| A Catalyst for Community-led Action
"Seven
Stages to Sustainability (7SS)" is
a participatory framework for sustainable development uniting
6 sectors of local and global Partners in community based solutions.
Emphasizing
Asset-Based
Community Development
(ABCD),
this collaborative model empowers diverse stakeholders
to take collective action using what they have, where traditional "needs-based"
models isolate beneficiaries and create dependency on aid.
1.
Identify Partners
In Empowerment (PIE)
- community members, local and international organizations,
socially conscious entrepreneurs, and others working to address
critical social and environmental challenges in the focus area.

2.
Assess local assets (sustainable human and natural resources) that can be developed to create economic opportunities for people in need (core
idea: Asset-Based Community Development).
3. Co-create an outline of community goals and objectives, needs, and actions, where long-term responsibility is shared
between stakeholders.
4. Facilitate transfer of appropriate
technologies and best practices
in health, renewable energies, sustainable agriculture, and
education.
5.
Support capacity building in project management via vocational skill development, practical education, and technical assistance.
6.
Increase access to local and global markets and assist
development of products and services that value and protect
local heritage.
7. Build economic self-reliance via Public-Private Partnerships supporting sustainable solutions.
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7
Stage
DELIVERY:
Who, What, Where,
and How?
Everyone.
Everywhere. However. Whatever it takes.
Deliberately
inclusive of 6 mutually-supportive
social and economic sectors (a.k.a. PIE), 7
Stages
works to catalyze Public-Private Partnerships and civic participation--reducing
duplication and synchronizing efforts for
greatest impact.
While
an outside catalyst organization may introduce and support the
process, 7
Stages
should be questioned, adapted and owned by the community.
As
a self-organizing tool
and collaboration
roadmap,
7
Stages
can be used by grass-roots citizens, business leaders,
community based organizations,
or government officials to facilitate
diverse projects.
Scaled-up
globally (EW's mission), 7
Stages can integrate
disparate social efforts across
diverse disciplines and economic sectors,
saving billions annually, all while keeping
long-term ownership 100% local.
EW
advances 7 Stages through capacity building education,
through The Global Summit,
and in collaboration with Partners in
Empowerment (PIE).
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MEASURING
IMPACT: locally and globally.
LOCAL: EW recommends the use of community identified
success factors that are directly relevant to local needs, assets,
and objectives.
GLOBAL:
Providing a universal framework for action, EW's 7 Stages
support the 1992
Earth Summit and Millennium
Development Goals. Likewise, results may be measured according
to global standards articulated in Chapter
40 of Agenda 21's call to develop and identify indicators
of sustainable development that can provide a solid basis for
decision-making, at all levels.
This
call led to the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development
Work Programme on Indicators of Sustainable Development (1995-2000)
which published the 2001 report, [INDICATORS
OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: FRAMEWORK AND METHODOLOGIES.]
As
this is almost 300 pages, EW emphasizes three universal indicators:
a.
Economic
value
is added to sustainable
local assets.
b.
Dependence
on foreign assistance decreases.
c.
Local
partners contribute
energy, skills, & solutions.
From
7 Stages to The Global Summit
We
know IT TAKES A NETWORK. Here's how we're building it.
Nonprofits,
government, nor any single sector can reverse the overwhelming
social and environmental challenges facing humanity. A diverse,
multi-sector network united in a common strategy is required to
create systemic change.
The
timeliness of this challenge propelled EW to shift from direct
implementation of 7 Stages to serving as a catalyst, supporting
its adoption by existing, larger groups that will benefit from
it, and have a multiplier effect.
To
expand this universal framework for community development, EW
is developing Seven Stages to Sustainability (7SS) official curriculum (launching Nov.09
through the World Academy for the Future of Women) building
the Partners In Empowerment (PIE) network supporting world-wide
collaboration across six sectors, and ultimately, engaging critical
mass participation through The
Global Summit (TGS) bi-annual conference.
Your support is vital.
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