Edward Huizing, executive director of Hivos, which coordinates the Stop Child Labour coalition, signed the International Responsible Business Conduct (IRBC) Agreement for a responsible gold value chain on June 19, together with Philips, Fairphone, IUCN NL, FNV and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

There is a need to promote the consumption of a variety of foods in Zambia, according to Frank Mechielsen, Hivos’ Senior Sustainable Diets for All Programme Manager. In Zambia, many people cannot access healthy and diverse foods. To complicate matters, the Zambian government has traditionally concentrated on promoting the cultivation of maize at the expense of other crops.

Mid-afternoon in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe’s second largest city. Scores of visitors troop to the Ministry of Energy and Power Development exhibition stand at Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF), attracted by one of Zimbabwe's top internet sensations, Rolland Lunga aka Boss Kedha. Boss Kedha, an online comedian, immediately welcomes the visitors and invites them to take a tour of the stand where various renewable energy technologies are on display.

The International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia (IDAHOT) is observed every year on May 17. It aims to stimulate international events that raise awareness of the human rights violations suffered by of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people.