Just Inclusion Through Bottom-up Wellbeing Measurement: Case Study in Venserpolder, Amsterdam

Multi-dimensional ‘wellbeing’ is used to assess micro-level development across Global South settings. We explore the added value of ‘wellbeing’ to understand urban marginality in a high-income context, and how a bottom-up approach can contribute to just development. From a study in Amsterdam, we conclude that (a) ‘wellbeing’ allows for comprehensive measurement of ‘development’ by inclusion of material, subjective and relational needs. These need analysis in relation to local socioeconomic and relational (institutional) reference points, and (b) the bottom-up methodology generates credible indicators that do more justice to the lived realities of marginalized communities. Therefore, the co-created Wellbeing Dashboard forms a potential stepping-stone towards epistemic and procedural justice.