Welcome to the Sustainable Development Network (SDN). The SDN provides a space for NGOs, government, and professionals to network and access information and research in sustainable development (SD), health, welfare and in the education and training sectors.

Sustainable Development is the concept of using resources to meet the needs of humanity in the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. How can we live sustainably in our natural environment? How can we encourage economic growth without excessively and wastefully using up our natural resources? The Sustainable Development Network provides a platform of research, education, training and collaborative programmes which aim to teach and enable NGOs, government, the private sector and communities to plan, work and live more sustainably.

The SDN hosts the following programmes and platforms:

1. Networking – enables NGOs access to workshops, conferences, information and other networks working together toward common sustainable development goals. The SDN provides relevant workshops, training and mentoring programmes (see programme below) to assist in meeting these capacity needs.
2. Education and training - in South Africa, this programme provides accredited NQF levels 1-5 training in health, business development, fundraising and resource mobilisation, and more (see our resources section).
3. Research – this platform provides access to open source and purchasable research and information on sustainable development. This includes documentaries, research studies, books and more. For more information visit our resources link.

The Sustainable Development Network promotes projects and lifestyles that will ensure that our children and their children will be able to sustain themselves now and in the future.

Education and training - in South Africa, this programme provides accredited NQF levels 1-5 training in health, business development, fundraising and resource mobilisation, and more (see our Training Resources Section).

New Manual - Resource Mobilisation & Proposal Writing.

To empower NGOs, government and the private sector through research, education, training and through encouraging networks and partnerships that will promote sustainable solutions.

To empower NGOs, government and the private sector to work together toward more sustainable economic, environmental and social solutions.

Last July, in the aftermath of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, the X PRIZE Foundation launched the Wendy Schmidt Oil Cleanup X CHALLENGE. As with previous X PRIZE competitions, this one was intended to encourage private sector scientific research, by offering a cash prize to whichever team could best meet a given challenge.
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Airline mogul and billionaire Richard Branson just announced that in three years Virgin Atlantic airplanes will be fueled by waste gas from power plants, steel works, and aluminum plants. Within 24 months the company will be able to take waste gas from these industrial sites and turn it into aviation fuel for their commercial airplanes. The process will reduce the carbon footprint of Virgin’s airplanes by as much as 50 percent. 
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"Use it up, wear it out, make do, or do without" is a favorite adage in both frugal and green circles, and it is something I strive to live by. One of the best ways to “use it up” is to think differently about our food and ways to avoid wasting it....

We’ve all had it happen: half the loaf of bread goes stale because no one wants to eat sandwiches today, and the grapes we bought as healthy snacks for the kids’ lunches languish in the crisper. With a little creativity, and an eye toward vanquishing waste in our lives, we can make use of more of our food before it goes to waste. Here are a few ideas for you.
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There’s not much that can compare with plucking off a juicy peach from your own fruit tree. From spring’s sweet cherries to fall’s crisp apples, fresh fruit is one of nature’s most delicious products — plus it’s super-versatile, adding a refreshing sweetness to everything from glazes and chutneys for winter roasts to spring salads, smoothies, and dessert.

Whether you want to add a fruit tree to your at-home garden for an annual harvest of peaches, cherries, apples, pears, or citrus — or whether you just like the look of these flowery, budding plants — here’s everything you need to get started, from how much space you’ll need to which trees do best in which climates. 
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