Excerpt from SEAP #1 29 Newsletter On September 20, 2025, David Korten delivered this talk for “The DEATH and Life of the Green Building Summit,” held in the Cascadia bioregion and hosted by the School of Regenerative Design. My friends in the Living Building Challenge movement, For two decades, the Living Building Challenge has set the world’s boldest standards for architectural design. It called for buildings that are self-sufficient in energy and water, free of toxic materials, and designed for beauty and human well-being. That was a breakthrough. It changed the conversation about...

Featured Article From Global Newsletter - December 2025Insights from Namibia Gender-based violence (GBV) remains one of the most persistent social and human rights challenges in Namibia and across Southern Africa. The Problematic Mindsets Report presents a rare and critical contribution to GBV research by centring the voices of perpetrators, survivors, and frontline service providers to better understand the underlying drivers of violence and identify pathways for more effective prevention and response. Unlike many studies that focus exclusively on survivors, this qualitative...

Featured Article From Global Newsletter - November 2025by Sergei Zelenev, ICSW President Introduction The discussion on integrated social policy featured prominently in ICSW’s engagement at the Second World Social Summit, reflecting months of sustained analytical preparation and strategic dialogue. The preparatory phase for the ICSW- sponsored Solutions Session, held in Doha, extended over two months—a substantial investment of time justified by both the political significance of the Summit and the opportunity it offered ICSW to articulate its vision before a global audience. This...

Republic of Georgia has experienced significant political and social tension. Post-election disappointment led many citizens to shift their focus to the 2025 local elections.

Featured Article From Global Newsletter - August-September 2025By Bachir Tamer President of MENA Region of CIAS & Driss Guerraoui, Member of the Executive Committee of CIAS Social protection transcends the mere notion of a safety net; it serves as a pivotal instrument for forging a more equitable society, mitigating disparities, and fostering sustainable economic development. In the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, it manifests in diverse forms, encompassing social security programs, informal assistance, and governmental initiatives such as cash transfers, health...

Featured Article From Global Newsletter - June-July 2025 By Mr. Kenichi Furuichi, Vice President of Japan National Council of Social Welfare (JNCSW) 1. The Challenges Faced by Japanese Society and Responses during the COVID-19 Pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic further highlighted the vulnerabilities within Japanese society. Those facing financial hardship expanded across generations and demographic groups to an unprecedented extent. For example, the government’s declaration of a state of emergency led to restrictions on social activities, which initially caused an economic downturn and...

Featured Article From Global Newsletter - April-May 2025 The recent conference held in Ronda, Spain, on 24–25 April brought together stakeholders, experts, and practitioners from across the social policy and development sectors to explore the urgent need to reimagine welfare systems in response to today’s unprecedented global challenges. The Presidents of the three partner organizations—Prof. Antoinette Lombard (IASSW), Dr. Sergei Zelenev (ICSW), and Prof. Joachim Mumba (IFSW)—actively participated in the discussions and endorsed the conference’s outcome documents. UNED provided vital...

Featured Article From Global Newsletter - March 2025 The Secretary-General has received the following statement, which is being circulated in accordance with paragraphs 36 and 37 of Economic and Social Council resolution 1996/31. Statement The three core, interrelated themes addressed in the outcome documents of the 1995 World Summit for Social Development (WSSD) in Copenhagen – poverty eradication, full and productive employment, and social integration – remain highly relevant. The key messages of the WSSD significantly advanced global dialogue on social development, shaping the...

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