TAC Reports
2002 Dubai International Award for Best Practices

Report of the Technical Advisory Committee
Hosted by Guangzhou Municipality, China
22-26 May 2002

Executive Summary
The city of Guangzhou, China hosted the 2002 Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) from 22 to 26 May 2002. The TAC was entrusted with the responsibility of reviewing 544 submissions for the 2002 Dubai International Award for Best Practices. The TAC identified 106 submissions as Best Practices and selected a short-list of 40 submissions of equal merit for review by the Best Practices Jury. The report is organized as follows:
1. Evaluation Process
2. Selection Procedure for the Global Best Practices List of 100
3. Short List of 40 Best Practices
4. Summary of Short-Listed [PDF] [RTF]
5. Global Best Practices List of 106
6. Members of the 2002 Technical Advisory Committee

Introduction
The submissions for the 2002 Dubai International Award for Best Practices to Improve the Living Environment (DIABP), the fourth round of calls for best practices, resulted in a substantial improvement over previous rounds in terms of quality of submissions. This Award is increasingly recognized by National Governments, local authorities, NGOs, civil society, the private sector and various stakeholders working towards improving quality of life as one of the most important and prestigious international awards. In addition, the continuous efforts by UN-Habitat, Dubai Municipality and the global network of Best Practice partners in promoting awareness of sustainable development issues and of potential solutions have mobilised a wide range of organizations to participate not only in this competition but also in the systematic dissemination and exchange of lessons learned.

The 2002 TAC wishes to commend the response of communities to the call for submissions, which demonstrates the usefulness and validity of the best practices approach as a means of promoting the exchange and transfer of knowledge and expertise in an increasingly interdependent and urbanising world.

As per the recommendations of the Steering Committee of the Best Practices and Local Leadership Programme, the major focus in the identification of best practices for this fourth cycle was placed on quality rather than quantity of submissions. To this effect, about 100 advance submissions received substantive feedback before the deadline of 31 March 2002.

A significant effort has been made by the global network of partners of the Best Practices & Local Leadership Programme to validate all submissions before their review by the TAC. We have also taken guidance from the TAC and Jury Reports of previous cycles.

The TAC reviewed all 544 submissions from more than 90 countries and territories. Due to the high quality of all submissions, the TAC had to adapt the prescribed working methods for finding the best from the best.

THE EVALUATION PROCESS
The TAC assessed each and every submission using the main criteria of sustainability, impact and partnership, as well as the additional considerations of potential for replication, innovation and contribution to promoting gender equality and social inclusion.

The 2002 TAC, in its first plenary session on 22 May, decided to undertake a first screening of submissions on a regional basis, namely Africa & Arab States, Asia & Pacific, Europe & North America, and Latin America & the Caribbean. The purpose of this first screening exercise was to differentiate between qualifying and non-qualifying submissions. This involved an assessment process based on compliance with best practice criteria as well as relative merit. A total of 143 submissions were deemed to be non-qualifying or promising.

Selection Procedure for the Global Best Practices List of 100
In its second plenary session, the TAC was divided into two regionally representative groups (A and B). Each group, working independently of the other, reviewed the remaining submissions in view of determining the list of 100 best practices. The two lists were compared in plenary. 69 practices were common to both lists and were unanimously admitted to the Global Best Practices 100 List. Those that were not common to both lists were discussed in plenary resulting in a final list of 106 best practices determined by consensus, with remaining practices categorised as good practices.

Selection of the 40 finalists
The task for selecting the 40 finalists from the 106 best practices for consideration by the Jury was a particularly challenging task for the TAC, as all best practices were of very high quality. In the plenary on 25th May, two new sub-groups (C and D) were constituted to evaluate all 106 submissions. It was also decided that members of these two sub-groups would not evaluate submissions from their own region. Each sub-group prepared a list of 40, which was compared in plenary. This resulted in a first list of 11 practices common to both sub-groups. Those not common to both groups were subsequently screened by members working again in their original regional groups to reach a final list of 40 practices of equal merit. This list was approved by consensus in plenary.

Promising and Non-qualifying Practices
A total of 95 submissions were deemed as non-qualifying and 41 submissions as "promising". The TAC took note of the recommendation of the 2000 TAC report regarding the creation of a third category of "promising practices". However, no decision was taken in this regard. Most submissions falling in the "promising" category are recent initiatives for which impact or sustainability could not yet be ascertained. The TAC therefore requested the Secretariat to write letters of encouragement for these practices to reapply in the next round.

Finally, the TAC prepared annotations for each non-qualifying practice justifying their decision. These notes will be forwarded to the submitters by the Secretariat together with a copy of this report.

Concluding Remarks
The TAC is of the opinion that the selected Best Practices provide examples and demonstrate the effectiveness of emerging policies, approaches and solutions to the challenges of an urbanising world. All stakeholders are encouraged to apply lessons learned from these experiences to better meet their own needs. In addition, all countries and regions are encouraged to integrate these same lessons into policy change and development.

The 2002 TAC appreciates the support extended by the Secretariat in fulfilling its responsibility. The host Municipality’s support has been highly appreciated. All members of TAC are most grateful to the Municipality of Guangzhou and the Government of People’s Republic of China for their generosity and hospitality.

Members of the Technical Advisory Committee Meeting
Hosted by the City of Guangzhou, China
22-26 May 2002
1. Ms. Chen Xiaoli, China (Chair)
2. Mr. Martin Medina, El Colegio de la Frontera Norte, Mexico (Co-Chair)
3. Mr. Elijah Agevi, Intermediate Technology Development Group (East Africa), Kenya
4. Ms. Silvia Arrais, Municipality of Recife, Brazil
5. Mr. Miguel Clemente, Psychology Department of Coruña University, Spain
6. Mr. Ed Frank, Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies, Netherlands
7. Ms. Claudia Laub, El Agora, Argentina
8. Mr. Dante V. Liban, Philippines
9. Prof. Seung-Bok Leigh, Department of Architecture, Sungkyunkwan University, Korea
10. Ms. Catherine McGuire, Joslyn Castle Institute for Sustainable Communities, United States of America
11. Mr. Ahmed M. T. Saghier, Arab Urban Development Institute, Sudan
12. Mr. S. K. Singh, I.A.S., India
13. Ms. Inna Tanaevskaya, Institute for Regional and Urban Planning, Minsk, Belarus

Secretariat:
Mr. Talal Khoori, Dubai Municipality
Ms. Anne Klen, UN-HABITAT
Mr. Obaid Salem Al-Shamsi, Dubai Municipality
Mr. Nicholas You, UN-HABITAT