The United Nations calls its 17 Sustainable Development Goals "the blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all." With a target of achieving them by 2030, the goals are all interconnected and address the global challenges we face.

Goal 9 is "Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure." As the UN puts it: "Investments in infrastructure are crucial to achieving sustainable development."

This series includes stories of sisters striving towards this goal.

Click here to return to the full Sustainable Development Goals Collection.

Manicured lawns and paved walkways accentuate buildings at the St. Joseph Spiritual Center in Karen, a suburb southwest of the Nairobi central business district. The Little Daughters of St. Joseph manage the center. (Wycliff Oundo)

Little Daughters of St. Joseph operate sustainable conference center in Kenya

by Wycliff Oundo
Apr 28, 2022

In 2008, religious sisters ventured into Kenya's hospitality industry, with a spiritual center that doubled as a conference tourism and lodging facility. They established and continue to run a successful center.

Nuns hold placards during a protest demanding Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa step down in Colombo April 5. Rajapaksa is trying to stabilize his government after protests prompted most of his Cabinet to resign. (CNS/Reuters/Dinuka Liyan)

Sisters protest in streets against economic crises in Sri Lanka

by Thomas Scaria
Apr 13, 2022

Sr. Dulcie Peiris, the superior of the Salvatorian formation center in Sri Lanka, said the nation's current economic crises are unlike anything she has experienced, "not even during the 30 years of civil war."

Shane, age 7, enjoys some attention two days after his family lost everything when the tornado swept through Graves County, Kentucky, on Dec. 10, 2021. He claimed the green sunglasses to help him cope and created a fun exchange with our volunteers.

Reflections on the aftermath of the Kentucky tornado

by Martha Keller
Apr 4, 2022

Through the weeks and months of serving tornado survivors of Mayfield, Kentucky, I have encountered some beautiful souls, and have allowed myself to be changed and transformed by their faith and perseverance.

Within days after the typhoon hit, Missionary Sisters of Mary sisters sort through donated goods to repack and send to various communities in need, in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu province, in the Philippines. (Courtesy of Missionary Sisters of Mary)

Sisters support recovery efforts in Philippines after typhoon destruction

by Charity Durano
Feb 3, 2022

More than six weeks after a super typhoon raked a large swatch of the central and southern Philippines, Catholic sisters are assessing damages, repairing buildings and assisting neighbors in the storm-affected area.

Sisters divesting their assets work to transform them into agents of change

by Dan Stockman
Jan 13, 2022

Even at Christmas, it's not calm and bright for everyone

by Margaret Gonsalves
Dec 22, 2021

Brick by brick, tree by tree, Carmelite Missionary Sisters plant skills to limit Malawi’s deforestation

by Doreen Ajiambo
Dec 6, 2021

Sisters urge care for communities amid economic shifts and energy transition

by Dan Stockman
Nov 11, 2021

In the face of catastrophic climate change, sisters join call for a just transition

by Chris Herlinger
Oct 25, 2021

Aftershocks and anxiety: Puerto Ricans distrust homes after devastating earthquake

by Soli Salgado
May 14, 2020

Q & A with Sr. Corinne Florek, helping sisters invest to develop communities

by Gail DeGeorge
Jan 21, 2020

Holy Rosary Sisters' social entrepreneurship thrives in rural Zambia

by Joyce Meyer
Jan 13, 2020

Bangladesh nuns' handicraft center empowers thousands of women

by Sumon Corraya
Oct 10, 2019

Oaxaca Archdiocese's new Social Pastoral School goes beyond charity toward community change

by Tracy L. Barnett
Oct 7, 2019

Catholic groups use 'social innovation' to help refugees

by Heidi Schlumpf
Apr 23, 2018

Haiti's fragility of infrastructure, strength of people remain one year after Hurricane Matthew

by Chris Herlinger
Oct 13, 2017