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Best Practices Partners
SHORTLIST OF 40 BEST PRACTICES FOR THE DUBAI INTERNATIONAL AWARD
JURY
Dubai 11 - 12 July 2004
Africa:
- Sanitation and farmer production in Sabtenga
- Sand Dams of Kitui: Providing Potable & Production
Water in Semi-Arid Lands of Kitui District
- Polyclinic of Hope (POH), Kigali
- Prevention's strategies of fight against malaria
- Development Action Group’s People’s Housing Process
Programme, Cape Town.
- Business and Competence Development: Working
to reduce poverty, unemployment and hardship
BFA684/2004-Sanitation and farmer production
in Sabtenga, Burkina Faso
The population of Burkina Faso is 13 million (UN,
2003) with a GNI per capita of US $220(World Bank, 2001). Centre
Régional pour l’Eau Potable et l’Assainissement (CREPA) is
an international NGO working in several countries of West Africa.
CREPO started a programme of ecological latrines (EcoSan) in the
village of Sabtenga (3,062 inhabitants), 20 km away from Ouagadougou
(the capital of Burkina Faso) within its water and sanitation framework.
Among its objectives, CREPO aimed to contribute
to improving the health conditions of the populations by putting
appropriate and cheap sanitation facilities at the disposal of the
populations and by promoting the composition of human excreta for
agricultural purposes
To be enable it to achieve its goals, the organisation
started by identifying and prioritisation the needs of the population,
sensitising and training local actors, researching and studying
the socio cultural, technical, hygiene-health, and agronomic aspects
of ecological sanitation, preparing the experimental site and conducting
the experiments and finally disseminating the results of the pilot
project.
The project started in October 2001 with several
preparatory meetings involving all local stakeholders and community
leaders. Capacity building activity included training of masons
and awareness coordinators.
Human excreta was collected, mixed with domestic
waste and set aside to composite, this in turn resulted in good
quality manure for agriculture. This process not only contributed
to the reduction of random defecation on open spaces, but also improved
the hygienic conditions of the village. The EcoSan latrines built
in the village contributed to the preservation of the quality of
drinking water. After the construction of the first 10 latrines,
the positive impact on the environment and on the economic situation
allowed the project stakeholders to mobilize additional funds for
the realization of 50 others latrines.
The awareness strategy adopted during project implementation
has put emphasis on community participation and behavioral change.
Every household involved in the project committed to playing his/her
role fully and to maintaining his/her own garden for agricultural
production, enforcing community responsibility previously unseen
in the village. The beneficiaries of the latrines understood quickly
the EcoSan’s concept and the conditions of usage and maintenance.
The program fully meets the basic criteria of impact,
partnership and sustainability as well as the additional considerations
of leadership and community empowerment, social inclusion, and innovation
within local context and transferability.
KEN249/2004 – Sand Dams of Kitui: Providing
Potable & Production Water in Semi-Arid Lands of Kitui District,
Kenya
Kitui district, with a population of 575,512 and per capita income
of US$26, has agriculture as the main economic activity. However,
the district is repeatedly hit by drought as it lacks water mainly
due to the lack of retention of the water in the catchment areas,
as 80% of the received precipitation is lost as surface run-off.
As a result, water resources are few and far apart in dry periods
and people walk up to twenty kilometers to get water. The district
suffers from food insecurity and has been a net importer of food.
The sand dam programme, undertaken by Sahelian Solutions Foundation
Kenya (SASOL) aimed at increasing the availability of water by reducing
the distance to water sources and avail adequate water for domestic
and productive use within two kilometers of every household; and
the amount of water in the catchment to diversify the economic activities
of the community and mitigate the impact on the environment. This
is done by building of sand dams in a series in a catchment’s
drainage channels for synergistic effects.
SASOL works with local communities towards the alleviation of the
persistent water problem by organizing and informing the community
members about sand dams and their role in the construction. The
community identifies sites and decides on the total number of sites
it is capable of developing depending on availability of enough
stones, sand and water. The site committee plans for activities
at the site, supervises and monitors the work in progress; maintains
site records, mobilizes the required local resources, stores and
protects resources obtained externally, maintains technical staff
assigned; and assures compliance of rules and regulations developed
by the community.
The development of sand dams and water holding structures, terraces
and contour bunds on the land, has increased the number of productive
shallow wells from 2 to 39 to date. In total 376 sand dam sites
have been developed in Kitui to date bringing water closer to households
serving up to 200,000 inhabitants. The time saving on water collection
for these inhabitants has been reduced from 5-10 hrs to ½
- 1 hr in these areas as indicated by the community in Tungutu during
their project impact assessment. This has boosted food security
and economic activities have sprung up, such as bee keeping, brick
making and growing of vegetables and trees. This has improved the
people’s livelihoods. Women and children are the principle
beneficiaries in this development as they normally bear the burden
of water collection.
The program fully meets the basic criteria of impact, partnership
and sustainability as well as the additional considerations of leadership
and community empowerment, social inclusion, and innovation within
local context and transferability.
RWA008/2004- Polyclinic of Hope (POH),
Kigali, Rwanda
Rwanda has a population of 8.4 million and a per
capita income of US$200. At the end of the 1994 genocide, the country
was left with a large numbers of widows and orphans; who had suffered
the worst kind inhumanity, rape, torture and mutilation. The violence
in 1994 had damaging effects on the women and children including
psychosocial trauma, HIV/AIDS infection and dispossession. Polyclinic
of Hope (POH) is a center for women victims of rape and other violent
crimes perpetrated during the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, in the refugee
camps, and during insurgencies. The center was established in mid
1995 by Church World Service and Witness (CWS)-USA, the parent organization
of Rwanda Women Network.
The Polyclinic of Hope works in two locations in
Kigali Urban, Gitega Sector and Village of Hope, Kagugu Sector.
Beneficiaries include survivors of the genocide, victims of rape/
other violent crimes, widows, child-headed households and people
living with HIV/AIDS. Polyclinic deals with trauma in a post-conflict
situation while providing realistic and concrete solutions for these
women to regain self-confidence. The center has a holistic approach
that endeavors to provide integrated services in response to the
multiple problems and needs of these women. It offers free medical
services including referral and links to hospitals and medical clinics,
psychosocial support and trauma-counseling, referral services to
other relevant public and community sector services, credit facilities
for income generation and self-sustainability, and rehabilitation
and construction of housing. There is a strong component on advocacy
and awareness raising on the human rights of women, including the
right to own housing and land.
POH has so far provided medical support and counseling
services to 500 women and members of their families totaling about
2,500 people, constructed houses for 130 families and women survivors
in Kigali, replicated the same services to reach more people at
the at POH branch in Kagugu, where 20 families and 600 women live.
The women who have registered at the Center have benefited from
different training programmes. There are also 187 youths involved
in different activities at the Centers.
This innovative project is rewarded because of its integrated approach
and its people based rientation. It meets the basic criteria of
impact, partnership and sustainability as well as the additional
consideration of gender equality and social inclusion.
SEN678/2004-Prevention's strategies of
fight against malaria, Senegal.
Senegal has a population that is estimated to be 10.1 million (UN,
2003), with a GNI per capita of $470. According to the WHO, Malaria
death rate per 100.000 children ages 0-4 is 377. For the rest of
the population it falls to 72.
The Network of Community Support (Réseau d’Appui Community
(R.A.C.) was created in 1996, its main objective being to reduce
the high rate of mortality attributed to malaria in the municipality
of Bignona in Senegal. The network’s goal was to undertake the fight
and prevention of malaria and other common diseases through awareness
campaigns and by educating residents.
The network is composed of all local stakeholders: city council
members, grass root organizations, women, sport and cultural associations,
health and hygienic committees and representative of neighborhoods.
The technical service of the municipality is used as support structure.
The main focus of the network has been to ensure that the people
had ownership of the program, this is meant to encourage more people
to participate in the campaigns. An initial evaluation carried out
on the project found that all RAC neighborhood focal points were
functional, visits to clinics for consultations had increased from
30 to 60%; mortality rates attributed to malaria had drop by 70%.
