Raison d’être of the Business Award
The UN has embarked on a broad and continuous programme of institutional change and reform towards becoming a more effective and accountable institution. One important part of this process has been the opening of the United Nations to the private sector as an essential partner for change. UN-HABITAT has put a recent emphasis on fostering partnership between UN-HABITAT and the business community by promoting dialogue and cooperation. Given the recognized tremendous contribution of the private sector to urban shelter and basic infrastructures, cooperation with the private sector is increasingly seen as a necessity, not just an option. In order to benefit from the burgeoning technologies and business models that can address urbanization issues, particularly those that address the needs of the lower income segments in urban areas, an international award has been launched to for-profit commercial enterprises and businesses. Purpose of the Award
The Habitat Business Award for sustainable urbanization aims to recognize and publicize outstanding achievements contributing to sustainable urbanization through corporate responsible practices. The first award will be delivered during the First Habitat Business Forum in New Delhi, on 7 July 2009. Based on the success of the first award, other awards may be organized on a periodic basis, every two years. The First 2009 Award has been managed by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT) and sponsored by the China Real Estate Chamber of Commerce (CRECC). Award selection
On 25-26 May 2009, the Habitat Business Award Selection Committee gathered in Beijing to deliberate on the First cycle of the Award. The international jury members made their decision taking into consideration the following criteria: - Impact: the initiative demonstrates a positive impact on improving the urban living environment.
- Sustainability: the initiative shows lasting changes in improving the urban living environment.
- Innovation: the practice represents an innovative approach to improving the urban living environment.
- Affordability: the initiative represents an affordable business model and/or a technology that improves the urban living environment of deprived settlements and households.
The Top Five Awardees
Five companies received the Habitat Business Award as BEST PRACTICES in four categories: Category 1: Affordable Housing Solutions CEMEX, was awarded for the Community Blockers and ‘Patrimonio Hoy’ http://www.cemexmexico.com/ Category 2: Sustainable Water, Sanitation, Waste Management and Urban Infrastructure Solutions The Indian IT giant, WIPRO Ltd., won the award for its initiative to design and build energy efficient buildings. http://www.wiprocorporate.com/ecoeye/ Adopt a Light, was rewarded for its unique business model that allows the financing of installation and maintenance of efficient public lighting infrastructure in slums. http://www.adopt-a-light.com Category 3: Clean Urban Energy Solutions, Mitigation and Adaptation to Climate Change China Merchants Property Development Ltd. (CMPD) impressed the jury for its development of “The Hills” project. http://www.gzcmpd.com Category 4: Innovative Information and Communications Technology Solutions Safaricom was awarded for its M-Pesa Money Transfer Service that clearly demonstrates the role and impact of innovative IT solutions for sustainable urbanization. http://www.safaricom.co.ke
The Twenty Good Practices
The following 20 initiatives were recognised as GOOD practices by the international jury:
Category 1: Affordable Housing Solutions 1) Title of the initiative: Baltic Pearl
By: Baltic Pearl Ltd
Location: China
Focus area: Urban Development and Management
Website Theme: Urban Planning and Policy
Description of the initiative: Baltic Pearl is an integrated town development project, bringing together social resources, real estate, commerce and tourism. As a new drive for the urban reconstruction and economic development, it will generate large amounts of tax revenue, fiscal income and job opportunities for at least 15,000 people. It is planned as a subcenter of St Petersburg. This joint venture between Russia and China, aims to take advantage of it’s seaside location by improving the Gulf of Finland coast and two nearby canals. The new residences, commercial and infrastructure facilities are built with new materials and technologies. The project provides a new residential environment while keeping the ecological environment intact.
Website: http://www.baltic-pearl.com 2) Title of Initiative: North Ankara Entrance Urban Renewal Development Project
By: TOBAS Metropolitan Municipality Construction, Real Estate and Project Co. Inc.
Location: Turkey,
Focus area: Land and Housing
Website Theme: Slum/ Human Settlements Upgrading
Description of the Initiative: The North-Ankara Entrance Renewal Development project is an initiative to transform and provide a sound living environment to nearly 5,000 people located on the main road leading to the Northern entrance of Ankara City. The substandard area housing will be replaced. Those with title to their land will be given new housing and those without title, will be settled in social housing not far from their original homes. An achievement is that residents from this area have willingly destroyed their own homes in order to renovate or relocate to better areas. To date the houses of 1,464 residents who did not have any title deeds were delivered to them, and the project hopes to complete 8000 housing units during the course of 2010.
