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About the Awards
The Ryutaro Hashimoto APFED Awards for Good Practices (GPs) Objective
The Ryutaro Hashimoto APFED Awards for Good Practices (GPs) aim at promoting information dissemination of good practices towards sustainable development in the Asia-Pacific region. The awards programme collects lessons and experiences from innovative activities implemented in the region in order to promote sustainable development, extract lessons learnt and share knowledge with other stakeholders concerned.

Launched in 2006, the awards programme received an overwhelming and encouraging response from all over the region. The programme, under the auspices of APFED, intends to further contribute to the build up of knowledge and the dissemination of information on good practices for promoting sustainable development in the region.

The awards programme is especially supportive of good practice activities in developing countries of the Asia-Pacific region and organisations operating in these developing countries are encouraged to apply.
Awards Structure
Awards will be given to recognise the practices that have demonstrated outstanding achievements in promoting environmental management and sustainable development in Asia and the Pacific. The awards will be given in the following three categories:
Gold Prize: 1 case (USD 20,000)
Silver Prize: 2 cases (USD 7,000 each)
Incentive Prize: Up to 5 cases (USD 2,000 each)
1. Gold Prize (1 case)
The gold prize will be awarded to a practice that has made outstanding achievements in promoting environmental management and sustainable development in the region.
2. Silver Prize (2 cases)
The silver prize will be awarded to practices that have made great achievements in this field.
3. Incentive Prize (Maximum 5 cases)
The incentive prize will be awarded to practices that have unique features and have made reputable achievements.
Benefits and Obligations of Award Recipients
The prize money shall, in principle, be given for the purpose of promoting the replication of good practices (GPs) demonstrated in the application. They will then be tailored to meet the particular conditions in respective countries and communities in the region. Information on award activities shall be disseminated through the following:
1) Workshops for sharing lessons learnt from their practices
2) Publications
3) Preparing training/teaching materials
4) Facilitating information dissemination through other measures such as cyber-networks.
In order to promote the information dissemination on APFED Award good practices, cooperation is sought in the following:
1) Completing information sheets for inclusion in the APFED Database
2) Assisting in the preparation of case studies based on the project/practice referred to in the application
3) Facilitating visits for interested stakeholders, if necessary.
In addition, the prize winners will be invited to the awards ceremony to be held at the APFED Fourth Plenary Meeting scheudled in late July - early August 2008 (further details shall be announced later). The organisers shall cover the cost of award recipientsf participation in the meeting.
Areas of Interest
The awards programme will cover all environmental fields, such as:
Sectoral issues: climate change, air, freshwater, soil, biodiversity, waste, forest conservation, chemicals, marine and coastal environment, etc.
Cross-sectoral issues: environmental governance, innovative environmental finance, trade and environment, human capacity development, environmental information, environmental technology, environmental education, etc.
Eligibility
Who can apply?
Applications are open ONLY to organisations and NOT to individuals. Organisations wishing to apply must be properly established under the law of that Asia-Pacific country. These include national or local governments, private sector corporations, non-profit organisations, civil society organisations, academic and research institutions.

The organisation submitting the application must be the one that undertakes the primary responsibility for managing the activities or practices. Organisations that do not play the primary role are not eligible to apply.

What kind of activities qualify?
The activities or practices (good practices: GPs) demonstrated in the application must have been implemented, demonstrated tangible results, and made significant achievements towards the intended outcome in Asia and the Pacific.

The activities or practices must be on-going. Activities that have already been discontinued are not eligible (external assistance may have ceased - in cases where there was originally support by external funding - but the activities themselves need to be on-going).

Who should sign the application?
Applications must be signed by the head of the organisation or the authorised representative. Application signed by a third party or others will NOT be accepted.

What cases will be excluded from receiving an award?
Organisations that have won other prestigious awards for their practices will be excluded from the APFED Awards. However, such practices may be submitted for inclusion in the APFED Good Practices Database. A separate request for database inclusion can be made to the APFED Secretariat/IGES.

Who will be given priority?
Priority will be given to organisations in developing countries in the region.
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