Statistics show that the sale of chloroquine has increased significantly
and the number of hospitalisations for Malaria dropped from 304
in 1998 to 251 in 1999. Mosquito net usage increased from 450 nets
sold in 1997 to 4150 and 4500 in 1998 and 1999. Between 1997 and
2000, the network member visited more than 90% of the resident families.
These results were possible because due to the multicultural approach
undertaken by project participates and the involvement of all stakeholders
in the village including: religious leaders, traditional healers,
traditional communicators, schoolteachers, students, civil servants
etc, in the dissemination of information and education. Four out
of five families are now aware of the disease and how to prevent
it; know how access to medicine and are encouraged to use mosquito
nets.
The sustainability of this initiative has been made possible with
the introduction of malaria and health issues in the school curriculum
and in vocational training institutions. Decentralising RAC’s activities
has given grassroots communities the opportunity to consult each
other on the programme strategy and to be fully involved in implementation.
The program fully meets the basic criteria of impact, partnership
and sustainability as well as the additional considerations of leadership
and community empowerment, social inclusion, and innovation within
local context and transferability.
ZAF003/2004-Development Action Group’s
People’s Housing Process Programme, Cape Town. South
Africa
Khayelitsha and Griffiths Mxenge areas of Cape
Town cover a total area 1.5 sq. km. and have a total of 55,000 people.
The monthly per capita income of the two areas is US$95. There are
few formal economic activities in the area and the main economic
activities include informal grocery shops, taverns and crèches.
People in these areas have lived under appalling circumstances with
shacks proving inadequate in protecting the inhabitants from harsh
weather conditions. Development Action Group’s (DAG’s) People’s
Housing Process Programme consisted of three housing consolidation
projects formed by the communities living in these areas. The projects:
Masithembane, Homeless and Squatters Housing Project (HOSHOP) and
Sinako Ukuzenzele were initiated in 1997 and implemented in 1999-2002.
The main objectives of the projects were to build adequate housing
and thus improve living conditions; develop the capacity of the
community organizations to manage development processes and stimulate
local job creation.
The projects followed the People’s Housing Process
(PHP) methodology, a community-based form of housing delivery in
which beneficiaries initiate, plan, design and implement their projects.
DAG provided technical advice and support to community organizations
and training to community members. Partnerships between the People’s
Housing Partnership Trust (PHPT), the Western Cape Provincial Housing
Development Board, the Tygerberg Administration within the City
of Cape Town together with the community-based organizations have
been key to successful implementation of the projects.
A total of 638 houses were built and occupants
took part in training and capacity building workshops. Over 70 people
were employed as builders in the projects and another 12 people
were employed in the 3 Housing Support Centres. Material suppliers
in the low cost housing market have subsequently employed community
members who worked in the support centers. Approximately 20 people
(Housing Support Centre staff and committee members) received 10
days training on the management of housing projects followed by
10 days of practical construction training. In addition, 10 builders
in the HOSHOP project and 30 builders in the Masithembane project
received in-depth on-site construction skills training over a period
of a few months. DAG has subsequently been involved in the capacity
building of other communities and local authorities to implement
similar projects in other parts of the country. The Kuyasa Fund,
a housing loan fund established by DAG, provided savings-linked
housing loans to beneficiaries. Women’s leadership was also established
and a private material supplier employed two women as facilitators
of people’s housing projects in other communities.
The program fully meets the basic criteria of impact, partnership
and sustainability as well as the additional considerations of leadership
and community empowerment, gender equality and social inclusion,
and innovation within local context and transferability.
TGO022/2004-Business
and Competence Development: Working to reduce poverty, unemployment
and hardship, Togo
Togo, with a population of 4 million people and
average annual per capita income of US$ 280, has agriculture as
the main economic activity. Poverty and unemployment levels are
high. The main aim of "AVEBETO", a Non-Governmental Organisation
(NGO) was to address the situation by advocating and training people
to own businesses and thus create employment, in turn contributing
to overall nation development. AVEBETO was integrated with the International
Managers and Firms owners training Institute IIFEG-Ecole des Patrons
in 1998. IIFEG-Ecole des Patrons puts emphases on practical teachings
versus theory. The main objective of the institute is to fight against
poverty through the creation and ownership of money-generating businesses.
Lecturers provide information and technical advice; encourage the
exchanges of ideas; develop training programs, at regional, national
and international levels, encourage participants to brainstorm on
various business ideas and start a business before the end of their
training.
The main sources of funding for the institution include registration
fees, donations from members, and subscription fees from members.
The institution undertakes conferences, seminars to sensitize, inform
and to train the population especially the youth. All programs undertaken
by the institution cover a duration of 4 to 6 weeks. About 10 subjects
are taught, including accounting, organization of firms, Marketing,
Business management. By the third week of training students will
take up projects, which identify money generating activities and
businesses, these in turn become their initial businesses at the
end of the training course.
From 1998 to 2003 out of the 650 trainees at the institute, 300
started their own business. Concerning the access to the training,
there is positive discrimination in favor of women and girls. 3000
of the beneficiaries are women and girls and 60% of these women
have created their own businesses. They have collaborated with other
businesses and are employing a great number of youth. In 2003, 1000
jobs were created. Through this unique training program many students,
and delegates have been able to improve their lives. Among these
privileged business owners are people from Benin, Cameroon, Central
Africa, Democratic Republic of Congo, Congo Kinshasa, Burkina Faso,
Côte d’Ivoire and Togo.
The program fully meets the basic criteria of impact, partnership
and sustainability as well as the additional consideration of gender
equality and transferability.
Arab States
- Environmental Waste Management System
- Association for Forest Development and Conservation
- Renovation of the Old City of Hebron
- IT4Youth
KWT609/2004-Environmental Waste Management
System, Kuwait
Kuwait, population 2.5 million and a per capita
income of US$ 18,000 produces approximately 2,200 tons of waste
per day, an average 1.3 Kg. per person, which initially was dealt
with by burying the waste in an abandoned quarry, causing land and
air pollution. The amount of waste produced has been on the rise
as a result of population growth in Ahmadi Town, population 25,000
where the Kuwait’s Oil Company is located. In response to this prevailing
situation, in 1995 the Oil Company entered into a contract at the
cost of US$ 5 Million for period of 4 years to collect and transport
approximately 35–40 tones of waste from various locations including
plantations, restaurants, residential areas, offices and roads per
day. The main objective of the initiative is to have an effective
and profitable waste management operation by raising awareness on
environment issues and the impact of domestic waste on the environment
and establishing a system to increase the amount of raw material
produced from recycling.
The main source of funding came from Kuwait’s Oil
Company and human resources were mobilized at the household level.
One of the challenges of the initiative was collecting and sorting
all kinds of waste dumped together as the concept of waste separation
was unknown. Through aggressive campaigns, advertisements, training,
and development of alternative collection methods residents were
made to understand importance of waste management.
Since the start of the initiative the amount of
waste reduced by 80% in Ahmadi Township. Introducing the concept
of waste recycling and separation of waste in the garbage collection
contract saved a total of US$ 1,000,000. Pollution has reduced as
a result of recycling a total of 19,048 tones of waste. Recycling
also provided raw materials such as paper, plastic, metal, carton
and glass for local and foreign industries. A great quantity of
compost from recycling organic waste is used to enhance and upgrade
the soil quality in Kuwait in support of the company’s policy to
plant 1 million trees in the oil field to reduce air pollution.
The initiative has taken into consideration social, economic, environmental
and cultural elements and developed methods accepted by society.
It educated company staff, their families and society in general
on the dangers of domestic waste pollution and the need to reduce
waste. In addition, various schools participated in recycling and
clean up projects and were recognized by and received awards form
the Kuwaiti government.
The program meets the basic criteria of impact,
partnership and sustainability as well as the additional considerations
of leadership and community empowerment, and innovation within local
context and transferability.
LBN552/2004-Association for Forest Development
and Conservation, Lebanon
A series of wars, unplanned development and forest
fire degraded the environment and reduced green spaces in Lebanon.
Forests before the destruction had covered twenty-two percent of
Lebanon. In the village of Ramlieh, population 1,700, located in
the Lebanese mountains, 5 youth founded Association for Forest Development
and Conservation (AFDC) in 1993 after a fire destroyed much of the
local forest. The young adults decided to replant the forest and
develop the means to prevent the future degradation of similar forests.
