The UA's NSF-funded Science and
SAHRA is a joint winner of the prize with the Center for Hydrometeorology and Remote Sensing (CHRS) at U.C. Irvine.
The UNESCO prize "rewards remarkable scientific research work on water usage in arid areas as well as areas subject to drought and also for the development of agriculture for the benefit of humanity and the environment."
NSF officials have told me that SAHRA is the model they point to on how to run a science and technology center. This augers well for SAHRA's continuation after NSF S&T center funding ends.