Nairobi, 18 July 2017 -- The Dubai Municipality and UN-Habitat is currently calling for submissions to the 11th round of the 2017 Dubai International Award for Best Practices to Improve the Living Environment.

The 2017 award is an international contest which seeks to recognize outstanding initiatives that are making valuable contribution to the sustainability agenda along the themes of the New Urban Agenda. The award is open to all national and regional governments; local authorities and their associations; non-governmental organizations; multilateral agencies; community based organizations; research and academic institutions; public and private foundations; media entities and individuals in different categories

This edition of the Award comes at a critical time. With the New Urban Agenda signed in October last year, this is a distinct opportunity to highlight and collect effective urban interventions in line with the Agenda and Sustainable Development Goal 11 – to make cities and communities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable. For 2017, the Dubai International Award will be given to applicants who have made significant contributions which:

(i) Have a demonstrable and tangible impact on improving people’s quality of life;

(ii) Are the result of effective partnerships between the public, private and civic sectors of society;

(iii) Are socially, culturally, economically and environmentally sustainable.

The Dubai Award was established in 1995. Since then, more than 100 initiatives in over 50 countries have received the Award, ranging from projects improving access to public space, improving housing affordability in Burkina Faso, promoting gender equality and women empowerment from Kenya and Netherlands, improving water and sanitation services in Pakistan, improving air quality in Canada, and advocating for sustainable cities in USA.

The last Dubai International Award took place in 2014, and the Award Ceremony drew representatives from different municipalities, local governments, academia, civil society and the private sector. During the award ceremony, a total of 11 initiatives from 11 countries were awarded.

For 2017, the award recognizes outstanding accomplishments in developing innovative ways of dealing with social, economic, and environmental challenges in a sustainable manner in five categories, each with two winners; 2 Best Practices, 2 Best Practices Transfers; 2 Personal awards, and 2 Private sector winners are all given USD thirty thousand (30,000 US Dollars) each. 2 University Research winners will receive USD fifteen thousand (15,000 US Dollars) each.

Deadline for submissions of applications is 31 August 2017. For more information on how to apply, visit our webpage unhabitat.org/dubai-award/. All applications must be submitted online. If you have questions, please contact best.practices@unhabitat.org.