Sustainability Analysis Methods for Project Design

Projects may have elements that are fully sustainable, partially sustainable, or not sustainable given the local context and what is necessary to achieve the project purpose. The design team should examine the results conceptualized for the project and identify which results are fully, partially, or not sustainable. Results that are deemed partially sustainable or not sustainable should spark several questions for consideration, including whether the results should be revised to be fully or partially sustainable and whether the results are critical to achieving higher level results. Upon examination, results that are expected to be fully or partially sustainable should be prioritized as a focus for further examination during the continued sustainability analysis process. Results determined to be not sustainable should be documented in the Project Appraisal Document (PAD) with a brief explanation of the project design team's reasoning for the determination and why those elements are critical to achieving higher level results. One method for analyzing the sustainability considerations is to use the force field analysis tool. Force field analysis is a framework for looking at the pressures (forces) that influence a desired change or result. It looks at forces that are either supporting movement toward a result (supporting forces) or blocking movement toward the result (inhibiting forces). The framework is a useful decision-making tool, and is particularly effective when developed in a group. The force field analysis tool can be adapted in many ways to focus the analysis and discussion as necessary. For sustainability analysis, it is possible to narrow the focus of the analysis to those considerations that affect sustainability of the result. Once the "forces" for and against a result have been identified, the tool can be used to improve achievement of the results. For example, the forces that support the result can be strengthened through modifications to the project design, and forces against the result could likewise be mitigated through risk mitigation strategies or monitored throughout the implementation of the project. Key areas to consider for project sustainability analysis include local demand and ownership, institutional capacity of local stakeholders, social and cultural dimensions, political dynamics, and financial viability and sustainable financing options. Stakeholder analysis is a key aspect of sustainability analysis for project design, providing critical information about the buy-in of host country partners and their motivation to maintain the results achieved through the project. Institutional capacity can be examined in terms of systems, policies, governance, staff, and skills. The design team should assess the capacity of specific institutions and related governance systems at the national, sub-national, or local levels – or a combination of these – critical to project sustainability. Social and cultural dimensions are also critical, as sensitivity to cultural and social factors is necessary for long-term sustainable development. Political dynamics should be identified and assessed, including potential for volatile political transitions, elections, and security issues. Financial viability and sustainable financing options should also be considered, including possibilities for phasing in cost sharing to ensure that stakeholders have an increasing stake and role in achieving project results. An alternative helpful approach is to determine what functions, institutions, and systems are critical to project sustainability. This includes identifying the functions that need to be sustained by the end of the life of the project, as well as the systems and institutions that need to be assisted as part of the project approach in order to ensure the sustainability of those functions by the end of the project.