The Centre of Excellence for Change (CEC) has been awarded the UN- Global Water Award, 2013 by UNDESA and UN Water standing second among nearly 46 finalist organizations from across the world. The purpose of this UN-Water Award is to promote efforts to fulfil international commitments made on water and water-related issues by 2015 through the recognition of outstanding best practices that can ensure long-term sustainable management of water resources and contribute to the achievement of internationally agreed goals and targets. The award was announced on World Water Day, 22nd March, 2013 at Hague, Netherlands.
The second prize is in recognition of CEC s unique initiative of Collaborative Community Water Management which has been recognized by UN as one of the top two best practices to be adapted world over. The recognition by the United Nation has been given to CEC for:
This innovative CEC approach to water management established in Tamil Nadu and initiated in other States and Countries addressed the behavioral causes of the water crisis at the most personal level of the individual and more collaborative social relationships among all stakeholders in the water and allied sectors encompassing water engineers, agri professionals, policy-makers, and communities. The Initiative resulted in:
The innovative approach recognized as the best practice would be filmed as a documentary by the UN and broadcast around the world to usher in a new service delivery paradigm.