After several years of promoting their ideas to the local community
and advocating for the involvement of policy makers from their area,
AFDC realized that reforestation and forest fire prevention should
be implemented in other regions of Lebanon.
By 1996 AFDC became a nationwide youth action-group
consisting of many different projects and partnerships; breaking
down political, regional, and religious barriers that have divided
their country for so long. It was through this organization that
many of the members first befriended and worked with youth from
different regions and religions.
Today AFDC's efforts are focused on six programs:
forest fire prevention, reforestation, environmental awareness and
education, capacity building, eco-tourism, and special campaigns
and covers twelve villages in Mount Lebanon. In 1998 The Mediterranean
Forest Development and Conservation Center of Lebanon was established.
This center has not only allowed for the expansion of the original
tree nursery which has produced more than 250,000 trees for AFDC's
reforestation project, but is also used as a training center with
several conference rooms used for the environmental education and
awareness programs. The center also consists of a youth hostel which
promotes low impact eco-tourism, allowing for both Lebanese and
foreign tourists to experience and appreciate the natural beauty
of Lebanon. Through the forest fire prevention program AFDC trains
roughly 70 volunteers, from around the country, each year on how
to fight forest fires.
The special campaigns program has given AFDC the
opportunity to promote local dialogue and awareness on a number
of environmental issues such as water conflict analysis in the southern
region of Lebanon, dialogue regarding the hunting laws in the country,
lobbying for the regulation of quarries, waste management and the
establishment of an eco-religious campaign, which strives to involve
the 17 religious communities of Lebanon in the protection of forests
and other areas of the country as sacred gifts to the earth. Through
this program AFDC has achieved the protection of the Harissa forest
and the Qadisha valley, which were declared sacred gifts to the
earth by the Maronite Church. AFDC believes all components and members
of society are key players, especially women, youth and farmers;
the programs of the organization will target these groups.
The program fully meets the basic criteria of impact,
partnership and sustainability as well as the additional considerations
of leadership and community empowerment, gender equality and social
inclusion, and transferability.
PLS201/2004:Renovation of the
Old City of Hebron, Palestine
Hebron, one of the oldest and most sacred cities
in the world is located in the south of Palestine and has about
140,000 inhabitants. In addition to agriculture, local economy relies
on handicraft, small and medium-scale industry and construction.
Hebron is one of the best-preserved examples of medieval cities
in the world, but was progressively abandoned and had been in a
bad state after the Israeli occupation of the Old City in 1967.
Various campaigns and the consequent tighter restrictions on the
movement of the residents together with increasing economic problems
forced most people out leaving those who were socially marginalized
and could not afford to improve the existing housing facilities,
urban infrastructure, prevent decay of cultural heritage and environmental
degradation.
Since its inception the Hebron Rehabilitation Committee
(HRC) aimed at preserving the cultural heritage as a key element
for keeping the collective identity of the people of Hebron; counteracting
the Israeli political pressure by repopulating and revitalizing
highly threatened, neglected and poverty-stricken areas in the old
city; and encouraging community participation through the provision
of adequate and affordable housing compatible with a cultural heritage
conservation policy taking in to consideration the social, economic
and cultural aspects of the residents. It has promoted legal initiatives
in an attempt to halt further Israeli settlement constructions and
demolition of Arab-owned houses. The rehabilitation programme promotes
the use of labour-intensive methods as a means to create sustainable
employment opportunities, provide specialized training on traditional
methods of conservation and increase the level of income of the
community. The HRC is working closely with several governmental
bodies of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) and many other
governmental and non-governmental organizations. It has received
political and financial support by many Arab and international donors
and organizations.
The HRC has succeeded in rehabilitating historical
buildings and urban infrastructure in accordance with international
renovation standards while converting these buildings into residential
affordable apartments. More than 526 apartments have been renovated
and eventually inhabited. Some of the commercial markets, streets
and underground infrastructure have been renovated. The Committee
has installed iron doors and windows
for approximately 279 houses. Health care facilities have been provided
for the community. The Committee was able to change people’s perceptions
about Hebron from a bad, unsecured environment into a pleasant place
to live in. Several new residents have moved into the old city since
1997.
The program fully meets the basic criteria of impact, partnership
and sustainability as well as the additional considerations of leadership
and community empowerment, and innovation within local context and
transferability.
PLS635/2004-IT4Youth, Palestine
Northern rural areas of the West Bank, population
31,000 and per capita income of US$900 are among the poorest and
least served communities in Palestine. The main economic activity
of the area comprises small shops for basic goods. Since late 2000,
under severe movement restrictions, unemployment and poverty has
risen sharply to 70%. The growing poverty adversely affects children
and youth, which comprise 70% of the population and they have limited
access to higher education or vocational training. The IT4Youth
program uses an integrated model to introduce computer-based information
technology to young people in rural areas of the Palestinian West
Bank. The program involves both school-based and community-based
interventions to improve the learning skills and employment rate
of its participants, thereby leading to an increased quality of
life. The pilot IT4Youth covers a cluster of 11 West Bank villages
and communities between Nablus and Jenin, and targets youth aged
10 through 24 in schools and through a regional community center.
It provided for the construction/ renovation, and equipping of computer
labs in 14 schools and a regional IT center that will be turned
over to a Joint Community Services Council at the end of the project.
The IT4Youth project successively mobilized resources on local,
national and international levels, and across public, private and
non-profit sectors. The local partners (school administrators, village
councils and regional heads) participated through mobilizing technical,
financial and human resources, providing space for building the
center and school labs, facilitating the training of teachers, and
maintaining and sustaining the center and labs. They were also instrumental
in their role of networking with the private sector for sponsorship
of trainees, job placement, marketing and advertising in exchange
for in-kind donations, and providing technical advice and commitment
to the sustainability of project.
With 300 computers installed in 14 schools, the program has succeeded
to develop annually over 4,000 IT-proficient Palestinian youth in
a rural setting, 250 teachers, and parents and community members.
The fully equipped regional IT center in Silet al-Daher provides
an average 50 youth daily with Internet access, computer games,
educational programs and vocational training. Youth managers organize
the club activities and mentors volunteers to work with younger
members. In addition, IT vocational trainees are placed to do internships
in the community to get experience in new skills. The program has
succeeded in engaging youth in technology through active teaching
techniques in computer basics, internet skills and more advanced
computer applications, in addition to facilitating leadership and
mentoring in the regional IT center.
The program fully meets the basic criteria of impact, partnership
and sustainability as well as the additional considerations of leadership
and community empowerment, and innovation within local context and
transferability.
Asia and the Pacific Region
- The Pride of Place Program
- Brownfield Remediation of the Tangshan Southern
Coal Mining Area
- Green Rating of the Indian Industry Project
- "Bhagidari": Citizen-Government Partnership
- A Green Path to Sustainable Development of Marginal
Drylands
- Operation of Ocean-ecology and Renewable Energy
- Gujrat Sanitation Program
- The Sustainable Indigenous Peoples Agricultural
Technology (SIPAT)
AUS187/2004-The Pride of Place Program, Australia
Australia has a Federal system of government. State Government
is the middle level of 3 tiers of Government: Federal, State and
Local. Victoria is the smallest and most densely populated state
in Australia with a population of 5 million. Melbourne is the capital
of Victoria and is dominated by the Yarra river.
The Pride of Place Program was initiated to spread the benefits
of good strategic planning and urban design to the whole of Victoria,
in response to the visible decline of many suburban, regional and
rural centres, and inspired by the successful urban revitalisation
of central Melbourne.
The Program is a partnership between State and Local Government.
Local Government Agencies apply for co-funding for projects given
priority by their communities. The State gives priority to projects
in areas of perceived need of assistance, such as towns affected
by natural disasters. The Department of Sustainability and Environment
(the Department) manages the program.
Grants encourage Councils, working with their communities and urban
design professionals, to develop visions and strategies for lively,
economically sustainable, attractive and safe local centres. Councils
are assisted to manage change, such as development pressures or
industry decline, by reinforcing the attractiveness, unique character
and cultural heritage of local centres.
After funding for a new Program is confirmed an information brochure,
which clarifies objectives and selection criteria, is produced and
distributed to eligible applicants, accompanied by a letter from
the Minister for Planning inviting applications. Applications include
the amount of their proposed contributions and amount of funds requested.