Website: http://www.tobas.com.tr 3) Title of the initiative: The Green – Environmentally Responsible Living for Seniors
By: The Sala Group
Location: Australia
Focus area: Land and Housing
Website Theme: Low Income Housing
Description of the initiative: The Green project of the Sala Group is an initiative to provide low cost housing in communities for seniors. Each home is designed using passive solar design principles and uses locally produced plantation timber and building materials throughout. The homes are able to generate their own electricity, provide all of the water needs for the residents by harvesting rainwater from the roof and treat all of their own sewage. The self sufficient nature of the homes, combined with shared community facilities and low maintenance costs reduces the cost of living. The residents own their houses, but lease the land by paying a weekly fee, creating a long-term partnership which lowers costs for the homeowner and creates a revenue stream for the landowner.
Website: http://www.thesalagroup.com 4) Title of the initiative: ADPROSA – Administradora de Proyectos
By: ADPROSA
Location: Guatemala
Focus area: Urban Economy and Financing Shelter
Website Theme: Housing Finance
Description of the initiative: ADPROSA is an initiative aimed at giving poor Guatemalans access to affordable housing through micro-financing partnerships with local banks. The company provides complete financial assistance to the prospective home owners as they seek loans and mortgages. One of their greatest achievements is that more than 1% of Guatemala´s population lives in a project built by ADPROSA. Their focus has been dedicated to increasing access for households at the bottom of the pyramid, and in significant numbers, using a model which combines the value added of a large commercial bank, the builder developer, and the communities. In urban areas they have developed a highly effective vertical housing program for low income families, using economies of scale, using the most modern technology and thereby making decent housing affordable for low income families, close to the city, and to their sources of employment.
Website: http://www.adprosa.com 5) Title of the initiative: Por Fin Nuestra Casa (PFNC)
By: PFNC LLC
Location: USA
Focus area: Land and Housing
Website Theme: Building Materials and Technology
Description of the initiative: PFNC LLC is an affordable solution to the housing shortages using recycled 40-foot steel shipping containers. PFNC—“Por Fin Nuestra Casa” or “Finally, a home of our own”-- provides 320 square-foot homes that feature windows and doors, a bathroom, a full kitchen and self-contain electrical, running water, as well as heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems. The model also provides a cheaply built vertical solution that meets the needs of high density, urban environments while maintaining greens space and first-world amenities.
Website: http://www.pfnc.net 6) Title of the initiative: Tanaji Malusare City
By: TMC Matheran Realty Ltd
Location: India
Focus area: Land and Housing
Website Theme: Low Income Housing
Description of the initiative: TMC is a housing project based on the principle of sustainable development and green building technology, with a “zero subsidy” philosophy. The company aims to build quality housing for the poor at prices as low as USD 4,000 by cross subsidizing the low cost homes with high yields from commercial and real estate development. In order to help customers access and choose the right financing option, TMC also conducts regular loan melas (loan carnivals) where the multiple lending institutions participate and compete for customers. The economic and social impact of the TMC project is enormous both at the aggregate level (it will house over 60,000 people in its township comprising 15,000 units) and at the individual level.
The project goes beyond the mere delivery of physical housing units; it involves the development of a more comprehensive structure, involving larger social and economic benefits to the local population, including job creation, and skills development.
Website: http://www.tmcity.in 7) Title of the initiative: Integrated Planning
By: Lodha Group of Companies
Location: India
Business award category: Affordable Housing
Focus area: Land and Housing
Website Theme: Low Income Housing
Description of the initiative: The proposal is an integrated township project with high functionality and affordable cost. Lodha Group employed the expertise of the world's best architects, designers and engineers to create an entirely new category of luxury homes, which are affordable to low and middle class families. In addition to necessary infrastructure, it also has plans for adequate commercial space to maintain economic viability and integrate ecological sustainability (sewerage treatment plant, rainwater harvesting, flood management, landscaping, greening, solar power etc.).
Website: http://www.lodhagroup.com
8) Title of the initiative: Social Real Estate Investment Trust
By: Wiros Lokh Institute (Trust)
Location: Sri Lanka
Focus area: Urban Economy and Financing Shelter
Website Theme: Housing Finance
Description of the initiative: The Wiros Lokh Institute is recognized for their initiative to move slums and shanty dwellers from urban area into modern decent housing in the same area, through innovative partnership aligning local governmental, investors and the poor.
In their model project in Colombo, 4,000 slum dwellers gained new modern apartments in a 14 storey building in return for the liberation of the lands they occupied. Financial return was approximately 17M$ on investment by investors of 6M$.
