The Welfare Footprint Framework (WFF) quantifies welfare as the time animals spend in negative and positive affective states of different intensities. It looks at how intense an experience is, how long it lasts and how many animals are affected, and reports intensity, duration and prevalence separately rather than combining them into a single score.
This page points you to the right resources for what you want to do.
The WFF chain
- 1CircumstancesThe internal and external conditions animals face.
- 2Biological ConsequencesThe physiological, anatomical, neurological, perceptual or cognitive changes those conditions produce.
- 3Affective ExperiencesThe consciously felt states that result. Welfare assessment centres on these.
- 4Welfare metricsStandardised measures of cumulative welfare impact, chiefly Cumulative Pain and Cumulative Pleasure.
All WFI welfare assessments follow this chain. The four levels are distinct and must not be conflated.
New to the Welfare Footprint Framework
Start with the ideas, then the vocabulary.
- What is a Welfare Footprint?: an introduction to the idea
- The Welfare Footprint Framework: the analytical modules, key sources and short videos
- Technical Definitions: operational definitions for the terminology used in the framework
- FAQ: answers to common questions, with a search
Using WFI estimates
For researchers, funders, companies, certification bodies and others who use our estimates in their work.
- Estimates by species: open Estimates › By Species in the main menu
- Estimates Dossier: search and filter our catalogue of affective experience estimates
- Publications: our papers and reports
- Using the framework responsibly: state the scope of the assessment, report results separately by intensity category with assumptions and uncertainty, and cite the sources, versions and dates of the estimates you use
Accurate citation of WFI estimates does not imply WFI approval, certification or endorsement. When you use them, keep the scientific result separate from your own claims, recommendations or policy choices.
Applying the framework yourself
The framework, its estimates and its tools are built to be used independently. A suggested route:
- Online TrainingIn preparationA free, self-paced introduction to each module of the WFF, with short videos and quizzes.
- AI-Assisted ToolsTools that follow the same step-by-step approach used in Welfare Footprint analyses. They support learning, exploration and first-pass analyses; they do not produce validated Welfare Footprint estimates.
- Office HoursBring a question about the framework or our estimates.
The methodological reference is Alonso, W. J., & Schuck-Paim, C. (2025). Welfare Footprint Framework: Methodological Foundations and Quantitative Assessment Guidelines. Center for Welfare Metrics (São Paulo). https://doi.org/10.17605/osf.io/94bxs Download PDF
Teaching the framework
You can incorporate the WFF into university lectures, courses, textbooks and practical exercises, or supervise students applying it in their theses.
- Teaching Materials: resources for lecturers, in preparation
- Workshops: live workshops on the framework, online or in person
- Teach the framework: invite WFI to lecture in a course or deliver a workshop at an academic event
Online training and certification
Still have a question? See the FAQ, come to Office Hours, or go to Contact.