The value of grants requested ranges from $5,000 to $300,000.
Presentations by Regional Offices and subsequent reviews by the
Panel take 3-4 days. The Panel considers the relative merit of all
applications, based on published selection criteria, and submits
recommendations to the Minister for Planning for approval.
Applicants are notified of the result of their application. Successful
applicants receive a Letter of Offer, and Terms and Conditions of
the grant including a Schedule and Performance Milestones agreement.
The applicant together with the Regional Office must complete these.
The contractual stage is important, to reduce the risk to the State
of Councils defaulting on agreements after receiving funding.
Projects have generated high levels of community support and pride
through consultative and inclusive design processes. The Program
fosters goodwill between the State Government, Councils and local
communities. The projects also promote sustainable development,
through
the development of long-term strategies to manage global and local
changes. The development of attractive towns and cities helps to
retain and increase resident populations, and to attract more visitors.
Many projects in rural and regional locations have provided or
strengthened existing recreation and tourist attractions, protecting
the delicate balance between natural flora and fauna, and the intrusion
of people through limiting access to protected areas, creating elevated
boardwalks, and enhancing environmental awareness with signage at
key points.
The project is both replicable and sustainable. The program fully
meets the basic criteria of impact, partnership and sustainability
as well as the additional considerations of leadership and community
empowerment and innovation within local context and transferability.
CHN157/2004: Brownfield Remediation
of the Tangshan Southern Coal Mining Area
Tangshan, also known as T'ang-shan, city, is located in Northern
China, in Hebei Province. It is a major industrial city situated
in the K'ailuan coalfield near Beijing. Tangshan developed as an
important center of heavy industry with locally mined coal used
to generate much electricity; industries include steel, machinery,
motor vehicles, and cement. It was severely damaged in 1976 after
two earthquakes killed over 12 per cent of the city’s population.
Tangshan’s population in 1991 was 1,968,386.
Thirty years of exploitation of Tangshan’s natural coal reserves
had left the surrounding areas of Tangshan in a devastated state.
The most bleak and depressed area stretched 1,300 hectares to the
south of the city center, with growing mountains of rubbish and
flowing waste. This old and abandoned open-pit mine became a serious
source of pollution and environmental degradation as mountains of
rubbish and coal-mining waste attracted flies and vermin. Loose
dust particles would become windblown during the dry summer season,
turning the sky bleak and infiltrating each and every corner of
the city.
This lead to a decision by the Municipal Government to establish
the “Southern Reforestation Construction Headquarters Office”
which was charged with the task of coordinating a comprehensive
remediation plan. Specific objectives included, clearing-up 1.3
million cubic meters of rubbish made up of waste coal mining material,
demolishing 240,000 square meters of old industrial structures that
were no longer in use.
While the Municipal Government of Tangshan assumed the leadership
role in the design, implementation and coordination of the remediation
plan, they involved numerous actors and stakeholders, experts, planners
and industry executives. An awareness campaign was launched with
the use of TV, radio, posters, exhibitions and town hall meetings
where all actors and stakeholders were able to exchange ideas on
various aspects of the plan and the merits of its component projects.
Multi-stakeholder management and supervision committees were also
established to ensure the proper and transparent use of resources
including land and funds, inspection of works, and quality and cost
control.
Reforestation involved planting 1.38 million trees and 240,000
square meters of shrubs and to form 607 hectares of green space,
the diversion of wastewater from 250 pits through a network of 5,313
meters of collector pipes to bring the wastewater to the sewage
treatment plant for the safe disposal of sewage. The creation of
a leisure park complete with entertainment and leisure facilities
such as boats, pavilions, walk ways and paths and traditional Chinese
garden architecture including arched bridges and covered walkways.
65 hectares of stagnant water have been completely cleaned and purified
and turned into a lake. The lake is safe for people to swim in and
water life has been returned to this body of water, including fish,
aquatic and migratory birds and insects.
The integrated approach of the initiative meets the basic criteria
of impact, partnership and sustainability as well as the additional
considerations of leadership and community empowerment, and social
inclusion, and innovation within local context and transferability.
IND168/2004-Green Rating of the Indian
Industry Project, India
India has the second largest population in the world (over 1 billion).
Although India occupies only 2.4% of the total area of the world
it supports over 15% of the world population. In this sub-continent,
maintaining a safe, clean environment is paramount but even after
more than 50 years of regulatory regime, industrial pollution continues
unabated in India. Studies show that while the economy in the country
doubled between 1975 and 1995, the industrial pollution load grew
4 times. The growing pollution led to a spate of legal cases and
people’s protests threatening industrial investments.
Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) Green Rating Project (GRP)
was started as a civil society initiative to develop an alternative
form of governance to control industrial pollution in India. The
project was conceptualised in wide consultation with economic experts,
industry experts and NGOs. Priority was given to developing a strategy
that would motivate the industry to catalyse environmental improvements
of their own accord. The organisation used a carrot and stick approach
where the non-participating company was penalised and the voluntary
participants were given a pat on their back. The response was tremendous
with voluntary participation of 90 per cent of industry members
in all 3 sectors, pulp and paper sector, the automobile sector and
the chlor-alkali sector.
To ensure success of the project, the organisation
developed an alternate database of environmental information about
industries. The organisation also decided to rate companies within
the same sector so as to motivate companies that were successful
in their fields to join the project and score over their competitors.
GRP involved eminent and highly respected representatives from industry,
civil society and the government to ensure high credibility, which
would in turn motivate powerful companies to participate. GRP also
made the results of the in public thus encouraging more companies
to participate.
So far, GRP has worked with over 250 large-scale
Indian companies, all of them being in the list of Top 500 companies
of India. GRP has specifically worked with pulp and paper industry,
automobile industry, steel industry, cement industry, power industry
and chemical industry.
The biggest contribution of the project to India
is to improved environmental governance. By putting information
on the environmental performance of Indian companies in the public
domain, it helps to put public pressure on industry to constantly
upgrade environmental performance. The other achievements made in
six years include, increasing the number of companies with ISO 14001-certification
from 1 to 5. More than 15% of the paper & pulp companies have
adopted better technologies and companies sourcing farm forests
rather than natural forests increased by 20%. Water consumption,
which was as high as 250 tons per tonne of paper produced, has gone
down by 16% and as many as 25% of companies had stopped using elemental
chlorine for bleaching. Today a good rating by GRP to a company
is considered as the ultimate certification about the environment
performance.
The program fully meets the basic criteria of impact,
partnership and sustainability as well as the additional considerations
of leadership and community empowerment and innovation within local
context and transferability.
IND169/2004-"Bhagidari":
Citizen-Government Partnership, India
Delhi, with a population of 11,680,000, and varying
economic conditions ranging from modern agriculture, handicrafts,
to a wide range of modern industries was faced with deteriorating
conditions of environment, traffic, and public utilities. Overflowing
sewers, littering on public places, poor roads, long traffic jam
coupled with vehicular and industrial pollution characterized the
city. The administration was also overburdened and the conventional
methods of problem solving were not yielding the desired results.
The Government of NCT of Delhi took an initiative
in the year 2000 to involve its citizens in facilitating citywide
changes in Delhi, by utilizing processes and principles of multi-stakeholders
collaboration through ‘Large Group Dynamics’ and "joint ownership"
with citizens and civic agency officials. The Government of NCT
of Delhi put into place a participatory and interactive framework
of governance, ‘Bhagidari’, meaning ‘co-sharing’ or ‘partnership’.
It is a good governance initiative that has facilitated a process
of dialogue between the citizens and the government for the discovery
of joint solutions aiming at improving the quality of life in the
city. The methodology of ‘Large Group Interactive Events’ has been
used to train the citizen groups and government officials to develop
consensus on civic issues pertaining to water, power, sanitation,
community services, security and environment.
‘Bhagidari’ has helped develop a democratic framework
of the state where Resident Welfare Associations, Rural Groups,
Market & Traders Associations, Industrial Associations, and
NGOs have become representatives of local groups. These associations
are effective in understanding issues of common civic concern, discussing
with government representatives the problems hampering effective
delivery of civic services and formulating joint workable solutions
to improve their environment and quality of life.