Website: http://www.ashoka.org/node/3963 9) Title of the initiative: Dayu Chengbang
By: Changchun Quinyuan Real Estate Development and Construction
Location: China
Focus area: Land and Housing
Website Theme: Slum/Human Settlements Upgrading
Description of the initiative: Changchun Quinyuan Real Estate Development & Construction Company is recognized for its efforts to innovative housing projects. The company has been involved in several renovation projects that take into account the social, economic and ecological impact in these projects. In particular the Dayu Chengbang Project refers to a shantytown renovation project located in Changchun City. In order to boost the economy of residents living in the area, the company also invested money to build one of the largest shopping malls in the area. With profits of rental income from the shopping mall, they are able to pay inhabitants land, relocation, and resettlement costs. 10) Title of the initiative: Green Housing Estate in Qionghai
By: Qionghai Real Estate Research Association
Location: China
Business award category: Affordable Housing
Focus area: Urban Development and Management
Website Theme: Urban Planning and Policy
Description of the initiative: Qionghai City development project has been recognized for the unique efforts in integrating original cultural and ecological environments while promoting urbanization. Their project has inspired all residents to participate in energy conservation and emission reduction strategies. Relying on geographic location, culture, environment and unique resources, efforts have been made to push forward the construction of key projects, which greatly advanced the social and economic development of the city and its residents.
Website: http://www.Qionghai.gov.cn 11) Title of the initiative: Rapidwall environmentally friendly housing
By: Rapid Building Systems
Location: Australia
Business award category: Affordable Housing
Focus area: Land and Housing
Website Theme: Building Materials and Technology
Description of the initiative: Rapid Wall, a recyclable, low cost, high strength building panel is recognized as environmentally friendly, affordable and sustainable solution to housing needs in emerging economies. Rapidwall is a large load bearing and patented building panel that offers a rapid construction at a price that is 25 to 30% less than traditional building methods. Hundreds of Rapidwall structures have been completed in Australia and China and include housing units as well as commercial, institutional and industrial buildings. Echnologically, Rapidwall is a leading edge product; it has all the benefits of ease of construction and ecological soundness but without the problems associated with traditional building products such as high energy use, not easily recyclable and high carbon use in their manufacture. Rapidwall when produced from chemical waste gypsum takes an environmentally harmful product and turns it into a useful environmentally safe and friendly building panel that can be recycled.
Website: http://www.rapidwall.com.au 12) Title of the initiative: Urban Eco-Park in Tangshan
By: Tangshan Nanhu Eco-Park Investment Co., Ltd.
Location: China
Business award category: Affordable Housing
Focus area: Urban Development and Management
Website Theme: Urban Planning and Policy
Description of the initiative: Nanhu Urban Central Ecopark is recognized for converting a gritty industrial area into an eco-city, suitable for outdoor recreation and tourism. This project is a great boost to the living and housing environment of the Southern residents. Regional land reclaiming, citywide forestation and landscaping, urban green-fields, and forest parks will upgrade Nanhu to a green location. The construction of additional business supporting facilities will also create considerable economic benefits for all the residents. Category 2: Sustainable water, sanitation, waste management and urban infrastructure solutions 13) Title of the initiative: Unique Straw Products Project
By: Kinawataka Women Initiatives
Location: Uganda
Focus area: Water Sanitation and Infrastructure
Website Theme: Waste Management
Description of the initiative: Kinawataka is recognized for their unique efforts to improve the income of poor—mainly those displaced by the northern Uganda war--through training and income generating activities. The main effort consists in recycling locally and commonly available waste materials to produce marketable products. Their current market coverage is both national and international. The size and nature of the market include individuals and international fashion designers. These products are made out of used straws, paper and polythene bags collected from garbage centres, bars and factories. No money is spent on the purchase of raw materials. Instead Kinawataka helps clear the environment of littering straws and help reduce the costs for dumping waste for factories.
