Step 3 – Co-Creation & Solution Design in the Wild Happiness Approach
At OneNature, we believe that real sustainability starts with how we design solutions: with communities, not for them.
Too often, communities are treated as passive recipients in environmental and development projects—spoken about, consulted late, and ultimately handed solutions designed elsewhere. But when we shift to true co-creation, trust grows, solutions stick, and both people and nature benefit.
Step 3 of our Wild Happiness Approach—Co-Creation & Solution Design—is where that transformation begins.
Why Co-Creation Matters
Environmental sustainability and community wellbeing are deeply connected. When projects reflect the lived realities, values, and aspirations of the people closest to the land, outcomes improve for everyone.
Following our 360° Community Wellbeing Assessment™, we bring diverse stakeholders together to design solutions grounded in local strengths—what we call Wellbeing-Centered Design.
Co-Creation in Practice: Laos
In Laos’ Nakai-Nam Theun National Park, OneNature and Association Anoulak partnered with four forest-dependent villages.
Findings:
✅ High environmental satisfaction (80–86%)
✅ Strong willingness to contribute to conservation
⚠️ Lower psychological wellbeing and livelihood satisfaction
Rather than impose solutions, we worked with communities to:
🔸 Document traditional ecological knowledge
🔸 Build peer learning networks (bamboo craft & harvest practices)
🔸 Tailor conservation strategies to local leadership & values
Co-Creation in Practice: Rwanda
In Rwanda, near Volcanoes National Park, Wild Happiness insights revealed:
✅ Life satisfaction of 75% (well above national average)
✅ High trust and environmental connection
⚠️ Low economic satisfaction
Co-created solutions included:
🔸 Community-led relocation planning
🔸 Culturally appropriate housing design
🔸 Economic transition & skill-building initiatives
What Co-Creation Looks Like
We help partners and communities:
✅ Use wellbeing data to prioritize needs
✅ Build on cultural and social strengths
✅ Prototype, test, and adapt solutions
✅ Strengthen leadership & monitoring
Drawing on behavioral science, participatory research, and design thinking, our approach adapts across sectors—tourism, conservation, ESG, climate adaptation, and beyond.
Celebrating Transparency: Our 2025 Candid Platinum Seal
We’re proud to share that OneNature has once again earned the 2025 Candid Platinum Seal of Transparency! 🌍✨
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Want to move from designing for to designing with?
🌿 Explore our services and the Wild Happiness Approach: onenatureinstitute.org/services
Let’s build lasting change—together.
With gratitude,
The OneNature Team