An independent international Jury will meet in Naples, Italy, from 24-26 June 2002 to select the Award winning practices. Each winner will receive prizes comprising US$30,000, a trophy and a commemorative certificate, which will be presented to them at a ceremony held in Brussels, Belgium on the occasion of World Habitat Day on 7 October 2002.

Short-listed Best Practices by Region

Africa Region.

• Programme Assainissement et Protection de l'environnement (Benin)
• Incorporating Philanthropy as an Integral Part of Business (Kenya)
• Reinsertion program in farming environment of Homeless (Madagascar)
• Relocation of Backyard Tenants (Namibia)
• Durban Metro Water Services: Sewage Disposal Education Programme (South Africa)
• Partnership in Service Delivery for Sustainable (South Africa).

• Experiment for sorting out garbage and recycling in Jordan (Jordan)
• Women's Contribution in Sustainable Rural Development (Lebanon)
• Promotion de Creation de Micro-Entreprises En Milieu Rural (Morocco).

Asia and the Pacific

• Poverty Eradication and Living Environment Improvement in Zhulin (China)
• The Urban Drainage System Project of Quanzhou (China)
• Action Plan for Sustainable Guangzhou (China)
• Post-disaster reconstruction, affordable housing and urban greening of Baotou (China)
• Area Based Assessment of Property Tax In Patna, Bihar (India)
• Improving the quality of life for socially excluded children (India)
• KERALA-Community based, Women oriented initiative to fight poverty (India)
• Formulating UN-HABITAT Integrated Guidelines and Framework for Eco-city (Korea)
• Community Watch Against Domestic and Gender Violence, Cebu City (Philippines)
• Central Council of Disabled Persons (Sri Lanka)
• Development of informal Financial Institutions, Tashkent (Uzbekistan)

Europe

• Mother Centre International Network/AG International (Germany)
• Sustainable Urban District Freiburg-Vauban (Germany)
• Coruna Solidarity Cooperation Network (Spain)
• Launch and development of the Cordoba (Spain)
• Protection And Rehabilitation Of The Historical World Heritage (Spain)
• Sustainable Urban Development in the City of Malmo (Sweden)
• SODIS, Solar Water Disinfection (Switzerland)
• Orchard Park and North Hull Enterprises Limited (O.P.N.H.E.) (United Kingdom).

Latin America and the Caribbean

• Humanitarian News Agency (a Red Solidaria project) (Argentina)
• Urban Agriculture for the Agroecological Development (Argentina)
• Eco-citizen program, Rio de Janeiro (Brazil)
• Gender and Citizenship Programme in Santo Andre (Brazil)
• Regional Integration for availability of water (Brazil)
• Solidarity in Literacy Programme (Brazil)
• Integrated Solid Waste Management Programme (Ecuador)
• Activities that promote conservation policies and protect the environment (Panama)
• Neighborhood Participation in the District of Santiago de Surco (Peru)
• REPAPEL: Paper Collection and Recycling in Schools (Uruguay).

North America

• Livable Region Strategic Plan (LRSP) for the Greater Vancouver Regional District (Canada)
• New York Avenue Metro Station Corporation (USA).

Regions based on UN General Assembly groupings of member states (Res. A/49/527).

Background

The Dubai Award is offered every two years to practices that have made important and sustainable improvements in human living conditions. The Award was established in 1996 during the second United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat 11), held in Istanbul, Turkey, where countries from around the world met to debate and develop an international plan of action to improve human living conditions. This action plan, known as the Habitat Agenda, has two key goals that all United Nations member states have agreed upon pursuing to improve their cities and the living conditions of their citizens: Adequate Shelter for All and Sustainable Urban Development. The practices selected by the TAC in Guangzhou last week represent the most successful examples of projects that have achieved these two goals.

The objective of the TAC meeting held in Guangzhou was to undertake an independent technical appraisal of validated submissions, to classify them as either Best, Good, Promising or Non-qualifying and to propose a shortlist of forty to an independent international jury. The jury will then select the ten best practices that qualify to receive the prestigious Dubai International Award for Best Practices in Improving the Living Environment. The selection process of Best Practices is a transparent process based on three criteria: a tangible IMPACT on human living conditions; PARTNERSHIP between two or more stakeholders; and SUSTAINABLILTY in terms of lasting changes in policies, management practices, attitudes and behaviour, as well as the additional considerations of potential for replication, innovation and contribution to promoting gender equality and social inclusion.

The members of the TAC are all experts in sustainable development from around the world representing local authorities, non-governmental organisations, research and academic institutions, the private sector and professional associations. The TAC was assisted by UN-HABITAT, Dubai Municipality and an independent adviser. The Municipality of Guangzhou generously provided major logistical support to the TAC meeting.

For further information, please contact:

Mr. Sharad Shankardass, Spokesperson
or Ms. Zahra A. Hassan
Media & Press Relations Unit
UN-HABITAT
Tel: (254 2) 623153
Fax: (254 2) 624060
E-mail: habitat.press@unhabitat.org
Website: www.unhabitat.org