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UN-Habitat Executive Director, Anna Tibaijuka wins top enviroment award in Sweden and donates prize money to support youth-led projects around the world.

Gothenburg, Sweden, 24 Nov 09

UN-HABITAT’s Executive Director Anna Tibaijuka on Tuesday was given the coveted Göteborg Award for Sustainable Development. Widely known as the “Nobel Prize for the Environment”, she shared the 2009 award with Enrique Peñalosa, the former mayor of Bogotá, Colombia, and the world renowned hero of the environment, Sören Hermansen, of Samsö, Denmark.

The ceremony on Tuesday marked the 10th anniversary of the award, which this year stressed the the urban dimension of the climate change and environment debate.
“Rapidly growing cities and towns house half of the world’s population. They represent 75 percent of all energy consumption and generate 80 percent of greenhouse gas emissions,” said the Jury Chairman Stefan Edman.

“This means that the battle to create more sustainable cities and urban environments – environmentally and socially – is one of the most decisive factors facing the UN Climate Change Conference Copenhagen in December. For this reason the Göteborg Award, one million Swedish crowns, is shared equally by three people who have found new solutions to these enormous challenges,” he said. “We are thrilled to award our jubilee prize to these brilliant visionaries, strategists and system transformers.”

The Jury cited Mrs. Tibaijuka for raising the profile of UN-HABITAT and the importance of urban sustainability as a key to a better future.

In her acceptance speech she said she felt “honoured and humbled” at the great recognition conferred upon her and the agency.

“I accept this this award not only for myself but also for my colleagues at UN-HABITAT who have stood at my side in our campaign for sustainable urbanisation,” she said.

“We continue to seek an end to homelessness, urban poverty, deprivation, social exclusion and suffering throughout the world. If we cannot secure the hyman habitat, we shall not be able to secure the environment,” she said.

Mr. Peñalosa stressed the importance of cities that accommodate all their citizens, making all feel that they belong, so that, for example, “a person who cycles to work has as much right to get around safely as someone who drives a thirty-thousand dollar car”.

Mr. Hermansen said it should always be remembered that climate change and the environment are not matters of science alone, but rather all about people, and that people in the world had to learn how to share better. For details on the award, click here.

November 26, 2009 | 10:50 AM Comments  0 comments

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UN-HABITAT World Urban Forum 5 - Rio, Brazil 2010
Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

Dear All,

On behalf of UN-HABITAT kindly find the following updates on preparations for the Fifth Session of the World Urban Forum to be held in Rio de Janeiro, March 2010.

1. The Conference Agreement for the Fifth Session of the World Urban Forum UN-HABITAT's Executive Director, Mrs. Anna Tibaijuka, and the Host Country, represented by H.E. Mrs. Ana Maria Sampaio, Permanent Representative of the Federative Republic of Brazil to UN-HABITAT, yesterday afternoon signed the WUF5 Conference Agreement laying down the foundation for a successful Forum in the City of Rio de Janeiro in March 2010. Please see full story at http://www.unhabitat.org/.

2. E-debate - reminder
As part of the Fifth Session of the World Urban Forum, whose theme is The Right to the City: Bridging the Urban Divide, UN-Habitat is holding an on-line e-debate on all six Dialogues of the Forum. The e-debate was opened on Monday 21 September, and one discussion on Dialogue 3 has
already been completed successfully. At the moment the discussion on Dialgoue 2 is on-going and everyone is encouraged to sign up and access the on-line forum at: http://forum.unhabitat.org.

3. Networking Events - reminder
The call for Networking Events is open and applications will be received until 30 November 2009.

4. Training Events - reminder
Call for applications from organizers to host a training event is ongoing and the deadline for submissions is the 31 October 2009.

5. Registration
online registration was opened on Thursday, 8 October and already over 411 participants from 64 countries has registered to date.

More information on World Urban Youth Assembly will be coming up shortly, meanwhile if you are planning to go to attend both WUYA and WUF5, please register online and apply for the visa in good time.

All information, application forms and more on the Forum may be found on our website at: http://www.unhabitat.org/wuf


Best regards,

October 23, 2009 | 5:35 PM Comments  0 comments

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A champion of Africa and the United Nations
Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

The United Nations Millennium Campaign Deputy Director for Africa and leading Pan-Africanist, Dr. Tajudeen Abdul-Raheem, died in a road accident in the early hours on Monday this week. He was 48.

