Jay-Z’s multimedia “Water for Life” campaign, developed jointly with the UN’s Department of Public Information and MTV Networks, included a television documentary, an interactive website profiling the water problem in 26 countries and the distribution of free education resources.

In an online voting contest organized by the Vibe Awards, which celebrate excellence and innovation in urban music, lifestyle and culture, Jay-Z won a new prize known as Vibe Props (VPROPS), which recognizes individuals who show unyielding commitment to serving their community.

In a taped video message to the awards, which are being screened tonight on United States television, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon accepted the prize on Jay-Z’s behalf.

“My man Jay-Z has been a wonderful partner to the UN, and a champion of those in need around the world,” he said, adding how proud he was that the award had been given for the rapper’s work on the ‘Water for Life’ campaign.

“More than one billion people have no access to safe drinking water. Two billion lack adequate sanitation. As a result, thousands of children die every day from diseases that could be prevented.

“When world leaders adopted the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), they pledged to change all that. They promised, by the year 2015, to cut by half the proportion of people without access to safe drinking water. Let us hold them to that promise.”