The Cities 4 Women project in Nepal launches an international competition to foster the development of innovative, inclusive, and climate-resilient public open spaces across five Nepalese cities.
Public open spaces serve as multifunctional areas that facilitate social interaction, economic activity, and cultural expression, access to green spaces, contributing significantly to the well-being of city dwellers. They also play a critical role in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly goal 11.
Despite their benefits, public open spaces in Nepal face significant challenges, particularly in terms of safety and accessibility for marginalized groups. Initial surveys conducted by the project revealed that women, especially those facing additional marginalization, often feel unsafe in these spaces due to poor design, inadequate security, and insufficient lighting, leading to a fear of urban insecurity.
This one-stage competition is an opportunity for architects, landscape architects, urban designers and planners, to showcase their creativity and contribute to a transformative initiative that seeks to address urban challenges while promoting inclusivity and sustainability.
The competition will focus on five sites to be planned and designed:
- Dhangadhi Sub-metropolitan City - Kailali River Corridor;
- Birendranagar Municipality - Greater Ghantaghar Park;
- Chandragiri Municipality - Kanchanbasti Aarogya Udhyan Park;
- Sunwal Municipality - Shomnath Haatbazar;
- Tansen Municipality - Kudapani Park.
It will award 1st and 2nd place to the winning designs for each municipality: 1st prize: $500, and 2nd prize: $250 for Nepali residents. If foreign nationals receive any of the prizes, instead of monetary prize, they will receive a return air travel ticket to Nepal to join one of the project design workshops in 2024.
For more information, including on how to anonymously submit your application, please access this link. The deadline is August 31 2024.
The Cities4Women: Inclusive and Climate Resilient Urbanization in Nepal programme, co-funded by the European Union and USAID, is implemented by UNOPS, UN-Habitat, and Cities Alliance. The four year initiative operates in six municipalities: Dhangadhi Sub-metropolitan City, Birendranagar, Chandragiri, Lamki Chuha, Sunwal, and Tansen. The project’s core mission is to support these municipalities in managing rapid urbanization and climate vulnerability by planning, designing, constructing, and managing gender-responsive, climate-resilient, public open spaces.
Competition sites. Photos: Anup Ghimire, Padma Aryal, Sugam Gautam, Rojina Kafle, Manju Raut.
