The World Habitat Awards are presented each year at the global celebration of World Habitat Day. This is organised each year on the first Monday of October by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT), providing a unique opportunity to focus attention on the importance of shelter in people's lives.
On Monday 5th October 2009, cities around the world marked the celebrations of World Habitat Day, which were officially launched in Washington D.C., United States of America. UN-HABITAT selected the theme Planning our Urban Future to raise awareness of the need to improve urban planning to deal with new major challenges of the 21st century. This is because urban settlements in all parts of the world are being influenced by new and powerful forces. In both developed and developing countries, cities and town are increasingly feeling the effects of climate change, resource depletion, food insecurity, population growth and economic instability.
As part of the global celebrations Mrs Anna Tibaijuka, Executive Director of UN-HABITAT presented the World Habitat Awards 2009 to Caprichando a Morada: Living well is part of human dignity project of COOPERHAF, Brazil and Building Partnerships to Eradicate Poverty, project of the Barka Foundation for Mutual Help, Poland. These two excellent projects both use an integrated and sustainable approach to improving the living conditions of some of the poorest and most marginalised of their country's citizens.
To date, these ceremonies have been held in the USA (2009, 1993 and 1992), Angola (2008), The Netherlands and Mexico (2007), Italy and Russia (2006), Indonesia (2005), Kenya (2004), Brazil (2003 and 1995), Belgium (2002), Japan (2001), Jamaica (2000), People's Republic of China (1999), U.A.E. (1998), Germany (1997), Hungary (1996) and Senegal (1994).
Each year BSHF produces a commemorative publication of the event with full information on the winning programmes. For further information on the World Habitat Award winning and finalist projects please click here.