Website: http:// www.kwiuganda.com 14) Title of the initiative: MECKOW Aquapur
By: MECKOW International Ltd
Location: United Kingdom
Focus area: Water Sanitation and Infrastructure
Website Theme: Water and Sanitation
Description of the initiative: The company’s Meckow Aquapur is recognized for their unique affordable water treatment product which can be used to deliver clean, safe drinking water anywhere and which requires no electricity and has a life expectancy of 25 years. Meckow Aquapur allows the provision of 1000 litres of potable water per hour with the ability to sustain a community of up to 2000 people. The target areas for installation are rural, peri-urban and slum communities where potable water is not accessible. The major achievement with MECKOW Aquapur have been the provision of the product into five developing countries within Africa
Website: http://www.MECKOW-international.com 15) Title of the initiative: Tieling New Town City-Scape
By: Tieling Caijing Investment Co., Ltd
Location: China
Focus area: Land and Housing
Website Theme: Slum/human settlements upgrading
Description of the initiative: The transformation of Tieling as a major economic hub has transformed a low income area into a vibrant new town. The construction of the new town which connects with the southern industrial district in Shengyang has expanded the urban scale, strengthen the industrial base of the southern section and lay the foundation and overall development of Tieling. The construction of Tieling has upgraded the low-income status of the Fanhe area and increased the linkages between rural and urban residents. The new town has a high focus on living space, supporting facilities and environmental resources, providing a well-developed and modern living space for the people of Tieling City.
Website: http://www.tieling.gov.cn/ Category 3: Clean urban energy solutions, mitigation and adaptation to climate change 16) Title of the initiative: Nanjing Tiptop International Apartment
By: Beijing Fengshang Real Estate
Location: Nanjing, China
Focus area: Environment
Website Theme: Environmental Sustainability
Description of the initiative: The initiative has demonstrated a “low energy consumption” and high quality model of living space. Nanjing Tiptop International Apartment is the first "Zero Energy Conservation" residential project in China which uses renewable energies such as solar energy and outer-layer ground energy replacing traditional energy sources used for electricity, oil and natural gas.
Website: http://www.fengshang2002.com 17) Title of the initiative: Tree Planting for Children’s Health Initiative
By: Our Lady of Nazareth Primary School
Location: Kenya
Focus area: Environment
Website Theme: Natural Resource Management
Description of the initiative: Our Lady of Nazareth private primary school is recognized for its educational project to plant trees for renewable energy while improving air quality in the Nairobi slums. The goal is to plant 12,000 trees and to educate students in environmental conservation. To date, participants have planted 6,500 trees on the school property located in Nairobi’s Mukuru kwa Njenga slum. The money saved on the purchase of firewood will finance a biannual de-worming program in order to improve student health and boost academic output. 18) Title of the initiative: Wipro Energy from Organic Waste
By: WIPRO Ltd
Location: India
Focus area: Water Sanitation and Infrastructure
Website Theme: Waste Management
Description of the initiative: Wipro is recognized for their efforts to manage solid organic waste generated in the urban environment in an eco friendly manner, thus reducing the discharge of untreated waste to surroundings. The organic waste from the campus (Electronic City, Bangalore) is used to generate Biogas. This Biogas is used by the campus canteen as an alternative fuel for cooking.
Website: http:// www.wipro.com Category 5: Innovative information and communications technology solutions 19) Title of the initiative: Jeddah Urban Observatory (JUO)
By: Khatib & Alami
Location: Saudi Arabia
Focus area: Information and Monitoring
Website Theme: Urban Statistics and Indicators
Description of the initiative: K & A is recognized as a unique initiative for establishing the Jeddah Urban Observatory, which uses high-tech GIS technology to assess, identify, and monitor urban conditions by providing policy makers and decision makers with the tools to solve urban issues. By using GIS, spatial analysis methods can be integrated with urban information to support detailed analysis of sub-city levels, summarizing it to the municipality and district level. Furthermore, stakeholders are provided with tools that support the development of capacity in a sustainable and effective manner. A total of 80 urban indicators were generated during the first phase of implementation. The Urban Observatory in Jeddah is planning to define and generate 200 additional indicators in the next phase of implementation.
Website: http://www.khatibalami.com Category 5: Conflict-related and natural and disaster mitigation and post-disaster reconstruction 20) Title of the initiative: Dujiangyan Reconstruction Project
By: Chongqing Construction Engineering Group Co., Ltd. (CCEG)
Location: Dujiangyan, Sichuan province, China
Focus area: Risk and Disaster Management
Website Theme: Post Conflict Assessment and Reconstruction
Description of the initiative: CCEG is recognized for its huge efforts to rebuild in Dujiangyan City, Sichuan Province, which was recently devastated by a major earthquake causing RMB 50 billion(USD 7,3 billion) in direct economic loss. The aim was ‘to combine post-disaster reconstruction and urban-rural planning with a new industrialization style, urbanization and agricultural modernization.’ What strikes is the scale of the initiative, and the large investment made by the company in partnership with the local authorities. Residents have been involved in the whole reconstruction process, from the planning and design phases to the construction methods, the settlements and management. |
