In Malawi, increasing demand for housing has put tremendous pressure on the building material sector, resulting in deforestation, rising costs and poor quality construction. Vertical Shaft Brick Kiln technology offers a resource efficient and financially viable option for the production of quality bricks.

The end of 2015 is the target date for the Millennium Development Goals. Governments across Asia and the Pacific have been striving to meet the Goals, particularly on reducing income poverty.

In 2011 the Bureau of Labour and Social Affairs (BoLSA), UNICEF and a number of donors including Irish Aid initiated the Tigray Social Cash Transfer Programme (TSCTP) in the Tigray region of Ethiopia. The programme aimed to reduce poverty and hunger in extremely poor and labour-constrained households.

The draft policy on scientific mining released by the State Planning Board proposes to encourage geomapping of mineral resources in the state and minimising of environmental damage. The new Scientific Mining Policy describes itself as a three legged stool.

Infosys has become the first IT company in the world to publish its sustainability report based on the latest Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) G4 comprehensive framework. GRI is the most widely respected sustainability reporting framework, worldwide.