The initiative that began with 20 Resident Welfare
Associations is now an active partnership of more than 1300 citizen
groups comprising nearly 5 million people. Bhagidari’ has been expanded
in the last three years to include successful initiatives such as
setting up School Welfare Committees in all government schools,
empowerment of women through ‘Stree Shakti’ camps, opening of Gender
Resource Centres and Eco-campaigns. More than 100,000 women from
the lower sections of the society have benefited. 52 residential
areas have initiated rainwater harvesting through community participation
to recharge the vastly depleting underground water level. The civic
agencies and the Delhi Government have provided substantial financial
and technical assistance.
The program fully meets the basic criteria of impact,
partnership and sustainability as well as the additional considerations
of leadership and community empowerment, gender equality and innovation
within local context and transferability.
IRN239/2004-A Green Path to Sustainable Development
of Marginal Drylands, Iran
Iran, population 68.9 million and per capita income of US $1,720,
covers an area of 636,296 sq. miles. Oil exports account for around
80% of foreign exchange earnings as well as non-oil exports such
as carpets. The Gareh Bygone Plain, a 6000-hectare sandy desert
in southern Iran annually receives 150mm of rain as opposed to 2860mm
of Class A pan evaporation. Freshwater scarcity, poor rangeland,
and dust storms had caused migration of some nomads-turned-farmers
from the Gareh Bygone Plain. The remaining women and children had
to walk up to 6-km a day to fetch water resulting in back pain and
miscarriages for the women and the lower school attendance for the
children.
The initiative addresses the vicious cycle of poverty, desertification,
and drought affecting the nomads in the Gareh Bygone Plains of Iran.
The main objective of the initiative was desertification control
through floodwater spreading for the artificial recharge of groundwater.
Other objectives include planting of shade trees and fodder bushes
as live windbreaks; deposition of the suspended load onto the moving
sand; and provision of fuelwood which would discourage people from
cutting trees and removing bushes on the watersheds, thus helping
soil and water conservation. All of these activities, along with
hiring of laborers and watchmen, would reverse the tide of migration.
Floodwater spreading, as expected, has transformed a desert into
verdant scenery. Some of the tangible benefits, which were instrumental
in reversing the migration towards the Gareh Bygone Plain. The program
introduced initiatives for reforestation, community education and
mobilization. A collaboration of central government, local authority,
parastatals, non-government organizations, community-based organizations
and academic institutions provided knowledge, resources and technology.
After five years, results show that 8 million cubic meters of floodwater
provided ample freshwater, fuel wood, and employment opportunities,
and reduced work burden on women and children. The irrigated area
has increased from 147 ha to 1,193 ha and this has provided income
for 250 operators, and 95 hired laborers. Moreover, extra employment
has been provided due to the annual production of 10 tons of honey.
Its success led to a government policy adopting aquifer management
as a program and allocated annual budget. It demonstrated the potential
of annually harvesting 50 cubic kms of floodwaters could control
desertification on 14 million hectares, supply irrigation water
for 6 million hectares and provide jobs for 4 million people.
The program meets the basic criteria of impact, partnership and
sustainability as well as the additional considerations of leadership
and community empowerment, gender equality and social inclusion,
and innovation within local context and transferability.
KOR035/2004-Operation of Ocean-ecology
and Renewable Energy, Republic of Korea
Incheon city is a coastal city located in North-East Asia. With
population of 2.6 million, it is famous of being the industrial
city, which led economic growth of Korea in 1960s and 1970s through
its harbor. Korea’s has a population of 47.7 million (UN, 2003),
with a GNI per capita of US $9,930 (World Bank, 2002). The city
is famous for its wetlands and for a long time, it was a salt production
area until decreasing economic efficiency caused it to halt production.
Recently the city got a fresh breath of life with the opening of
Incheon International Airport.
In 1990, Sungdam Co, the company that owned more than 3,700,000
acres of wetland around Sorae port, decided to turn the land into
a golf course. The municipality of Incheon proposed to use the land
as part of an ocean-ecology park and the rest of it, for economic
development. This led to protests from various Non-Governmental
Agencies (NGOs) who wanted the land preserved.
A citizen group comprised of NGOs, municipality, and businesses
working with natural energy formed a partnership with five priorities,
to prevent indiscreet development of the salt farm by turning it
into a golf course, to preserve it as a place to experience ecological
wetland and increase citizen familiarity with water, to constitute
a place of education related to environment, to earmark the area
for environmental preservation closed from city development and
lastly to establish a sustainable development strategy to hand over
younger generations.
One of the major achievements of this cooperation has been the
creation of a wetland park accessible to all Incheon citizens. More
than 20,000 students and housewives a year visit the part and get
to experience the importance of conservation and use of natural
energy firsthand. Every year over 100,000 citizens enjoy leisurely
walks and bike rides in the park. The park has also become a popular
movie and wedding location.
One of the greatest lessons learnt from the experience was building
of partnerships. The committee of Local Agenda 21 for Incheon consisted
of citizens, businesses, and municipality. To be able to come to
effective solutions, communication and compromise is key as opposed
to antagonism.
Though partnership and sustainability, the citizens of Incheon
city are able to enjoy the benefits of a recreation park and to
learn the importance of conservation. The program fully meets the
basic criteria of impact, partnership and sustainability as well
as the additional considerations of leadership and community empowerment
and innovation within local context and transferability.
PAK032/2004-Gujrat Sanitation
Program, Pakistan
Pakistan has one of the world’s highest populations
with 153 million people (UN, 2003) and a GNI per capita of US $420
(World Bank, 2002). As a fast growing country, modern lifestyle
has over the generated huge amounts of urban waste, which has become
a menace to the environment and urban management efforts. Only 43
% of the population has access to improved sanitation. Pakistanis
discard about 1 kg of waste per person per day. The potential recyclables
generated in the urban area such as paper, plastic bags and glass
have not been utilized effectively as the recovery rate is low.
The city of Gujrat, with an area of 6 square kilometer
and a total population of 543, 000 is a relatively medium city confronted
with many resource and environmental constraints, and like many
municipalities in developing countries, the officials have become
inundated by the volume of solid waste which they must process in
order to assure the health and safety of their populace. Besides
immediate health effects there are the more long-term problems of
groundwater contamination and as population grows, these problems
can only get worse.
The council set priorities to create community
awareness to the waste disposal problem, distribute garbage bags
to households, mechanise street cleaning and sweeping. Segregation
at source of inorganic wastes was to start in earnest and the council
was to start recycling of organic wastes into compost. Objectives
included creating employment for unemployed youth, generating income
from waste, cleaning up the entire city and establishing a self-sustainable
mechanism.
Educated youths were employed as social motivators
to create awareness and sensitise the issue in their respective
communities. Each social motivator was given 200 households in which
they distributed garbage bags and monitored the cleanliness in that
area. Organic waste was sorted into the different categories and
sold to the respective industries. The city was divided into several
units to organise its clean up. The project become self sustainable
when the income generated from service charges paid for the salaries
of the social motivators and the labour, while the income from recycling
of the waste provided as the profit incentive.
As a result of the implementation of this program,
the project has gained national recognition as a model of a self-sustainable
project. As a result of this program, the city of Gujrat, which
was once rated amongst the most unhygienic and dirtiest cities in
Pakistan, is now proudly one of the cleanest cities in the country.
The city has a proper waste collection and disposal mechanism in
place, over 500 jobs have been created and waste recycling plant
was built which turns organic waste into compost at a low cost to
farmers.
The program fully meets the basic criteria of impact, partnership
and sustainability as well as the additional considerations of leadership
and community empowerment and innovation within local context and
transferability.
PHL161/2004-The Sustainable Indigenous
Peoples Agricultural Technology (SIPAT), Philippines
Philippines has a population of over 80 million
people with a GNI per capita of US $1,030 (World Bank, 2002). In
the early 1980’s, the town of Kalinga, situated in Northern Philippines
faced environmentally destructive projects imposed by Dictator President
Marcos. Traditional knowledge and indigenous knowledge systems disappeared
and this bought about poverty and endangered mountain biodiversity.
