Rabat received the 2024 UN-Habitat Scroll of Honour Award during the World Habitat Day celebration in Queretaro, Mexico, on Monday in recognition of the city’s outstanding contributions to sustainable urbanization and improving urban life worldwide, the UN-Habitat program announced.
The program said the “winners reflect best practices and innovations that contribute to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities.” The UN-Habitat received 127 nominations from across Africa, Asia, Europe, the Americas, and Oceania.
The UN-Habitat added that the city of Rabat secured the award for “its pioneering approach to integrated and sustainable urban development, exemplified by its ‘Rabat a Sustainable and Inclusive City’ vision.”
Rabat City Council said in a press release that “this prestigious award recognizes cities that have made exceptional achievements in urban development and significantly contributed to improving the quality of life for their residents.”
“The nomination of Rabat for this excellence award represents a glorious international distinction that acknowledges the relevance of the flagship program “Rabat, City of Light, Moroccan Capital of Culture,” the council added.
The council further noted that “Rabat’s public spaces have been redesigned to foster community engagement and personal development.” It highlighted that the proposed vision adopts a human-centered approach to improve access to social services and promote inclusion through sports, art, and culture.
One of the major achievements has been the creation of 175 local sports spaces throughout the city, promoting well-being and social inclusion, particularly for youth, according to the City Council. “In 2023, the ‘Rabat Youth’ competition attracted over 8,700 participants, showcasing the positive impact of these initiatives.”
Alcaldía de Santiago, from Cali, Colombia; Majlis Bandaraya from Ipoh Perak, Malaysia; Allen Kong from Ocean Grove, Australia; and David Satterthwaite from London, United Kingdom also won a 2024 UN-Habitat Scroll of Honour Award.