Guided by SSA: UHSNET’s vision of “A Nation with accessible, decent, affordable and sustainable human settlements for all”, the theme of the essay competition is “Cities without slums”. The theme is derived from Sustainable Development Goal no. 11 “Sustainable cities and communities” and will engage students to come up with an ideal city that caters for all classes of people with compatible land uses such as residential and industrial use zones, public places and public transport.

The awards will target students from physical planning institutions in creative thinking on urban and physical planning of land uses. The students are to take on a holistic approach towards urban planning and design and should mainly focus on and will look at provisions for low density, median density and high density residential settlements, industrial zones and public transport and spaces. The nature of the proposed innovation/solution/idea should be realistic and implemented cooperatively and locally among citizens, community groups, businesses, government and local authorities. The essays will be ranked and the top submissions invited to a Knowledge Sharing Workshop.

The best essays will then be publicized on SSA: UHSNET Website and publications such as the Shelter Newsletter. The authors will be rewarded with both cash and other prizes such as certificates and gifts. The participants are encouraged to take on a holistic approach towards physical and urban planning, and in particular in relation to the rapidly growing slum areas of Uganda and how it can be utilized to solve the problems arising there. Students are therefore, expected to come up with innovative solutions to improve the general understanding of what physical and urban planning is and why it is important for the future of Uganda as a country.

Opening date for the submission of essays: 25th November, 2015
Deadline for the submission of essays: 3rd December, 2015
Assessment of essays: 8th December, 2015
Successful essays presented by their authors on: 11th December, 2015
Award giving ceremony: 16th December, 2015

Who can submit an essay?

Interested applicants are invited to submit concise ideas to innovation that should follow the provided guidelines.
Questions may be sent to SSA:UHSNET secretariat via email at ssa.uganda@gmail.com or by Tel: 0312290270 / 0752501574.
SSA: UHSNET is an Equal Opportunity organization and Women are highly encouraged to participate.
Applicants should desist from duplication and any other form of plagiarism.

Applications should be submitted electronically to SSA:UHSNET secretariat via email at ssa.uganda@gmail.com.