Combining shelter and economic development, is set to challenge the tradition bound construction industry in order to allow for the participation of contractors and entrepreneurs to empower and develop communities on a global basis.

Due to the neglect of the poor and very poor over many decades, the real source of market promise is not the wealthy few in the developing world, or even the emerging middle-income consumers: It is the billions of aspiring poor who are joining the market economy for the first time.

Countries that lack the infrastructure to meet basic humanitarian needs provide the ideal situation for the development of environmentally sustainable technologies and products. Housing is a primary sector of industry that can contribute towards the upliftment and empowerment of communities. The building industry’s emphasis has traditionally been on commercially viable projects sidelining low-cost housing and the implicated low profit margins. As a rule, small contractors build low-cost affordable houses in a traditionally ineffective way, with low quality materials, inferior workmanship, little or no professional support, and most importantly, no benefit of economy of scale.

By focusing on aspects of the construction industry, it is possible to generate wealth and opportunities for emerging communities by introducing and facilitating mutually beneficial projects between these communities and the established formal sector. Mobilise joint ventures and partnerships involving business, community based and non-governmental organisations, facilitating the establishment of Co-operatives are but some of the options that can bring forth "Sustainable Development".

The opportunity for creating "sweat equity" is also a great incentive for building one's own home. To more and more people this is very important, because their sweat equity is the only equity they can muster. Communities who are building their own homes do it in a state of excitement and eagerness.

For companies with the resources and persistence to compete at the bottom of the economic pyramid, the prospective rewards include the incalculable contribution to social and economic development, growth and substantial profits. This would ultimately result in the multiplication of secondary economic activities and the development of small and medium scale enterprises, which would result in an increase in job opportunities.

Empowering individuals through community development

Working together to generate wealth and opportunities within emerging communities