Local experience with global expertise: The Best Practices Network.

An increasing number of local initiatives around the world have successfully found innovative and sustainable solutions to a range of problems in human settlements development. Yet, for many local communities, a knowledge gap commonly proves to be a major obstacle to implementing communal projects. Often they lack access to technical expertise and practical experience, which would enable them to rely on tried methods and proven approaches. How then can rural and urban communities seeking to improve their conditions draw on the lessons learnt from other local initiatives in response to similar challenges? How can municipalities, in developing and developed countries alike, learn from city administrations in other regions about the pitfalls of urban management and regional planning? How can central and state governments learn about the practical benefits of decentralization and crime reduction in other countries? How can civil society and private sector partners connect with international organizations and Gove rnments, and collaborate in planning and implementing social and economic development programmes?

The worldwide sharing of successful and sustainable solutions bridges this information gap. Since 1995, the Best Practices and Local Leadership Programme (BLP), sponsored by the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements and a decentralized global network of capacity-building partners, has been collecting innovative and replicable initiatives submitted by local communities around the world.

Together with the Urban Indicators Programme, BLP forms the Global Urban Observatory, one of the principal means of monitoring and supporting the implementation of the Habitat Agenda and Agenda 21. The Programme focuses on cross-cutting issues, such as partnerships and participation, decentralization and governance, enabling policies and strategies, networking and use of information technology in decision-making. Key thematic concerns include poverty reduction and economic development, gender equality and social inclusion, access to shelter, infrastructure and basic services, and the urban environment.

These carefully documented case histories provide excellent guidelines for policy-making and planning of new projects. They are promoted and used by the United Nations and the international community as a means of raising public awareness of potential solutions to common social, economic and environmental problems.

The accumulated data is available on the Best Practices database, inaugurated at the 1996 Habitat II Conference in Istanbul. To date, it has assembled over 1,160 case histories from more than 120 countries. The records, which consist of four sections--summary narrative, categories and contacts--can be used for training, capacity-building and peer-to-peer learning and knowledge exchange. The database shows practical ways in which communities, Governments and the private sector collaborate to improve governance, eradicate poverty, provide access to shelter, land and basic services, protect the environment and sustain economic development. It inspires leaders at all levels to improve their policies, strategies and actions.

Updated several times a year and searchable by region, country, ecosystem, partners, keywords and area of impact, such as solid waste, housing and poverty reduction, the Best Practices database is a powerful tool for urban planners, policy makers, city managers, community leaders, researchers and the media. It is particularly useful for analyzing urbanizing trends, awarenessbuilding and networking with people involved in implementation, dissemination of new learning tools and methodologies, capacity-building and technical cooperation, and promoting innovative strategies for decisionmaking and policy formulation.

The Best Practices database is available in CD-ROM and internet versions. Visitors to the Web site (www.bestpractices.org) can view summaries of the records, but only registered users can access the narratives and contacts for the Best Practices. The UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization Web site also offers links to the database as well as other best practices sites (www.unesco.org/most/bpsites.htm). Submissions for the database are solicited using the incentive of the Dubai International Award (see box), which has contributed to increasing the number of documented solutions to human settlements challenges around the world.

RELATED ARTICLE: Dubai International Award

The Municipality of Dubai, in collaboration with UNCHS (Habitat), in 1995 established the biennial Dubai International Award for Best Practices in Improving the Living Environment. "Best Practices" are outstanding initiatives that:

* have a demonstrable and tangible impact on improving people's quality of life;

* are the result of effective partnerships between the public, private and civic sectors of society; and

* are socially, economically and environmentally sustainable.

In a three-phase selection process, submissions are validated by the global network of partner institutions and reviewed by an independent Technical Advisory Committee. The Committee selects approximately 100 best practices, and up to 40 exemplary initiatives are shortlisted for final selection as "Award Winning" practices. An independent international jury, taking into consideration impact, partnership and sustainability, selects the winners.

