This strategy provides a policy framework to deliver sustainable development, to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It rests on three separate pillars - economic, social and environmental - which need to reinforce one another to ensure sustainable development. The economic, social and environmental consequences of all policies thus need to be examined in a coordinated manner and taken into account when those policies are being drawn up and adopted. Every community or organization is faced with a number of problems and opportunities.  These problems and their potential solutions may seem to be inter-related or in conflict with one another.  Planning is a method by which communities and organizations can address and solve problems in an organized and comprehensive way.  A community planner needs to have the ability to assist in putting together plans that address the different aspects of problems that need to be solved.

This involves:  (1) being able to assist communities and organizations to set long-range goals that reflect needs and values; (2) being able to assist in translating these goals into strategies, or programmatic alternatives (taking into account existing and potential resources that can be made available); (3) being able to evaluate and recommend from among the different options in terms of their feasibility, implications, and effectiveness in achieving the goals. The implementation of a plan involves selecting one or more of the strategies outlined in the plan and proposing ways to carry out those strategies.  In some cases, the implementation process requires preparing a grant proposal for outside funding.  In other cases, it involves developing an action plan for mobilizing a constituency, building an organization, enacting new policies, undertaking a development project, or redirecting human and financial resources.  A competent planner must be able to facilitate both the broad comprehensive planning process and detailed implementation planning.