Resilient sustainable development: Localized transformational impact to alleviate poverty.

摘要

Abstract: This research will endeavor to answer the question; how can sustainable development's triple bottom line (TBL) theoretical model be used for transformational impact to alleviate poverty? The combination of the well planned and thought out sustainable development (SD) model with the adaptability to change when conflict arises is that rare balance that can be found when experts consult the community and the bottom-up spontaneity is incorporated into an ever-evolving model. This research suggests the standard TBL model should expand to a more enhanced model to incorporate resilience. Recognizing the macro pressures on micro models illustrated by the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC), specific SD projects have a life-cycle that has trade-offs. One of the challenges is prioritizing those trade-offs when evaluating poverty alleviation models. Strictly top-down development models can assume the recipients want to be westernized or take on a patriarchal mentality of knowing better for the recipient than the recipient knows for themselves. On the other hand, strictly bottom--up cannot access the collective knowledge or vantage point the top possesses. Therefore, this research concludes that a hybrid between top-down and bottom-up governance that is collaboration and participatory when addressing poverty alleviation seems to be the most effective in planning and implementation. This research also suggests that SD models that apply an enhanced TBL with resilience that is agile and adaptive results in transformational impact.