SIPAT addresses the problems of poverty, cultural
and biodiversity loss among the indigenous communities farming the
ancient rice terrace of Northern Philippines. The main objectives
of SIPAT were to advocate for the termination of the environmentally
destructive projects imposed by Dictator President Marcos. To promote
Indigenous Peoples Rights Act and to assist, organize and empower
the indigenous peoples.
The organization used people to people and communities
to communities’ mobilization strategies to support their activities.
The principles of asset-based community development were applied.
The organization also used an Indigenous Peoples Way of Management
and Decision-Making (AMUNG) in organizational management and programs
and services delivery. AMUNG enhanced active involvement, active
participation and multi-partnership in program/project implementation.
AMUNG enhanced gender sensitivity and promoted high involvement
of women and youth in decision-making and management. AMUNG also
promoted a strong sense of ownership among stakeholders.
Achievements have included, 81% of the forest in
Kalinga being protected, conserved and maintained. 108 watersheds
were managed, conserved and protected and 27 hectares of rice terraces
newly created & 126 hectares rehabilitated. From 1990-1996 a
total of 7 indigenous communities with 1,071 households were assisted,
increased their production by 27% and ensured their food security.
From 1997-2002, three poorest-of-the poor indigenous communities
were assisted with 324 households that increased their production
by 36%. From 2002-2003, 154 households assisted that increased their
production by 45%.
The organization gained the support from multi-sectoral
partners involving nine local government units, three networks of
non-governmental organizations and national development programs.
The organization has successfully engaged in advocacy that led to
the termination of two environmentally destructive projects, and
the passage of progressive legislation such as the indigenous People’s
Rights Act and the creation of the Banawe Rice Terraces Commission.
The program fully meets the basic criteria of impact, partnership
and sustainability as well as the additional considerations of leadership
and community empowerment, gender equality and innovation within
local context and transferability.
Europe
- Vienna Buys Ecologically
- ufaFabrik : International Centre for Culture
& Ecology Berlin
- The sustainable revival of a little community
- Integrated Model of Care for HIV/AIDS people
at County level
- Implementing an integrated management system
for forest ecosystems producing wild mushrooms in the Valdorba
district. Rural sustainable development project in the Valdorba
district.
- The Alba-Ter Consortium: a commitment to territorial
cohesion, economic development and sustainability basin of the
River Ter from the local initiative
- Enlarged Community Rehabilitation Project.
- Poverty reduction among women through vocational
training and micro- financing programme.
AUT594/2004-Vienna Buys Ecologically, Austria
The population of Austria is 8.1 million (UN, 2003)
with GNI per capita at US $23,860 (World Bank, 2002). Austria regards
environmental protection as a matter of prime social importance
and at the same time as a topic of economic significance. Austria
has worked hard to promote of environmentally favorable investments
is governed by the Promotion of Ecological Activities Act.
The project "Vienna Buys Ecologically" was launched
in 1998 with the objective of promoting long-term ecologically minded
procurement at the city administration and its enterprises. To date,
this innovative and unique initiative has considerably assisted
city administration to increase their procurement proportion of
organic and other ecological products. For example, the share of
organic products at the Vienna’s public hospitals has reached 30
percent, all baked and dairy products, with the exception of cheese,
are 100% organic; and organic farmers deliver most of the beef.
The City of Vienna annually procures a variety
of products, goods and services worth more than 5 billion EURO,
ranging from textiles, detergents, office material, furniture, construction
material and building contracts to a full range of janitors’ services.
Buying in such bulk means that the city is far better able to control
quality and characteristics of products than any retail customer.
It has always relied on its market power to purchase a maximum of
environmentally friendly products.
To convince authorities as well as the public to enter into environmentally
friendly behaviour, "Vienna Buys Ecologically" embarked on a vast
awareness campaign, which included the development of informational
materials and catalogues of ecological criteria on almost everything
required at the City Administration. The catalogues proved instrumental
in simplifying and standardizing planning procedures and tendering
of services at the city administration and making them more transparent.
"Vienna Buys Ecologically" provides information
on other ecological products and services such as on energy efficiency
and environmental friendly architecture (low energy light bulbs,
building construction projects can actually generated savings).
A wide range of pilot projects were started to illustrate the fact
that ecological alternatives are feasible and economically efficient.
The catalogues of criteria were made available on the internet.
"Vienna Buys Ecologically" received a major boost
last summer when the Mayor of Vienna, during a press conference,
endorsed a general commitment to this new approach. "Vienna Buys
Ecologically" has been receiving international recognition regularly
since. Last year the EU commissioned a film on the project’s activities
as an example for ecological procurement in Europe.
The program fully meets the basic criteria of impact, partnership
and sustainability as well as the additional considerations of leadership
and community empowerment, and innovation within local context and
transferability.
DEU053/2004-ufaFabrik : International
Centre for Culture & Ecology Berlin, Germany
Germany has a population of 82.5 million (UN, 2003) with a GNI
per capita: US $22,740 (World Bank, 2002). In 1978 a 6-week environmental
festival organized by ufaFabrik founders inspired the Fabrik group
to find a place to demonstrate their ideas. In 1979 the intergenerational
community of people and projects moved into the abandoned studio
grounds of the former Ufa-Film Company in West Berlin, to begin
working with partners and the City on the conversion of this area.
ufaFabrik centre started immediately with sustainable community
development where a broad range of initiatives are carried out,
ranging from capacity building, training of co-operative, jobs creation,
gender inclusion, youth and single young mothers, immigrants, unemployed,
disadvantaged people, environmental concern etc. ufaFabrik has also
became an international centre for arts & culture, entertainments
which involving and inspiring many thousands of people each year.
Eco-project initiatives include: cogeneration &
renewable energy production, substantial solar & wind energy
systems, local re-use of rainwater, the greening and ecological
renewal of buildings, and other environmental practices. Eco-technologies
are explained to the public through an eco-exhibition, information
panels, and regular tours, workshops, seminars and conferences.
Through the ufaFabrik, a greater understanding
for self-help projects has evolved. Many ufaFabrik projects have
served as pioneers and helped to open up new possibilities and creativities
among people and communities, both locally and internationally.
Job creation and training programs have been tested and shared with
partners and the public. Many of the ufaFabrik´s environmental technologies
have been mainstreamed since their experimental implementation at
the ufaFabrik (co-generation, solar energy, rainwater use, roof-greening,
etc).
UfaFabrik people and organisations have evolved
as complements to local institutions, bringing creativity and sensitivity
to social, cultural, and ecological problems and issues, and strengthening
local capacities. The ufaFabrik has helped tens of thousands of
people over the decades to see the possibilities for non-violence
and personal action, for self-help projects, and for participatory
culture and ecology.
The ufaFabrik practices gender and social equality,
offering space and assistance to all social groups and classes.
The ufaFabrik is known as a leading center for ecological projects,
including everything from solar and wind energy to the re-use of
rain and wastewater, to ecological renovation and the greening of
buildings and roofs.
The program fully meets the basic criteria of impact,
partnership and sustainability as well as the additional considerations
of leadership and community empowerment, social inclusion, gender
equality and innovation within local context and transferability.
ITA334/2004-The sustainable
revival of a little community, Italy
The population of Italy stands at 57.4 million
(UN, 2003) with a GNI per capita: US $19,080 (World Bank, 2002).
Fossato di Vico is a town with a population of 2,500 people situated
in the region of the Umbria, Italy. A high level of emigration and
marginal economic and social state has affected the town with a
progressively ageing population. In 1997 a violent earthquake occurred
in central Italy and the town suffered numerous damages to building
and property; 60% in total, of which 12% were rendered totally unusable.
The Municipality commission a study to look into
the strengths and weaknesses of the territory. And Subsequently
established priorities, which included, increasing the historical
and environmental profile of the territory, reorganizing the Council
Administration for efficiency and transparency, stimulating public/private
partnership for all economic, cultural and social initiatives. Increasing
job opportunities, for women and youth. Building of new houses and
the restoring historical ones. Accelerating reconstruction, following
the 1997earthquake with quality and security.
Apart from the reconstruction of houses, the Municipality
has accelerated significant marketing initiatives to highlight the
cultural and environmental characteristics of the territory, aiming
to create private partnership to support the economic and social
development. Supported by an efficient and transparent administrative
management of the problems produced by the development, more and
more partners have invested in the territory, doubling the numbers
of jobs. The recycling of waste at all the levels has been achieved.
