Brian Stranko

Millennium Institute

1117 North 19^th Street, Suite 900

Arlington, VA 22209

Phone: 703-841-0048

Fax: 703-841-0050

Email: Bstranko@aol.com

When pursuing a strategy for sustainable development, national policymakers are faced with the difficult question of where to invest scarce resources. To make this decision, they must consult a variety of sources and interpret the complex inter-relationships between the economy, social welfare and the environment. Often information is disorganized, inaccessible or inconclusive and leaves policy planners unsure of the optimal solution.

The Millennium Institute’s Threshold 21 (T21) computer-based analysis tool provides a solution to understanding these complex systems and to defining relevant analysis. It is a user-friendly, systems thinking software program that permits users to organize, access and analyze necessary information for making prudent decisions on sustainable development strategy. It is the first computer analysis tool to integrate human, economic and environmental concerns into one model and is uniquely designed for national application.

T21 allows policymakers to construct a customized model for their country that is comprehensive and yet easy to build, modify and interpret. Once the model is adapted to the country, policymakers can examine the long and short-term effects of different policies with just the touch of a button. Users can also tailor the model to examine specific regions, sectors or even particular issues such as the national budget, gender or greenhouse gases. Finally, with its visually compelling and user-friendly, transparent design, T21 is ideal for use as a discussion tool and a consensus builder.

Governments, NGOs and development agencies have successfully used T21 for development analysis in Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Italy, Malawi, Benin and Tunisia. Current projects include models for Somaliland and the USA. T21 is the result of 20 years of research and incorporates the best attributes of respected models from the World Bank, the U.S. Government, and UN agencies.