He was enroute to Jomo Kenyatta Airport in Nairobi to board a flight for Rwanda where he was scheduled to launch a maternal health campaign and meet with President Paul Kagame.

Recognized for his outspoken nature and strong leadership, the Nigerian-born Taju as he was popularly known, was adamant in his beliefs that Africa and its people were perfectly capable of solving their own problems. As a prolific writer and public debater, the Nigerian political scientist joined the United Nations Millennium Campaign in March 2006 as the Deputy Director for Africa. His most prominent role was to direct the Africa team in motivating people across the continent to become more proactive in engaging their leaders to deliver on the Millennium Development Goals.

“His most untimely and tragic death on Africa Liberation Day comes as a terrible shock,” said Mrs. Anna Tibaijuka, Executive Director of UN-HABITAT. “He was a true son of Africa, a tireless campaigner and champion of Africa and Africans at home and around the world. May he rest in eternal peace. Our prayers are with him and his family.”

Africa Liberation Day on 25 May 1963, marks the occasion when the leaders of 32 independent African states met to form the Organization of African Unity. It is on this day that Africa and the rest of the world reflects upon the development and growth of the continent.

Prior to joining the United Nations Millennium Campaign, Dr. Tajudeen was the General Secretary of the Pan African Movement Secretariat in Kampala, Uganda and Co-Director of the London based human rights and peace organization, Justice AFRICA. He was also a freelance journalist and widely sought after commentator on African affairs in major global media and across Africa, including Radio France International, Al-Jazeera, the BBC and Voice of America. He is well known for his syndicated weekly column, “TAJUDEEN’S POSTCARD”, which was widely circulated online and published in a number of newspapers across Africa.

May 29, 2009 | 10:46 AM Comments  0 comments

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Urban youth groups receive boost from new UN scheme
Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

25 March 2009 –With nearly three quarters of the world’s one billion slum-dwellers under the age of 30, a new United Nations programme seeks to empower urban-based, youth-led community initiatives.
The UN Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT) “Opportunities Fund for Urban Youth-Led Development” scheme will provide grants between $5,000 and $25,000 to groups, steered by people between the ages of 15 and 32, promoting sustainable urbanization.

“In this time of worldwide economic crisis, it is not only banks and automakers who deserve financial support, we also need to encourage youth who are often best placed to solve problems in their communities,” said Anna Tibaijuka, Executive Director of UN-HABITAT.

“We must harness the energies of the young if we are to overcome the problems of urban poverty,” she added.

The Norwegian Government-backed initiative aims to support efforts in employment, education, environment, health and safety, among other areas.



March 26, 2009 | 12:29 PM Comments  3 comments

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Urban youth to benefit from UN-HABITAT’s two-million dollar opportunities fund
Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

Nairobi, 25 March 2009: Urban based Youth-led organizations in developing countries who are working to improve the living conditions of their communities can now apply for financial assistance from UN-HABITAT.

The Opportunities Fund for Urban Youth-Led Development will provide grants between $5,000 and $25,000 to organizations led by young people, aged 15-32 years.

“In this time of worldwide economic crisis, it is not only banks and automakers who deserve financial support, we also need to encourage youth who are often best placed to solve problems in their communities,” said Mrs. Anna Tibaijuka, Executive Director of UN-HABITAT. “The Opportunities Fund is designed to provide financial support of up to one million dollars per year, to youth-led initiatives aimed at sustainable urbanization. We must harness the energies of the young if we are to overcome the problems of urban poverty.”

Of the one billion slum dwellers in the world today, it is estimated that more than 70% are under the age of 30. Yet these young people have few resources available to improve their own living environment. This is a major oversight as there are many youth-led initiatives in slums and squatter settlements that are in urgent need of financial support.

The Opportunities Fund for Urban Youth-Led Development has been established with support from the Norwegian Government specifically to provide funds to youth-led community initiatives. The initial grant is for two million dollars over two years with a possibility of renewal.



The fund is committed to support innovative youth-led projects in areas such as employment, education, environment, health and safety. Applications from organizations partnering with government agencies and the private sector are encouraged. Projects promoting gender equality are particularly welcome.

Applications details are now available at www.unhabitat.org/opfund.


March 26, 2009 | 12:25 PM Comments  0 comments

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