What does it mean to live well — to truly flourish? This age old question, as timeless as humanity itself, has recently found new and ambitious expression in the Global Flourishing Study, a landmark initiative led by Harvard University’s human flourishing programme in collaboration with Baylor University, Gallup, and the Centre for Open Science.
Encompassing more than 200 000 participants across 22 culturally and geographically diverse countries, the five-year longitudinal study promises to reshape our understanding of human well-being across the globe.
But while the study is extensive, one glaring omission cannot go unnoticed: Zimbabwe, along with much of southern Africa, is not yet a participant.
At a time when the country is grappling with economic transformation, youth unemployment, public sector reform, and institutional trust deficits, Zimbabwe’s inclusion in a global dialogue on flourishing is not only warranted — it is essential.
Having previously explored concepts of dignity, well-being, and humanistic leadership in this column, this article builds on those themes by linking them to the global conversation now unfolding. If flourishing is the gold standard for human development, then Zimbabwe must assert itself as both a contributor to and beneficiary of the data, ideas, and practices shaping that standard.
Groundbreaking study
The Global Flourishing Study (GFS) is no ordinary social survey. Spanning six populated continents and offering nationally representative data over a five year period, the study seeks to uncover not only correlations but causes — the deep, underlying conditions that help individuals and societies to flourish.
Drawing from psychology, sociology, economics, philosophy, and theology, it maps human well-being through six core domains:
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- Happiness and life satisfaction
- Mental and physical health
- Meaning and purpose
- Character and virtue
- Close social relationships
- Financial and material stability
In an era dominated by metrics such as Gross Domestic Product, income inequality, and inflation, this more expansive, human-centred view of progress is a welcome shift.
It also aligns with the work of institutions such as the Humanistic Leadership Academy, which calls for redefining success around dignity, interconnectedness, and shared well-being — principles we have repeatedly advocated for in Zimbabwean business, education, and leadership.
Why Zim must be part of this study
Flourishing, in both its personal and collective dimensions, is a subject of profound relevance to Zimbabwe.
The country’s development narrative has long been driven by structural reform programmes, macroeconomic stabilisation efforts, and industrialisation targets — all of which remain important. Yet these indicators tell only part of the story.
The deeper question is: are Zimbabweans flourishing? Are young people leaving universities with a sense of purpose and possibility? Are communities not just surviving, but thriving in dignity, creativity, and connection? Without empirical data that reflects the lived experiences of Zimbabweans across these six domains, we are navigating without a compass.
This is not merely an academic issue. For public policy to be truly human-centred, it must be informed by evidence that goes beyond economic abstraction.
Flourishing data could help inform national strategies in education, health, employment, and urban planning. It could support efforts to rebuild institutional trust, inspire more responsible business leadership, and galvanise civic engagement in meaningful ways.
Moreover, Zimbabwe’s cultural, spiritual, and communal traditions have much to contribute to the global understanding of flourishing.
From the concept of “unhu” — which emphasises communal identity, respect, and mutual care — to the resilience shown by informal sector entrepreneurs, Zimbabwe offers rich, contextual wisdom that could enrich global conversations about what it means to live well.
Building on existing momentum
Encouragingly, Zimbabwe is not starting from zero. The nation has already begun engaging with concepts that align with the pillars of flourishing. Education 5.0, for instance, seeks to align university education with innovation, entrepreneurship, and societal impact.
Institutions such as the Midlands State University have launched industrial parks, pathology centres, and agrobusiness units that marry knowledge production with value creation.
In the business world, there is increasing interest in humanistic management, as demonstrated by the growing readership of this column and the traction of initiatives such as venture capital development, SME support programmes, and localised economic development.
At policy level, the government has prioritised rural industrialisation, biotechnology, and financial inclusion — all of which contribute, in one way or another, to collective flourishing.
But while these initiatives are promising, they remain fragmented and insufficiently benchmarked. Zimbabwe needs a nationally-coordinated framework — backed by empirical data — that can measure, track, and enhance flourishing across demographics, regions, and sectors. Joining the Global Flourishing Study, or initiating a Zimbabwean equivalent aligned to its principles, would be a bold and necessary next step.
Why is flourishing now imperative?
There is a growing global consensus that traditional models of leadership are inadequate for the challenges of the 21st century.
As this column has argued in previous articles on humanistic leadership, dignity, and the role of education in business, leadership must now be about enabling others to thrive — not simply commanding compliance or chasing profits.
Flourishing, therefore, is not a soft ideal. It is a leadership imperative. A business leader who invests in employee well-being, a mayor who promotes green public spaces, a vice-chancellor who embeds dignity into the curriculum — these are not utopian acts; they are evidence-based decisions that yield long term dividends in productivity, cohesion, and innovation.
As we move further into the knowledge economy, the ability to foster flourishing will increasingly define successful leaders, institutions, and nations. Zimbabwe has the talent, heritage, and potential to lead in this space — but it must first take its seat at the table.
Call to action
The Global Flourishing Study is not just a research project. It is a movement to reframe the way the world understands human progress.
Zimbabwe, with its unique history, aspirations, and intellectual capital, must not be left out. The inclusion of Zimbabwean participants, researchers, and institutions in future waves of the study would provide a richer, more nuanced understanding of flourishing in African contexts.
Moreover, the study’s methodology — with its integration of longitudinal data, interdisciplinary thinking, and cross-cultural collaboration — offers a blueprint that Zimbabwe can adopt in crafting its own national well-being index. This could be championed by universities, in partnership with government agencies, churches, community leaders, and the private sector.
Institutions such as the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency, the Research Council of Zimbabwe, and university think tanks can begin working with international partners to pilot a local version of the flourishing index, using adapted tools to suit our cultural and socio economic realities.
Conclusion
As Zimbabwe charts its post pandemic recovery and long-term development agenda, it must go beyond economic stabilisation and towards a deeper transformation — one rooted in human flourishing.
The Global Flourishing Study has set a new global benchmark for how we understand and measure what truly matters. It is time Zimbabwe positions itself within this paradigm.
By aligning our development frameworks with the six domains of flourishing, we can inspire a more integrated approach to national growth — one that values not just GDP, but joy; not just employment, but purpose; not just survival, but a life well lived. Now is the time for Zimbabwe to act. A future of flourishing is not only possible — it is necessary.
- Jongwe is a humanistic leader with extensive expertise across various industries in southern Africa, including higher education — WhatsApp: +263 788016938 or email: [email protected].
