An independent jury of international experts has announced the 12 winners of the Dubai International Award for Best Practices to Improve the Living Environment (DIABP) at its eighth cycle. Dubai will host a special ceremony to distribute prizes at the end of this year.
This came at a news conference held by the Municipality on Thursday, attended by Eng. Hussain Nasser Lootah, Director General of Dubai Municipality, Mr. Obaid Salem Al Shamsi, Assistant Director General for International Affairs and Partnership Sector and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of DIABP, Dr. Diana Lee-Smith, Chairperson of the International Jury of the award and Ms. Wandia Seaforth, Chief of Best Practices Programme, UN-HABITAT.
Lootah said that the International Jury for the award completed its meeting during the past two days in Dubai and selected the ten winners in the Best Practices category, and two in the Best Practices Transfer category.
He aid the winners of this cycle come from Angola, Kenya, Lebanon, Mongolia, Bulgaria, Spain (2 winners), Brazil, El Salvador, and Mexico in the Best Practices category and two winners from Austria and Argentina in the Best Practice Transfers category.
Mr. Lootah said award distribution ceremony will give all the winners an opportunity to benefit from the experiences of other practices and lessons.
He pointed out that the International Jury, led by Dr. Diana Lee-Smith from the UK, consisted of Mr. Ousmane M. Diallo from Mali, Mr. Gustavo Romero Fernandez from Mexico, Ms. Maria Fides Bagasao from the Philippines and Mr. Abdulla Mohammed Rafia, Assistant Director General of Dubai Municipality for General Support Services Sector.
He said that each one of the twelve winning practices will receive a cash prize worth US$30,000, in addition to the "Barjeel" trophy and certificate of merit. Dubai Municipality will bear the travel expenses and accommodation for 2 representatives of the winners to the award ceremony.
Lootah also spoke about ongoing efforts to disseminate and exchange information about the award undertaken by Dubai Municipality in cooperation with the UN-Habitat. This includes publications and public information campaigns by various means, as well as a database which can also be found on the Internet on its website: http://www.dubaiaward.ae; www.bestpractices.org.
It should be noted that the DIABP has been developed based on the directives of Sheikh Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the late Ruler of Dubai in 1995, to honour outstanding achievements in improving the living conditions and increase awareness of the accomplishments that contribute to the achievement of sustainable development.
He stated that earlier a Technical Advisory Committee concluded its 3-day sitting and short-listed 45 submissions from the 387 received from 90 countries for the 8th cycle of the award. Lootah stressed on the role of partners in inviting nominations and endorsing the practices in some cases and also in encouraging the exchange and transfer of knowledge and experience.
On the evaluation procedures, he said the committee has assessed each nomination using the basic criteria adopted in the statute of the award which is sustainability, impact and partnership, in addition to other considerations such as the prospects for redoing them in other places, innovation and contribution to the promotion of gender equality and social inclusion and integrated approach to human settlements issues.
The nominations accepted for the 8th cycle of the award were on best practices implemented by local and federal governments, NGOs and the private sector that address the various issues related to safe housing, poverty eradication, economic development, environmental management, land use management, issues of children and youth, architecture and urban planning as well as several other issues.
He pointed out that the best practices nominations addressed the issues that affect the lives of people, and in fact, provided concrete solutions to the problems faced by communities around the world in their efforts to provide a better living conditions for the population. All the submissions received will be added to the UN-Habitat Best Practices database to help in the sharing of knowledge and the transfer of best practices to other communities around the world.
The Dubai International Best Practices Award, set up in 1995, attracted during its last seven cycles over 4,500 submissions from over 140 countries.
Winners of DIABP 2010
Ten Best Practices:
Africa
1. Angola - Luanda Urban Poverty Programme
2. Kenya - Ikotoilet - Improving the Urban Living Environment.
Arab States
3. Lebanon - Sustainable Environmental Practices and Policies.
Asia
4. Mongolia - Environment Friendly Products.
Europe
5. Bulgaria - Composting: a Livelihood for the Roma (Gypsy)
Ethnic Minority in a small city.
6. Spain - Barcelona Schools Agenda 21 Programme.
7. Spain -Municipal Climate Change Plan Noain, Valle de Elorz.
Latin America
8. Brazil - Cities without Hunger - Community Gardens in Sao Paulo.
9. El Salvador - Recovery of the Housing Complex in the Historical Centre of San Salvador
10. Mexico - Transfer of Appropriate Technologies for Water and Sanitation
Management in Tzotzill Indigenous Community in Chiapas.
Two Best Practices Transfer Awards
1. Austria - Vienna Buys Ecologically
2. Argentina - Legal Extension through Neighbours in the City of Mendoza
-Ends-
For further information: Ismail Meladi
Senior Media Officer, Media Section
Corporate Marketing & Relations Department
Dubai Municipality
+971 4 2064657 +971 4 2232188
+971 50 6341075
ipparambil@dm.gov.ae
© Press Release 2010
