The WHO Collaborating Centre on Well-being and Social Sustainability at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) works with the World Health Organization (WHO) to strengthen the social foundations of health and well-being. 

Designated in September 2025 (Reference number: NOR-29), the Centre supports WHO’s efforts to advance equitable, inclusive, and sustainable societies through the development of well-being economies — systems built on fairness, participation, and shared responsibility. 

Through research, policy collaboration, and capacity building, the Centre connects local innovation to global action for health equity and well-being for all. 

It is part of WHO’s global network of more than 800 Collaborating Centres working to generate and share knowledge that supports healthier, fairer, and more sustainable societies worldwide. 

Terms of Reference 

The terms of reference for the Collaborating Centre is: 

Support WHO to analyze, compile, and communicate research, promising practices and policies to accelerate social dimensions of well-being for all in line with supporting countries to shift to well-being economy approaches. 

Planned activities 

The planned activities are: 

1. Synthesis of best practice to implement well-being economies that promote health equity and social well-being. 
2. Thematic policy briefs showing implementation of wellbeing economy policies and interventions using a i) rights-based ii) place-based and iii) asset-orientated approaches. 
3. In collaboration with WHO, produce evidence synthesis to inform WHO’s normative work on addressing health equity and well-being through policies and practices that strengthen social connectedness and agency. 

How we work 

We combine research and policy translation with collaboration across WHO’s networks—particularly the Regions for Health and Healthy Cities Networks—linking country experiences to global dialogue and tools. Our WHO CC is embedded in NTNU WellFare, providing a long-term platform for innovation, capacity-building, and impact.  

Get Involved 

We warmly welcome collaboration with researchers, policymakers, and practitioners who share our vision of building fairer, more inclusive, and sustainable societies. 

Join us in co-creating evidence, tools, and practices that advance well-being economies and promote health equity and social sustainability across generations. 

To explore opportunities for partnership, events, and shared projects, please contact our team. 

Contact 

• WHO Responsible Officer (Europe): Christine Brown 
• WHO Technical Counterpart (HQ): Nicole Britt Valentine 

On 13 May, researchers, policymakers, civil society representatives and business leaders will gather in Trondheim to mark the establishment of NTNU WellFare’s new WHO Collaborating Centre on Wellbeing and Social Sustainability.

See program below.

The centre reflects a simple but ambitious vision: quality of life for all, across generations. As one of WHO’s official collaborating centres, NTNU WellFare will contribute directly to WHO Europe’s agenda on health equity and the wellbeing economy — connecting Nordic experience to international policy and practice.

The launch seminar takes place at Dokkhuset in Trondheim, and features keynotes and conversations with leading voices from WHO, the Welsh and Scottish governments, and NTNU. Highlights include a presentation of the Health Equity Status Report Initiative (HESRi2), the Deep Dive series on the wellbeing economy featuring country studies from Wales, Scotland, Finland and Iceland, and an open dialogue on what it takes to build fair, sustainable societies — with and for current and future generations.

The event is open to all. Online participation will also be facilitated.

📅  13 May 2025 • 08:30–14:30 • Dokkhuset, Trondheim (map)

🔗  Register here: nettskjema.no/a/604717

📩  Questions: mona.m.s.haugnes@ntnu.no • ntnu.edu/ipl/wellfare