of the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), London and the Institute for Environmental Studies (IVM), Amsterdam. Includes bibliographical references. English text, with abstracts in English, French and SpanishSIGLEAvailable from British Library Document Supply Centre- DSC:3487. 296412(no 17) / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreGBUnited Kingdo