The 2015 edition of the 'Water for Life' UN-Water Best Practices Award focused on the theme of Water and Sustainable Development and were presented to winners during the opening ceremony of the Water For Life Voices Exhibit on March 30, during the High Level Event on the International Decade for Action `Water for Life´ 2005-2015, in New York at United Nations Headquarters.

Nelton Friedrich, Environment Director Itaipu Binacional receives Category 1 Award from Blanca Jimenez, Vice-Chair UN-Water, along with Jorge Miguel Samek, Director General Itaipu Brazil and James Spalding, Director General Itaipu Paraguay

The Award was introduced by Ms Blanca Jimenez, Vice-Chair of UN-Water, who presented a video summarizing all the finalists' projects.

>> Watch a video on the 2015 Award candidates

Blanca Jimenez gave a summary of the exhaustive process of selection, highlighted winning initiatives and introduced the winner of the 2015 edition Category 1 'Best water management practices' award. The winner was the Cultivando Agua Boa Project, in Brazil. The jury chose this practice for "directly tackling the socioeconomic and environmental challenges related to major infrastructures by engaging with various stakeholders and for its strong potential for replication". Around 200 watersheds were recovered, improving water quantity and quality, reducing soil erosion and improving the quality of life of the poor and vulnerable, including garbage collectors, fishermen, and small-scale farmers

His Excellency Ramon Oyarzun, Permanent Representative for Spain to the United Nations, and Blanca Jimenez present Category 2 Award for ONE DROP Project India to Catherine Bachand, CEO of ONE DROP and Guy Laliberte, founder of Cirque Du Soleil.

Introduced by the Ambassador for Spain to the United Nations, Roman Oyarzun, the co-winners of Category 2 'Best participatory, communication, awareness-raising and education practices' were xxx. The Jury selected ONE DROP Project India "for its strong social component and enduring partnerships in its manifold and remarkable water management practices", in addition to "the clarity of the plan and structure that underpinned a hugely ambitious and innovative project. In 100 villages in Odisha, District of Ganjam, this project focused on the ABC of Access (providing advice), Behaviour Change (with Cirque du Soleil interactive communications) and Credit (providing microcredits).There have been significant impacts in working with marginalised communities, and with women and youth."

DWS/WESSA Eco Schools impressed the jury with their collaboration between different actors, using their collective power to bring positive behavior change to people at a formative stage of life. Across South Africa, this educational project established an education code and a new curriculum in schools.

Excellency Ramon Oyarzun, Permanent Representative for Spain to the United Nations, and Blanca Jimenez present Category 2 Award for DWS?WESSA Eco-Schools to Deputy Permanent Representative for South Africa to the United Nations Mahlatsi Mminele.

Ms. Blanca Jimenez noted that in reaching its fifth year, the award had so far helped to bring recognition to some highly successful projects, working innovatively in important areas of sustainability.