I recently introduced readers to the concept of human flourishing, a holistic approach to human well-being championed by Harvard’s Human Flourishing Programme. This concept advocates for more than economic prosperity — it encompasses happiness, health, purpose, relationships and stability, aiming to create societies where individuals and communities thrive across multiple dimensions.
The question that naturally arises is: how do we measure such a comprehensive ideal in real-world settings, especially within unique socio-economic contexts like Zimbabwe?
The Flourishing Measure, devised through research at Harvard’s Institute for Quantitative Social Science, provides a systematic approach to assessing human well-being across five primary domains — happiness and life satisfaction, mental and physical health, meaning and purpose, character and virtue and close social relationships. Additionally, financial and material stability acts as a supporting domain, necessary for sustaining well-being across the other areas.
This article examines the importance of measuring these elements in Zimbabwe, exploring how such assessments can guide decision-making and development strategies toward genuine, sustainable progress.
The Flourishing Measure
Professor Tyler J VanderWeele’s (2017) work on the Flourishing Measure underscores the complexity of human well-being, advocating for a multi-dimensional approach to measurement. Each of the six domains within the Flourishing Measure represents critical aspects of what it means to live a fulfilled life:
Happiness and life satisfaction
Mental and physical health: Essential for functional and resilient communities.
Meaning and purpose: Vital for a sense of direction and motivation.
Character and virtue: Necessary for ethical societies with strong moral foundations.
Close social relationships: Critical for social support and community cohesion.
Financial and material stability: Provides the foundation for all other flourishing domains.
Unlike purely economic indicators like GDP, the Flourishing Measure views well-being holistically, recognising that a fulfilling life is multi-faceted and not merely defined by income or material wealth. These insights are especially relevant for Zimbabwe, where economic challenges coexist with rich cultural, social and moral values that shape the everyday lives of Zimbabweans. Using this tool, Zimbabwe can evaluate and address areas that impact the holistic well-being of its citizens, guiding policy and development initiatives in ways that build resilient, human-centred communities.
Applying the Flourishing Measure
For Zimbabwe, the Flourishing Measure offers a timely framework to evaluate the effectiveness of socio-economic policies and public health interventions. Although Zimbabwe has seen economic instability in recent years, initiatives aimed at human flourishing can help shape the next phase of sustainable development by focusing on foundational aspects of human well-being rather than merely economic outcomes.
Happiness and life satisfaction: Happiness and satisfaction with life are often elusive within the context of economic hardship. Zimbabwe’s hyperinflation and high unemployment levels have understandably eroded happiness among many, particularly youth who face limited job prospects. By incorporating happiness and life satisfaction into a national well-being framework, Zimbabwean policymakers could strive for programmes that address economic and social stressors. This could include employment initiatives tailored to the digital economy, cultural enrichment programmes and urban development projects that improve living conditions.
Mental and physical health: Health is pivotal to human flourishing, yet Zimbabwe’s health sector faces several constraints, from limited medical resources to an exodus of skilled professionals. Addressing these challenges, especially by investing in mental health, is crucial. Zimbabwean society values community and family, which can be leveraged in public health campaigns to strengthen mental health awareness, reduce stigma, and encourage accessible support systems. This would enable individuals to seek help when needed, creating a resilient, health-conscious society and reducing the long-term burden on healthcare systems.
Meaning and purpose: Zimbabwe’s strong cultural and community-oriented values offer fertile ground for individuals to cultivate meaning and purpose. However, purpose is often stifled in environments where economic survival is paramount. Policies and programmes encouraging youth entrepreneurship, skills development and vocational training could enable Zimbabweans to align their personal goals with meaningful careers. In rural areas, sustainable farming programmes can instil pride in agricultural heritage, while addressing food security, ensuring that individuals see their contributions as meaningful within a larger societal context.
Character and virtue: Zimbabwean society traditionally upholds values of resilience, integrity and empathy, but these values are tested by economic adversity. Character education initiatives in schools, workshops on ethical leadership and community service programmes could reinforce these virtues, particularly among young Zimbabweans. A culture that prioritises ethical behaviour and social responsibility would contribute to building a more trustworthy society and strengthening national identity. Such investments foster not only individual character but also create social cohesion and mutual respect, which are essential for collective progress.
Close social relationships: Family and community support are cornerstones of Zimbabwean society, yet urbanisation and economic migration have strained these bonds. Measuring and promoting strong social connections would involve creating public spaces for communal activities, facilitating affordable communication channels for families separated by migration and supporting local events that celebrate Zimbabwean heritage. Strengthening social ties helps mitigate the stresses associated with economic instability, as individuals feel supported and grounded within a community. This domain directly supports resilience, as communities united by strong bonds can better navigate challenges together.
Financial and material stability: Although financial stability is often seen as the primary measure of prosperity, Zimbabwe’s context demands a broader view. Stable incomes, access to resources and inflation control are vital.
However, financial security also requires accessible housing, reliable transportation and affordable education. Microfinance schemes, community savings groups and investment in essential infrastructure can make financial stability achievable for more Zimbabweans, especially in rural areas where formal banking is scarce.
Furthermore, agricultural reforms focused on food security and sustainable farming could stabilise rural economies, enabling families to provide for themselves while contributing to national growth.
Social policy and development
Implementing the Flourishing Measure in Zimbabwe presents an opportunity to redefine success at both governmental and societal levels. Policymakers and non-governmental organisations can use data from this tool to identify which domains are most in need of support and tailor interventions accordingly.
For instance, if surveys indicate a significant decline in close social relationships due to migration, initiatives to foster community cohesion can be prioritised. If happiness and life satisfaction scores are low among the youths, targeted employment and skills development programmes can help to improve prospects and morale.
The Flourishing Measure also provides businesses and educational institutions with a valuable framework to shape organisational culture and corporate responsibility. Companies could use these insights to promote employee well-being beyond the workplace, while educational institutions might integrate these principles into curricula that prepare students for roles as ethical, community-oriented leaders.
By collectively focusing on these domains, Zimbabwe can transition towards a development model that centres on the genuine well-being of its people, moving beyond the limits of financial indicators alone.
Conclusion
Incorporating the Flourishing Measure into Zimbabwe’s national agenda could mark a turning point in the nation’s approach to progress, setting the stage for human-centred development that acknowledges the complexity of well-being. This tool encourages Zimbabwean society to look beyond material success, recognising that true prosperity requires fulfilling relationships, health, purpose, virtue and stability.
By championing these pillars of flourishing, Zimbabwe can create a society that not only survives economic challenges but thrives through them, building a future where each citizen has the opportunity to flourish in every sense of the word.
Human flourishing, measured and pursued collectively, holds the potential to redefine Zimbabwe’s path to progress. It is a call to all sectors — government, business, education and civil society — to invest in the holistic well-being of Zimbabweans, shaping a society that values dignity, purpose and connection as much as it does wealth.
- Jongwe is a humanistic leader with extensive expertise across various industries in Southern Africa, including higher education. — WhatsApp at+263 788 016 938 or e-mail: [email protected]
