Strategic Planning for Sustainability as a Foundation for Progress

For sustainable success to be attained, it will take more than good intentions. There has to be strategic planning for sustainability to accomplish goals. For organizations to attain sustainable development, they must be aware that well-structured planning and implementation are the determining factors that distinguish success from mere intentions.
The Economic Forum for Sustainable Development (EFSD) explains the importance of long-term planning for sustainability, and this provides organizations with the tools needed to step from reactive to proactive and responsible development. If EFSD’s principles on this issue are of further interest, you can learn more about our approach.

Importance of Strategic Planning for Sustainable Development

Strategic planning allows sustainability to move from theory to action. Organizations are able to focus on what they want to achieve as well as why they want to achieve it. The end result is that they are able to create priorities and ensure that they stay on track in the midst of demands that vie for attention.
When organizations create roadmaps for sustainability, several advantages occur. There is greater direction on how teams and individuals are to function within the context of sustainability projects. Decision-making is enhanced since decisions made then correspond to a strategic direction rather than to short-term pressures. There is more effective allocation of resources since organizations allocate resources to support a strategic direction for the future and not to scattered projects. More importantly, there is greater understanding among teams since individuals share a common strategic vision.
Strategic planning helps to create sustainability from episodic behavior to an enduring commitment. Organizations not using strategic structures may practice sustainability reactively, mainly due to outside pressures, rather than due to internal conviction. Organizations with sound structures contain the practice of sustainability within their operational fabric.

Translating Strategy into Measurable Action

Strategic planning adds value through implementation. In the case of sustainability projects, this means creating a structure in which broad objectives are channeled into specific, measurable activities to be implemented.
The success of its implementation requires continuous observation of the results against the set benchmarks. The organizations are supposed to be monitoring whether they have achieved the desired impacts from their strategies on the subject of sustainability or whether changes are required in certain areas.
Flexibility within strategic frameworks means being able to adjust strategies when changes occur or if other strategies seem viable. The idea of flexibility within strategic frameworks is, however, not abandonment of strategy. Strategic planning for a sustainable future involves making commitments while being able to adjust tactics to achieve those commitments.
Another best-practice aspect of sustainability strategy implementation is to ensure that all members of an organization are informed of and have a part to play in implementing this sustainability strategy. This is because where all teams in different departments in an organization are informed of how their activities are part of bigger sustainability goals, coordination of efforts occurs and those efforts do not work contrary to each other.

The Forum’s Role in Strategic Sustainability Planning

EFSD assists organizations that aim to improve planning skills and transform their activities based on sustainability considerations. The tools EFSD creates for such organizations enable them to achieve clarity on their priorities, understand their potential for impact, and stay relevant beyond longer periods of time with their strategies.
The initiatives undertaken by EFSD in strategic planning for sustainability involve various aspects. On one side, the Forum assists in discussions regarding strategic development to help organizations establish a sustainability vision and explore ways to achieve the same. On the other side, EFSD assists in developing long-term sustainability goals with balance in ambition and feasibility to ensure the goals are achievable.
Another area of concern addressed by EFSD is intersectoral collaboration. Sustainability challenges do not exhibit restrictions to particular sectors and therefore need to be tackled from multi-sectoral angles. EFSD assists organizations in developing collaborative ties and frameworks to help them deal with complex challenges of sustainability.
Communication support is also incorporated within the EFSD methodology. It is a common occurrence for organizations to lack the ability to communicate their sustainability strategies. EFSD helps organizations develop a credible and clear message on their direction and progress. To learn more about how EFSD incorporates governance structures that facilitate planning and decision-making, you can visit explore out leadership and governance structure.

Strategic Vision For Sustainable Futures

Sustainable practices are encouraged and thrive in those organizations that address them in a systematic manner rather than as a reaction. Strategic thinking and planning are required on the part of organizations when it comes to sustainability.
Strategic planning for sustainability is more than an administrative exercise. It is an expression of organizational commitment to ethical or responsible development and of investment in structured thinking in order to convert commitment to capability. Organizations with comprehensive strategic planning have positioned themselves to be able to manage the challenges of sustainable development and still keep their eye on the basic mission.
EFSD continues to be committed to helping these entities along this path of sustained and responsible development. The Forum recognizes that different institutions have different challenges regarding strategic planning, and accordingly, it provides assistance. To get information on assistance or cooperation possibilities regarding strategic planning or development, get in touch now