Above all, the private sector is now co-operating with social and
cultural initiatives. All these factors have contributed in giving
the Municipality a sense of vitality and alertness, as though it
has come alive after a long sleep.
A municipal newspaper, published every 4 months
informs the citizens about the state of projects and opportunities
available. In addition, the Council, in agreement with the various
associations, has organized thematic seminars. This has allowed
for concrete answers to be given and has decreased the time gap
between planning and implementation.
The jobs have doubled in five years, from 720 to
1,460. Unemployment of the Municipality and of the neighboring municipality
is virtually zero. Female unemployment has been reduced from 40%
to 5%. Women are active in the field of commerce and services. An
increase in population of 6% has occurred in the last three years
after it had remained unchanged from 1970 to 2000. This increase
has allowed the maintenance of the fundamental services such as
schools and health services which otherwise would have ceased only
to a lack of users.
The program fully meets the basic criteria of impact,
partnership and sustainability as well as the additional considerations
of leadership and community empowerment, social inclusion, gender
equality and innovation within local context and transferability.
ROM318/2004-Integrated
Model of Care for HIV/AIDS people at County level, Romania
Romania’s Population is estimated at 22.3 million
(UN, 2003), with a GNI per capita of US $1,870 (World Bank, 2002).
In early 1990s, Romania was confronted with an unprecedented situation:
a large number of HIV positive children, and overcrowded, poorly
equipped and severely under-staffed residential hospitals. Nearly
5,000 children born between 1987 and 1990 were infected with the
HIV virus, primarily through transfusions or infection while under
medical treatment.
Many children died in hospitals and others were
simply abandoned by their families. Full hospitalisation was the
only option as there were no day clinics. Children would thus be
unnecessarily exposed to opportunistic infections and the stress
of being away from home. This situation prompted the Romania Angel
Appeal (RAA) in 1991 to bring about some changes through revolutionizing
the assistance system for the seropositive child and the creation
of a multidisciplinary approach that combines medical services with
the social, psychological and educational ones: the "Sunflower Smile"
day clinic.
One of the main successes of this project is the
gradual integration of the psychological and social services within
the hospitals where they function. Unfortunately, most of the Romanian
hospitals offer only medical services, and the take over of the
social and psychological services of the day clinics represent a
real progress in improving the patient services.
The day clinic model has adopted two major priorities
in the caring of HIV infected children, medical (diagnosis, investigation,
treatment, recommendations and useful information on the standards
of care for HIV/AIDS children) and psychosocial and educational
assistance (pre and post-testing counseling, home visits, legal
counseling, educational programmes etc.), responding to their identified
needs.
The "Sunflower Smile" integrated model of care
was introduced in Romania in 1991 by RAA with the opening of the
first day clinic in Constanta. Currently, there are eight day-clinics
over the country, which are organized in a network of information
and, experience sharing and mutual help. The clinics provide medical,
social, psychological and educational services for children and
families affected by HIV/AIDS. Hand-over to the hospitals and local
authorities is progressing well.
Results include, 1,656 children registered for
social services (year 2003), 134 specialists providing multidisciplinary
services, 5,176 social assistance interventions, 2,967 psychological
assistance interventions and 9,000 information bulletins distributed
to families affected by the disease.
The program fully meets the basic criteria of impact,
partnership and sustainability as well as the additional considerations
of leadership and community empowerment, social inclusion, gender
equality and innovation within local context and transferability.
ESP285/2004-Implementing
an integrated management system for forest ecosystems producing
wild mushrooms in the Valdorba district. Rural sustainable development
project in the Valdorba district, Spain
This practice, based in Valdorba in the Navarre
Region of Spain, began in 1990 and is still continuing. The population
of Spain is 42.7 million (official figure, 2003), with a GNI per
capita of US $14,580 (World Bank, 2002). The aim is to generate
income in a depopulated rural area that is currently undergoing
sufficient demographic growth and to create jobs for unemployed
people. The project is based on the economic development of local
organisations through the rational use of local environmental resources.
A system for the sustainable management of mycological resources
has been implemented, which is reproducible in developing countries
and depressed rural areas, and creates jobs for women, as well as
an eco-tourism project and various plans for the use of natural
resources.
Achievements include home care for all old people,
job creation for young people, women, and people over the age of
45, and the setting up of an assembly of leaders, local representatives
and rural agents interested in the development of Valdorba. Work
is also carried out to facilitate access to housing and the renovation
of unique buildings.
Local authorities with wide political differences
have managed to join forces to organise two fairs for local truffles,
as well as another joint service and tourism initiatives. This practice
brings them together in a shared project: a supra-municipal administration
centre.
Considerable experience has been gained in the
group-working dynamics of all the agents involved in this practice.
Home care cover is currently available for all
old people requesting it. Great progress has been made in providing
basic services that were unthinkable only 15 years ago — water supply
and sewerage systems, rubbish collection, paved streets, infrastructure,
social and cultural services, telephone lines, Internet connections,
etc. Statistics of de facto residents have shown a steady increase
year after year. The unemployment figures are also extremely impressive
there is hardly any unemployment in the valley any more.
The program fully meets the basic criteria of impact,
partnership and sustainability as well as the additional considerations
of leadership and community empowerment, social inclusion, and innovation
within local context and transferability.
ESP297/2004-The Alba-Ter
Consortium: a commitment to territorial cohesion, economic development
and sustainability of the River Ter
The River Ter basin, located in the northeast region of Catalonia
an economically, socially and climatically diverse territory with
a rich natural and cultural heritage linked to traditional uses
of water. However, the heterogeneous nature of the territory had
also contributed to a lack of territorial cohesion, resulting in
environmental degradation, water outflow and loss of biodiversity.
The territory faced several problems including lack of common policies
linked to the river basin; lack of coordinated economic; and destruction
of the river basin’s cultural heritage.
In the late 1990s a group of seven riverside town councils of the
River Ter Basin initiated a program to create a supra-municipal
organization to advocate for territorial cohesion, economic development
and sustainability through the integrated management of the space
articulated by the River Ter. The Alba-Ter Consortium was created
in 1998 following an initial proposal presented at the XVI Regional
Policy and Cohesion DG of the European Union in 1996 and the initiation
of the Alba-Ter Project in 1997, co-financed by the European Union.
The project comprised three main stages: the creation of the Alber-Ter
Consortium; the elaboration of an Integrated Development Plan for
the River Ter based on technical studies; and the implementation
of the development plan within the territory.
The Alba-Ter Consortium was set up as a focal point and reference
organization for issues relating to the river basin. The initiative
encouraged participation from both public and private stakeholders
including local county boards, county councils, regional governments
and private companies. The public authorities provided financial
support for the consortium structure, and also participated directly
in its management; while private companies provided support for
implementation of specific projects. The initiative also enlisted
the support of multidisciplinary teams drawn from several academic
institutions to provide technical advice and assistance in producing
reports on relevant issues. An advisory board composed of experts
in various fields was also set up to supervise initiatives promoted
by the consortium.
Since its initiation in 1997, the project has successfully completed
several of its objectives including the creation of the supra-municipal
organization to promote and incorporate sustainability into an integrated
vision for spatial development of the River Ter Basin. The consortium
currently represents 90.6% of the riverside population and 55.3%
of the total river basin population. It provides leadership for
development of the river basin and promotes coordination of sectoral
policies of the various authorities with competence in difference
matters concerning the territory. The initiative promotes public
awareness of the importance of the river to its communities and
advocates sustainability and continuity of the river basin’s
ecosystems, resources and future development, as well as rehabilitation
and recovery of areas affected by marginalization and environmental
degradation. It also supports the preservation of the natural and
cultural heritage of the river basin and activities aimed at the
general public, including access to information and creation of
areas designed for public use.
The program fully meets the basic criteria of impact, partnership
and sustainability as well as the additional considerations of leadership
and community empowerment, social inclusion, and innovation within
local context and transferability.
TUR554/2004-Enlarged
Community Rehabilitation Project. Turkey
Turkey has a population of 71.3 million (UN, 2003)
people with a GNI of US $2,490 (World Bank, 2002). In Istanbul,
the city with the largest population in Turkey with a population
of 9.6million(2003 estimates), a large proportion of the population
is deprived of basic services, health nutrition and the power to
demand health services. This situation is exacerbated with the growth
of the population by 4.4% every year, mainly from immigrants of
poor rural communities.
