Dear stakeholders in port cities,

The call for entries for the first edition of the AIVP Antoine Rufenacht Prize has been open since 11 March 2024, and many of you have already expressed your interest in this initiative, which is particularly close to our hearts. This award naturally pays tribute to Antoine Rufenacht, founding President of the AIVP, former mayor of Le Havre and a tireless champion of port cities. Above all, it reflects our ongoing ambition to work towards improving the city-port relationship. What better way to do this than by celebrating the diversity of development projects carried out at city-port interfaces and the way in which these contribute to building a sustainable port city?

Are you a port authority and/or a local authority?
Do you represent a maritime or inland port city?
Have you completed, over the last three years, a development project located within a city-port interface?

The AIVP Antoine Rufenacht Award is for you!

The call for applications is open until 23 June 2024 –
let us know if you’re interested!

To apply, download the application form here and return it, duly completed, to the following address: submission@aivp-rufenacht-prize.org.

Still not sure whether to apply?

Lucile Audièvre is on hand to answer any questions you may have.

Find out more about the eligibility criteria

How will the winner be chosen?

​The submitted projects will be reviewed by a Committee of Experts, which will select the best ones. These will then be assessed by a Grand Jury, which will choose the winner.

The Expert Committee is chaired by Carola Hein, Professor at Delft University (Netherlands) and Director of the PortCityFutures programme.

The Grand Jury is chaired by Geraldine Knatz, former Chief Executive of the Port of Los Angeles and former President of the American Association of Ports.

What will the assessment criteria be?

• Projects entered for the AIVP Antoine Rufenacht Prize will be assessed according to the following criteria:
• Originality: To what extent does the project contribute to improving the city-port relationship? What is its added value?
• Relevance of the project: Does the project form part of a coherent approach in line with the sustainable development objectives of the AIVP’s 2030 Agenda?
• Impact: What concrete results has the project achieved?
• Exemplary nature: To what extent can the project serve as a model?
• Quality/clarity: Is the application dossier sufficiently clear and of a high standard?

What are the key stages?

• 11 March to 23 June 2024: preparation and submission of applications;
• 5 and 6 September 2024: meeting of the Expert Committee, selection of the shortlisted projects;
• 10 and 11 October 2024: meeting of the Grand Jury in Le Havre (France), interviews with the finalists and selection of the winner;
• 27, 28 and 29 November 2024: AIVP World Conference in Lisbon (Portugal), announcement of the winner and official award ceremony.

Find out more

We look forward to seeing your projects!

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