Abstract<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In 1995, the Unit for Housing and Urbanization (the Unit) at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design participated in the “Best Practices and Local Leadership Programme”<\/strong> by the the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (UN-Habitat)<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Programme highlighted international urban development projects as candidates for the UN’s Best Practices database<\/a>. Documents addressed human settlement case studies in twelve nations: India, Australia, Austria, Kenya, Egypt, Argentina, Norway, Venezuela, Angola, Greece, Scotland, Philippines, Brazil, Germany, Turkey, and South Africa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Unit evaluated 28 city programs following UN-Habitat’s Programme goals:<\/p>\n\n\n\n In addition to 28 national profiles, documents include a ‘Memorandum of Understanding’ between the Unit and Habitat agency, and Best Practices guidelines for pre-screening cases. See an Excerpt from the Memorandum below.<\/p>\n\n\n Excerpt<\/p>
[Excerpt, “Guide to Documenting and Learning from Best Practices,” 1996. Introduction, page 6]<\/strong>
“The Best Practices Initiative began as a world-wide search for human settlements success stories. An official part of the preparatory process for The City Summit – the second United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II) – held in Istanbul, Turkey, in June 1996. Best Practices Initiative generated over 600 submissions from 80 countries by the official deadline. These initiatives are testimonials to human ingenuity in the face of the challenges of an urbanizing world.”
“A two-stage, independent selection process produced a list of 104 Best Practices and highlighted 12 initiatives to receive the Tokyo and Dubai Awards for Excellence in Improving the Living Environment. The twelve Award recipients and many other initiatives were also on display at the Best Practices Exhibition, the largest single-theme exposition ever organised by the United Nations. The enthusiasm and interest generated by the Best Practices Initiative has led to its incorporation as an ongoing programme of UNCHS (Habitat): the Best Practices and Local Leadership Programme (BLP). The BLP will operate as a network of leading capacity-building institutions from around the world. Mandated to support the implementation of the Habitat Agenda – the Global Plan of Action adopted at Habitat II – through the continued sharing and transfer of Best Practices knowledge, experience and expertise, the BLP is launching a second call for submissions, culminating in a second round of Awards for Excellence in Improving the Living Environment in October 1998.”
“The purpose of this guide is to provide a framework for identifying, documenting and learning from BEST PRACTICES. In addition, this guide explains how individuals, groups and organizations can participate in a continuous exchange of know-how, experience and expertise in sustainable human settlements development.”
<\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\nSee related I2UD projects below<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n