Those initiatives not selected as Award Winning or Best Practices, but which meet the submission criteria, are included in the database as "Good Practices". In 1998, the Dubai International Award Laureates Forum was established in order to help disseminate the award-winning best practices in a systematic manner and thereby have a greater impact on people's living conditions.

Over 1,170 initiatives were submitted for the 1996 and 1998 Awards, and more than 740 submissions and updates from more than 115 countries were received in 2000. Of the 104 submissions classified as "Best Practices" in 1996, 12 received awards. In 1998, 124 submissions were selected as Best Practices, with 10 receiving awards. In November 2000, the Third Dubai International Award was presented to a new group of 10 winners out of 112 Best Practices selected. The deadline for submissions for the 2002 Award (dubai-award.dm.gov.ae) is 31 March 2002.

Best Practices Around the World

Indigenous Tangentyere Council, Australia

In a grass-roots effort to address the basic needs of Aboriginal people living in town camps on the fringes of Alice Springs in central Australia, the Tangentyere Council provides support in housing, infrastructure, employment, training, education and other social services. It is a voluntary organization representing indigenous members of various kinship and language groups from the camps. Its work evolved from trying to acquire leasehold tide to managing improvements to the land. Besides helping with lease applications, the Council now works-in partnership with the federal and state governments in providing basic services, such as water and garbage collection.

Doutores da Alegria, Brazil

Doutores da Alegria (Doctors of Happiness) has successfully used laughter as a healing medicine for chronically ill children in Brazil. Established in 1991, the performing arts organization aims to reach pediatric patients of different social and economic backgrounds in major hospitals around Brazil. Professional artists perform clown theatre for children in intensive and special care units in six major hospitals around thc country two days a week. In 1997, Doutores da Alegria received the prestigious "Children Award", presented by the Abrinq Foundation, Brazil's leading organization for children's rights.

CITYNET, Japan

The Regional Network of Local Authorities for the Management of Human Settlements (CITYNET), a network of local governments, development authorities and NGOs in Asia and the Pacific, acts as a facilitator at the regional level to promote the exchange of information, expertise and experiences among its members. Currently comprising 47 cities, CITYNET aims to strengthen the capacities of local governments to effectively manage the urban development process and develop partnerships.

SIDAREC, Kenya

The Slums Information Development and Resource Centres (SIDAREC) is a local initiative in which community members design and implement development projects targeting health care, housing, sanitation and poverty alleviation. It also initiated a resource centre providing counselling to troubled youths, and programmes for early childhood development, as well as recreational and community service. SIDAREC's accomplishments include publishing Slums News, an effort by local youths to mobilize the community on social, economic, cultural, environmental and political issues.

Amsterdam Burgerziekenhuis, The Netherlands

In an effort to encourage economic self-sufficiency for women, the Burgerziekenhuis for Women Foundation transformed a hospital in Amsterdam into a residential and employment centre for women. It provides them with living accommodations, consisting of small flats, communal arrangements and a work centre, housing a restaurant and small enterprises in health care, textiles and crafts. In 1993, the Burgerziekenhuis for Women Foundation was awarded the annual National Renovation Prize.

Lublin Local Initiatives program, Poland

In order to promote partnership between the municipality and the local community, the urban planning unit of the city of Lublin in 1994 established the Local Initiative Program, through which residents participate in developing their neighbourhoods and rehabilitating older districts. Public and private stakeholders support the project by engaging in partnerships to develop infrastructure and finance environmental improvements. This participatory approach has increased private investment in housing.

Homeless Families Program, United States 

Beyond Shelter's Homeless Families Program has introduced a dramatic innovation in helping the urban homeless, bypassing traditional "transitional housing". Since 1988, utilizing existing programmes, services and institutions operating in isolation from each other, the initiative has been assisting homeless families and adults move directly into permanent rental housing in residential neighbourhoods.