The Dubai International Best Practices Awards stands for new set of practices and initiatives that have significantly contributed to the welfafre of mankind, according to Engineer Nasser Hussain Lootah, Director-General of Dubai Municipality.
Twelve winners received the award this year from Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, UAE Minister of Finance and Chairman of Dubai Municipality at a ceremony held at the Cultural and Scientific Association in Al Mamzar.
Lootah said that there were 500 submissions from 65 nations this year.
The winners received a cash reward of $30,000 (Dhs.110,900), a gold plated wind-tower trophy 'Barjeel' and a certificate.
The winners were from Burundi, Senegal, South Africa, China, Indonesia, Colombia, Spain, Mexico, the United States of America, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Palestine and Pakistan.
This is the seventh cycle of the award which was launched by the late Shaikh Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum in 1995 to recognize and enhance awareness of outstanding and sustainable achievements in improving the living environment as per the criteria established by the Second United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II) and the Dubai Declaration.
Open Window
"What makes the award different this year is that the winning practices came from different continents..
"This is (the) goal that we strive to achieve to position the award as an open window to the world for all countries to benefit by sharing expertise among them", said the Dubai Municipality Director-General.
New Concepts
Breaking New Ground
The Winners of the Awards for Best Practices include:
APROCOBU (Association for the Promotion of Cooperative Stores for Production, Selling and Supplying in Burundi) Burundi.
Involving Indigenous People in Forest Management in Decision Making Democratic Republic of Congo.
Micro-Gardens Dakar, Senegal
Marian hill Landfill Conservancy South Africa
The New Qingpu Practice China
Integrated People Driven Reconstruction in Post-Tsunami Aceh Indonesia
Spanish Network of Cities for the Climate - Spain
"Heartfelt Houses" The Pilot Project Colombia
Collective Action Mexico
Partnerships in Opportunities for Empowerment Through Technology in the Americas The Americas
Best Practices Transfers:
Water and Sanitation Extension Program (WASEP) Pakistan
The Palestinian Housing Council: From Hope to Sustainability Palestine.
|