Sustainability - Types of Sustainability
Definition | Concepts and Issues | Implementing Agenda 21 | Types of Sustainability
Types of Sustainability
The FAO has identified considerations for technical cooperation that affect three types of sustainability:
Institutional sustainability: Can the strengthened institutional structure
continue to deliver the results of the technical cooperation to the ultimate
end-users? The results may not be sustainable if, for example, the planning
unit strengthened by the technical cooperation ceases to have access to
top-management or is not provided with adequate resources for the effective
performance after the technical cooperation terminated;
Economical and financial sustainability: Can the results of the technical cooperation
continue to yield an economic benefit after the technical cooperation is withdrawn?
For example, the benefits from the introduction of new crops may not be sustained,
if the constraints to marketing the crops are not resolved. Similarly, economic
(distinct from financial) sustainability may be at risk, if the end-users continue
to depend on heavily-subsidized activities and inputs.
Ecological sustainability: Are the benefits to be generated by the technical
cooperation likely to lead to a deterioration in the physical environment (thus
indirectly contributing to a fall in production) or well-being of the groups
targeted and their society?