SWITCH-Asia

The Asia-Pacific Housing Forum is a biennial conference organised by Habitat for Humanity to bring together stakeholders engaged in finding inclusive and innovative solutions for shelter issues and in promoting affordable housing as a driver of economic growth. The 9th Asia-Pacific Housing Forum will be held in cooperation with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) on October 26-27, 2023 in Suwon, Republic of Korea. 

Learn more here

Innovation Awards

One of the most awaited components of the Asia-Pacific Housing Forum, the Innovation Awards aims to inspire and empower individuals, organisations, and institutions to push the boundaries of creativity and problem-solving in addressing the housing challenges faced by communities in the region. With a focus on innovation, the awards recognise outstanding initiatives, programmes and solutions that are making a difference in the way communities improve the places they call home. 

Award Categories

What’s new

A special award on Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP), supported by EU SWITCH-Asia, will recognise one of the award’s finalists that integrates sustainability considerations in an exemplary way. 

SCP emphasizes the provision of products and services and enabling of lifestyles that minimize environmental impacts while maximizing social and economic benefits. These include resource efficiency and building circularity, emissions reduction / energy solutions, and creating climate resilient, sustainable cities.

Why a SCP Award?

The creation of a joint Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) award for housing projects by Habitat for Humanity supported by SWITCH-Asia underscores the critical role the housing sector plays for a more sustainable economy and society. 

Housing has a significant environmental footprint, consuming vast quantities of resources during construction, operation, and maintenance phases, and producing substantial waste during renovation or demolition. Moreover, homes and buildings account for a significant proportion of global energy use and carbon emissions, making the sector central to addressing climate change. 

A shift towards more sustainable housing practices is therefore essential for mitigating environmental impacts and achieving global sustainability targets including SDG 12. Simultaneously, housing plays a crucial role in ensuring social wellbeing. 

The quality, location, and affordability of housing are intrinsically linked to a range of social outcomes, including health, education, and income. Sustainable housing, therefore, contributes to social sustainability by promoting equitable access to decent, safe, and affordable housing.

SCP Criteria:

1. Providing an innovative, scalable solution on sustainable housing to significantly impact the housing deficit and improve living conditions for low-income households

2. Contribute to housing sustainability through innovative technology, policies or practices including resource efficiency and building circularity, emissions reduction / energy solutions, and creating climate resilient, sustainable cities

3. Integrated into local networks and economies by addressing of local SMEs directly or through associations and financing programmes and / or improving supply chains (up- and downstream: construction, maintenance, waste) through voluntary standards and/or capacity building 

Finalists will be announced on September 11, 2023 while the Innovation Awards will take place on October 26 and 27, 2023

More information available here

Banner photo credit: Habitat for Humanity, Green Antz Builders