In reviewing the applications, the Evaluation Committee looked for an overall coherent, compelling and engaging story of the city’s approach towards sustainable, fair and ethical trade. The Evaluation Committee assessed both the substance and the quality of the applications based on the following five criteria:
1. Overall city direction and strategy: A clear vision, strategy and objectives to help guide cities in taking decisions and implement actions in line with sustainable, fair and ethical trade principles;
2. Policies and activities: Breadth, scope and type of policies, practices and initiatives to drive sustainable, fair and ethical trade and awareness for such schemes;
3. Stakeholder engagement and participation: Involvement of and cooperation with and amongst various city stakeholders such as different city departments, civil society, academia, or businesses;
4. Measurement, evaluation and impact: Tools to measure and evaluate initiatives; initiatives are showing impact;
5. Presentation and communication: Presentation of the city’s engagement in a compelling and coherent manner; the submission is complete and the claims are supported by evidence.
As entrants can substantially differ in size, the cities’ individual circumstances were taken into account through the context criteria when reviewing the applications.