How was the Toolbox Developed?

Built through research, co-design and testing.

The Decision Support Toolbox was developed through Invest4Nature Task 5.2, led by Engineering Ingegneria Informatica (ENG), with inputs from research, data and stakeholder-engagement activities across the project.

Rather than defining the software once and building it in isolation, the team combined Design Thinking with Agile development. Prototypes were used to test ideas early; software was then developed in short cycles, reviewed and refined as feedback and new project evidence became available.

Developed with users, not just for users. infographic explaining four stages of development to making the toolbox: 1) defining needs, 2) building a prototype, 3) testing & learning, 4) editing and integrating

From evidence to working tools

Research in the project informed methods for assessing the sustainability, economic and financial performance of nature-based solutions.
Project datasets and evidence were prepared and integrated to support analysis and recommendation functions.
High-fidelity prototypes helped partners review proposed features and user journeys before full implementation.
Project partners, Living Labs and external stakeholders took part in successive rounds of testing and feedback.
Feedback led to practical improvements including contextual hints, integrated guides and glossaries, stronger links between tools, and additional expert outputs.

Why this matters

Decision-support software is only useful if people can understand and apply it. The iterative approach helped balance analytical depth with usability, while keeping the Toolbox connected to the needs of practitioners and other potential users.

Project context

Invest4Nature is a Horizon Europe project focused on improving understanding of the economic performance of nature-based solutions and supporting greater investment and market uptake. The project ran from July 2022 to June 2026 and brought together 15 partners from 11 countries, including five Living Labs.

How was the Toolbox Developed?

From evidence to working tools

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