This compendium presents a series of promising practices in Sub-Saharan African cities that take into account the multiple dimensions of climate change.

The featured practices cover four main topics: major roles for gender, youth and business; adaptation: infrastructure, slums and deserts; how coastal cities face up to climate change; and enhancing and spreading awareness of climate change. Through sharing and learning across cities, it is hoped that these practices will eventually come to be considered "best".

The evaluation report presents findings, lessons and recommendations from the evaluation of the Rafik Hariri UN-Habitat Memorial Award launched in 2009 jointly by UN-Habitat and Rafik Hariri Foundation, the sponsor of the Award. It also covers an evaluability assessment of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Foundation and UN-Habitat.

The purpose of the evaluation was to provide lessons learned from the launch phase of the Memorial Award and recommendations to both UN-Habitat and the Foundation in order to improve future planning and implementation of the Award.

The publication illustrates how practices that are successful in one context can stimulate processes and affirmative action in other settings, through the exchange of lessons learned through a process of careful transfers of local demands.

The eight case studies cover topics ranging from urban mobility, food production, housing, environmental conservation to participatory budgeting. Two of the case studies presented in the publication received the ' Award winner ' Dubai International Award for Best Practices in its ninth cycle in 2012

The case studies comprise a selection of initiatives in the enhancement and conservation of cultural heritage, contained in UN HABITAT’S Best Practices Database.

They represent all regions of the world and demonstrate a variety of entry points, methods and approaches. Environmental, economic and social sustainability are critical considerations in all of them.