The Enlarged Community Rehabilitation programme
(ECR) is a Health Affairs Department initiative that provides Home
based health care to patients who are not covered by any health
insurance system or who are in great need of help. It enters them
in a register and provides them with the needed health care, if
necessary, at their homes. The process starts with a visit in the
townships to assess the health situation of the people in need:
sick, disabled, pregnant, elderly or deprived people. This step
is followed by the visit of a physician and a nurse to the houses
to examine the patients and make treatment plans. According to the
patient’s state of health, further investigations and examinations
by specialist physicians are carried out. Surgical operations are
also performed if required. For severely socially deprived families,
fuel (for heating) and food aid is provided.
So far the project has covered 29 townships in
Istanbul and 1,303,801 houses have been visited: 361,849 households
had pregnant or disabled patients. 116,415 households were accepted
for home care; 81,524 households received a visit of a doctor; 104,308
households received home based care; 13.455 patients were prescribed
and were maintained by the project; 1,456 patients were taken to
specialists; 985 patients received surgical operations through the
project arrangement. The project also collected first hand statistic
data on demographic, social and economic situation of Istanbul:
The patients with chronic illnesses learned how
to look after themselves. The families of the patients learned what
to do and where to go to seek solutions. A lot of patients learned
to use their drugs in the correct manner and to control their health
problems. 25 patients who had medicine resistant tuberculosis were
inspected in a special treatment programme (DOTS) and underwent
controlled treatment.
ECR Project has achieved many social and economic
benefits for the city. The project has helped many people, not only
patients requiring home based care, but people with chronic illnesses,
pregnant, handicapped people, elderly people living alone, were
provided with treatment and received assistance in dealing with
social problems. With the help of the Aid Fund of the greater Istanbul
Municipality, a system was developed through which patients with
chronic illnesses without any social security can be assisted.
The program fully meets the basic criteria of impact,
partnership and sustainability as well as the additional considerations
of leadership and community empowerment, social inclusion, and innovation
within local context and transferability.
UZB376/2004-Poverty reduction
among women through vocational training and micro- financing programme,
Uzbekistan
In Uzbekistan, with a population of 25 million
and a GNI per capita of US $310 (World Bank, 2002), 27.5% of the
population lives below the poverty line and 70% of the poor are
in rural areas. Women are concentrated in the lower paying sectors
and earn about 70 % compared to males. The level of female unemployment
is higher than that of the males (62%). The low level of self-employment
is caused by lack of necessary skills and knowledge, limited access
to credit for women and low participation in establishment of new
enterprises.
To improve the situation, the Business Women Association (BWA) launched
an integrated program on poverty reduction among women, focusing
on vocational training and micro finance in rural areas of Uzbekistan.
The purpose of this initiative is to contribute to the poverty reduction,
through empowerment of women and local economic development, assistance
in the improvement of the living conditions of women, especially
of those living in rural areas, and providing equal access to job
and income generation opportunities.
The initiative has contributed positively on the economic situation
of the country and has raised women’s economic role and status
by overcoming gender barriers. It has provided women with equal
access to financial sources through micro credit lending programmes,
small and medium entrepreneurship, job creation, institutionalization,
normalization and registration of businesswomen. It has also given
an opportunity for the capacity building of both BWA employees (thus
contributing to Business Women’s Association of Uzbekistan
BWA’s institutional development) and entrepreneurs through
training on various economic issues.
7,300 unemployed women attended vocational training courses and
this initiative enabled them to acquire the necessary skills to
become financially independent and/or to become businesswomen. This
initiative was also able to advocate for a law that was approved
by the parliament. With the aim of providing favourable legislative
conditions for the activity of micro finance institutions, the BWA
team lobbied for a decree on micro financing "measures on development
of micro financing activity", which was adopted by Cabinet
of Ministers on August, 20, 2002.
BWA constantly maintains business contacts with other women’s
organizations of Central Asia and promotes the exchange of knowledge
and experience. The results of this initiative have proved to be
sustainable, and BWA of Uzbekistan is actively engaged in replicating
similar activities in Kazakh, Kyrgyz and Tajik.
The program fully meets the basic criteria of impact, partnership
and sustainability as well as the additional considerations of leadership
and community empowerment, gender equality, social inclusion, and
innovation within local context and transferability.
Latin America and Caribbean
- EnREDando jóvenes para el Desarrollo
(Involving young people in Development)
- Urban Agriculture Programme, Rosario, Santa
Fe
- São Paulo Social Inclusion Strategy
- BRAZIL 098/2004 and BRA 099/2004
- Human Security and the Urban Poor: a holistic
approach to social exclusion and Violence, Rio De Janeiro
- Integrated Management of Water Resources in
The Paraiba Do Sul River Basin
- Juntos Construyendo una Vida Mejor(TAC), Valparaíso
- Pedagogia Del Afecto
- From Waste to houses
- Circo Volador (Flying Circus): Youth & Popular
Culture in Mexico City
- AFOSCI – CONTROLADORIA CIUDADANA: Support for
the Strengthening of Civil Society
ARG104/2004-EnREDando jóvenes
para el Desarrollo (Involving young people in Development). Argentina.
Argentina had a population 37,031,802 in 2000 and
this is expected to grow by 12 % to 41,473,702 people by 2010. In
the provinces of Jujuy, Misiones, Buenos Aires and San Juan, policies
related to youth development were lacking especially in terms of
skills development. It was especially difficult for young people
to gain space and participate in the community’s institutions. This
led to massive exodus of young people to urban centres and resulting
in the premature ageing of small communities.
The NET Programme aims to involve young people
in local development by developing their capacity to undertake needs
assessment and to appropriately respond to issues that are identified.
The programme builds the capacity of young people by training them
to plan and manage different projects that improve the quality of
life
This programme is a synergy between different tiers
of government as well as among different sections of the organized
communities. It consists of an open examination of local development
project proposals, an offshoot of the educational process in which
groups of young people belonging to community’s organizations from
different cities and towns participate. Successful proposals are
given seed funding after proving that they will be financially sustainable
in the long run.
The training process involves non-formal education
that has its basis on two different approaches: attending training
sessions and a long distance process of education. The financial
support accorded to the programme is directed towards the execution
and management of the individual projects of each community.
The main aims of these projects are focused on
promoting and establishing youth networks; building of human capacity
to plan and manage development projects; encouraging and promoting
communication between young people and their communities as a strategy
to build participation; and maintaining an information system on
the capacities possessed by various youth and members of the community.
Among achievements in the three provinces of Argentina:
Misiones, Jujuy and Buenos Aires: approximately 300 groups of young
people have participated so far in the programme while a further
1,000 young people have been trained; close to 6,000 young people
have been directly involved in various programmes that range from
health education to social and cultural programmes. Close to 34
municipalities have collaborated and helped sustain the programme.
The programme fully meets the basic criteria of
impact, partnership and sustainability as well as the additional
considerations of leadership and community empowerment, gender equality
and social inclusion, and innovation within local context and transferability.
ARG436/2004-Urban Agriculture
Programme, Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina
In 2001, Argentina was in turmoil as public anger
over a deepening recession and widespread poverty sparked riots,
looting, vandalism, and angry protests. Rosario City, population
906,004 located in the Santa Fe province was no exception. The Urban
Agriculture Programme (UAP) was initiated after the economic crisis,
which manifested itself in Rosario with poverty levels rising to
60 % of the population.
The programme was initiated to respond by providing sustainable
means of food production in urban centres for a population whose
poverty line is US$ 90. The objective was to promote a constructive
process of endogenous development, with participatory strategies
and co-operative forms of production, transformation, commercialization,
as well as healthy food consumption.
The impact of the programme has been to make low income families
feel valued and recognized as actors forming part of an inclusive
process (especially women). So far 791 community gardens have been
established and this has led to the improvement of the urban neighbourhood
landscape as well as the quality of life of its inhabitants. Currently,
more than 10,000 families are directly linked to the production
of organic vegetables, which are consumed by 40,000 people. This
has been possible through the creation of an economy of solidarity
network that | 
