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Additional support for UN-HABITAT from Dubai Municipality
8 April 2005, Nairobi: The Dubai Municipality, which has been
a long time supporter of UN-HABITAT’s work especially in the area
of best practices, has just announced that it will be providing additional
support to the organization to implement the following new initiatives.
Habitat Programme Managers: Most significantly, the
Dubai Municipality has committed a grant of US$ 160,000 to UN-HABITAT
for the specific purpose of helping establish the Habitat Programme Managers
network in countries around the world. The aim of the grant is to help
in the further distribution and dissemination of best practices in human
settlements.
Special Human Settlements Programme for the Palestinian People:
UN-HABITAT and the Dubai Municipality will establish a Board of Trustees
for a Trust Fund to support the Palestinian National Authority in its
efforts to develop human settlements and housing programmes in the Palestinian
territories. It is envisaged that resources for the fund will be mobilized
from different sources including the private sector and NGOs. It is anticipated
that the Director General of the Dubai Municipality, Mr. Qassim Sultan,
will, in his capacity as UN-HABITAT Goodwill Ambassador to Arab Countries,
provide active support in a variety of UN-HABITAT efforts including housing
construction, slum upgrading, water and sanitation and capacity building
in Arab Countries. The Dubai Municipality will also provide financial
support for the establishment of a Geographical Information System (GIS)
Center in the Palestinian territories
Dubai International Conference on the Transfer of Best Practices:
UN-HABITAT and the Dubai Municipality will jointly organize the
Dubai International Conference on the Transfer of Best Practices for the
attainment of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The Objective of the
Conference is to bring together Governments, Local Authorities, Community
Based Organizations (CBOs) and the Private Sector to assess the experience
of compiling Best Practices over the last ten years and formulate an effective
strategy for transferring Best Practices aimed at achieving a positive
impact on the living environment including the attainment of MDGs.
Dubai International Award on Best Practices to Improve the Living
Environment: Apart from the new initiatives listed above, the
Duai Municipality will continue to support the joint UN-HABITAT and Dubai
International Award on Best Practices by supporting the sixth cycle of
the Dubai International Award on Best Practices to Improve the Living
Environment which will be held during late November 2006. All Governments,
Local Authorities, Community Based Organizations and the Private Sector
are invited to submit Best Practices by March 2006 to be considered for
the Award. Guidelines for submissions are scheduled to be disseminated
by May 2005 through the Internet (www.bestpractices.com)
as well as through hard copies.
For further information, please contact: Sharad Shankardass,
Spokesperson & Head, Press & Media Relations Unit, or Ms. Zahra
Hassan, Media Liaison, Tel: (254 20) 623153, 623151, Fax: 624060, E-mail:
habitat.press@unhabitat.org,
Website: www.unhabitat.org
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