Nairobi/Kenya, 6 April 2023 – The Executive Director of UN-Habitat, Maimunah Mohd Sharif, announced the establishment of the Global Award for Sustainable Development in Cities (Shanghai Award), at the first session of the UN-Habitat Executive Board on 30 March 2022.

Now, UN-Habitat invites all eligible cities worldwide to apply for the first cycle of the Global Award for Sustainable Development in Cities (Shanghai Award). The process envisages self-application and application with a nomination. The submission of entries will close on 30 June 2023.

The award aims to accelerate the implementation of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the New Urban Agenda. It focuses on advancing Sustainable Development Goal 11, promoting the localization of SDGs, and incentivizing cities to find systematic solutions for sustainable urban development. In addition, the award will help build the platform for advancing UN-Habitat’s strategic plan and flagship programmes and the Global Urban Monitoring Framework.

To apply, visit the award official website, shanghaiaward.org. Application rules and guidelines in six official UN languages, application forms, and other materials are now available on the website.

With only eight years left to 2030, the world is at a critical juncture as cities are recovering from major crises and the global economy is rebounding. Cities are key to advancing recovery efforts and catalysing a more sustainable global future in the years and decades to come. Recognizing this, the theme of the first cycle of the award is "Building Sustainable Urban Future for All.” Cities that have made significant progress in economic vitality, urban prosperity, green urban development, urban safety and resilience, and capacity building for sustainable urban development are encouraged to apply.

Since the establishment of the 2030 Agenda, the world continues to face unprecedented challenges. These multiple challenges are pushing SDGs further out of reach, in the words of the UN Secretary-General António Guterres. However, cities are also transformative in delivering SDGs and advancing global sustainability. In cooperation with its partners, UN-Habitat emphasizes the key role of cities in achieving SDGs and calls to advance the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the New Urban Agenda.

UN-Habitat and Shanghai Municipality jointly establish the Global Award for Sustainable Development in Cities (Shanghai Award). An international jury will select the winning cities based on the principle of fairness and impartiality.

An award ceremony will be held at the major international platform, and winners of the first cycle will be presented with a certificate, a plaque, and a trophy. The outstanding practices and achievements in sustainable urban development from the winning cities will be added to the best practices database of the New Urban Agenda platform. In addition, the winning cities will be invited to attend important international events such as the World Urban Forum and the global observance of World Cities Day, among others, to exchange knowledge and best practices, boost potential investment, and create new opportunities for local economic development.

For further information, please contact the task force of the award at siqi.chen@un.org and outreach@shanghaiaward.org.