Nairobi, 8 September 2020 – The winners of this year’s UN-Habitat Scroll of Honour, one of the world’s most prestigious awards presented to those working on urbanization, have been selected.
This year there were almost 120 applications for the award including 61 eligible individuals, cities, organizations and projects. The award recognizes outstanding contributions in the field of development including improving urban lives, provision of housing and highlighting the plight of the poor or displaced.
The winners were selected based on their clear demonstration of initiatives and achievements related to the targets of Sustainable Development Goal 11: Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable as well as the theme of World Habitat Day 2020 - Housing For All: A Better Urban Future.
The award, a plaque engraved with the name of the winning individual, city or institution, will be presented during the Global Observance of World Habitat Day which is celebrated on the first Monday of October every year. This year World Habitat Day is taking place on 5 October.
“I would like to congratulate all the winners of the Scroll of Honour award this year,” said UN-Habitat’s Executive Director, Maimunah Mohd Sharif. “It is impressive and inspiring to see the scope and impact of their work and I hope this recognition will encourage them to scale up and motivate others in their work on sustainable urbanization.”
Winners of the 2020 UN-Habitat Scroll of Honour
- Upcycle Africa, Uganda
For transforming lives through affordable housing provision, waste education and job opportunities.
This Ugandan NGO has engaged communities and marginalized groups and provided job opportunities to 1 million youth, carried out zero waste campaigns and reused more than 3 million plastic bottles for the construction of affordable eco-housing.
- Subang Jaya Municipal Council, Malaysia
For its holistic and integrated approach to affordable housing and community empowerment.
Over the past 10 years, the Malaysian Municipality of Subang Jaya has prioritised community development planning for low-income housing. This has led to the construction of 122 sites with low-cost apartments and provided solutions for the next generation.
- Community Impact Nepal, Kathmandu, Nepal
For empowering entrepreneurs to produce eco-friendly houses for families in substandard housing.
The organization has helped tens of thousands of people in rural Nepal living in unsafe, substandard houses and temporary shelters. The organization has been involved with building eco-friendly, safe housing units, replacing traditional bricks with climate friendly solutions, and is scaling up in Nepal and elsewhere in Asia.
- Ministry of Housing and Cities, Colombia
For its leadership in the development of an urban policy that promotes sustainable housing and cities putting housing at the centre.
The Colombian Ministry of Housing and Cities has launched three major initiatives including a national urban policy, water supply to neighbourhoods nationwide, and a policy for decent housing and decent lives. It has made an outstanding contribution to comprehensive COVID-19 housing protection and promotion of policies to prevent massive evictions, guarantee potable water access and give emergency subsidies to vulnerable populations.
- ECOCASA SHF, Mexico
For addressing energy efficient construction standards for housing, facilitating inclusive access to financial mechanisms and creating decent homes.
ECOCASA is an innovative programme with a significant environmental, social and economic impact bringing together finance, eco-housing and development, The programme has also mitigated over 1.9 million tons of CO2 in more than 200 projects through financing developers who have accessed preferential interest rates and free technical assistance to sustainable eco homes for the most vulnerable.
Download the English version here: 2020 UN-Habitat Scroll of Honour Award Winners Announced
Download the Spanish version here: Boletín de prensa - Se anuncian los ganadores del premio Pergamino de Honor de ONU-Habitat 2020
UN-Habitat works in over 90 countries supporting people in cities and human settlements and focusing on urban development. Working with governments and local partners, its high impact projects combine world-class expertise and local knowledge to deliver timely and targeted solutions.
For more information please contact:
Susannah Price - Chief of Communications and Media Section, UN-Habitat