nevojiten

Nevojiten is a theoretical concept used in sustainability studies to denote the minimal bundle of goods and services required for a community to maintain health, safety, and dignity without depleting local resources. The term is a neologism inspired by the Albanian word nevojë meaning “need” and the suffix -iten, which in some contexts forms descriptive adjectives or states. In practice, nevojiten includes essentials such as potable water, nutritionally adequate food, shelter, clothing, basic healthcare, sanitation, education, energy services, and reliable livelihoods, all calibrated to local culture and environment.

Calculation and scope: The nevojiten threshold is dynamic, varying with population size, age structure, climate, technology, and seasonal effects. It is typically estimated per capita and then scaled to the size of a community or region. Methods combine household surveys, macroeconomic models, and ecological footprint indicators to propose a sustainable, socially acceptable floor of provision.

Applications: Governments, humanitarian organizations, and researchers use nevojiten to set baselines for aid, to measure progress toward universal basic needs, and to prioritize investments in water, health, and energy infrastructure. It can also guide resilience planning and disaster response by identifying core deficits that must be addressed to restore functioning communities.

Criticism and challenges: Critics argue that nevojiten is normative and context-sensitive, risking oversimplification of cultural needs or ignoring non-material well-being. Others caution about data reliability in fragile settings and the danger of applying external norms to local practices.

See also: basic needs, social indicators, ecological footprint, sustainable development.