Swiss Re, the world's leading reinsurer, launched the "ReSource Award 2010" on 5 January 2009. Swiss Re established the International ReSource Award in 2002 to actively support the planning, evaluation and implementation of water-related projects with the aim of promoting awareness and encouraging the efficient use of this precious resource. The award is an annual competition for innovative watershed management projects with a total value of USD 150 000. It will be granted to one or several projects selected by an international jury. The prize money is to be used exclusively for project implementation. NGOs, private, scientific or public institutions and similar bodies are invited to apply for the ReSource Award 2010. The award is looking for projects which genuinely seek to contribute to raising awareness of the ecological, social and economic significance of water sources and watersheds in developing and emerging countries (only projects, which are implemented in a non-OECD country are being considered). Preference will be given to those projects which demonstrate innovative preventative measures for protecting water resources, i.e. projects that have a pioneering character in the local context (cultural, institutional or technological) and involve local community and/or regional institutions. Organizations and private persons that submitted their applications in previous years are permitted to re-submit their projects under the condition that substantial changes regarding the quality of the project have been made. All information on the ReSource Award, incl. application guidelines (see enclosure; available in English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Russian and Mandarin Chinese), application form, submission procedures, criteria and schedule, can be found at www.swissre.com/resource. The application process is divided into two phases i.e. the initial and final application: In phase one, participants are requested to send the initial application (application form in English only) to the e-mail address [email protected]. The deadline for submissions for the ReSource Award 2010 is 30 April 2009. Successful applications will be invited to submit a full proposal (phase two: final application) May we kindly ask for your support as we are now looking to attract interested parties involved in watershed management to participate in the 2010 award. We would be most grateful if you could spread the word about the ReSource Award within your own network of contacts, by mentioning the award in your newsletter or on your website. We would also like to draw your attention to the brochure "Advancing sustainable watershed management – Five years of the Swiss Re ReSource Award" available for download at www.swissre.com/resource. It describes the idea behind the award and provides background information about the previous winners. We greatly appreciate your further support to sustainable watershed management and we are looking forward to receiving many interesting applications! Yours sincerely, Angela Marti Director, Communications & Human Resources, Swiss Re
