Using the Database
This is a free public access database with approximately 4,000 proven solutions to the common social, economic and environmental problems.
The database allows you to search for a practice via simple or advanced search options.
Simple search allows you to filter practices by country or category (rating)
From the main menu, use the dropdown arrow to select the country or category of practice then click on filter. You can combine both options for narrower searches.
Practice categories include “Award Winner”, “Best Practice”, “Good Practice” or “Promising practice”.
Advanced Search allows you to narrow down your search using multiple variables.
From the main menu click on advanced search. This opens a window with various search options/variables:
- Title – If you know the name of the practice (in full, part or a word within it), type it in the space under this option and click on filter.
- Type of Practice – Use the dropdown arrow to select from which category you want to base your search. Here, you can search from a specific category or the whole database.
- Thematic Category – Each submitting organization chooses from a list of 25 pre-defined options, up to three thematic categories to describe their practice. By using this option, you can narrow down your search to a thematic area of interest. For example; if you are searching for practices on climate change (mitigation, adaptation e.t.c), choose the climate change option under categories and click on filter. A list of all practices which address climate change will appear.
You can also filter by region, country, type of submitting organization or submission year. Valid years are 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2010
Under the advanced search option, you can use a combination of any number of search options
Once you initiate a search for a specific set of records, then what?
You'll receive a list of Search Results. These are records that meet your search criteria. The list shows the name of the practice, country, organizational type of submitter as well as the year the practice was submitted. To see the whole record, click on the name of the practice.
Each record consists of four sections namely Summary, Narrative, Categories and Contacts.
