Submissions are now closed!
Background
Youth are among the groups most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, particularly to extreme events that are becoming more frequent and intense in many regions. At the same time, they hold immense potential to contribute solutions and enhance resilience through their knowledge, skills, and access to technologies. Despite this, their participation and voices remain underrepresented in climate action and decision-making processes. Given their vulnerability and potential, engaging youth in global climate efforts is not merely an option but an essential priority.
In 2022, the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres called for a collective effort to ensure universal protection from hazardous events through life-saving Early Warning Systems (EWS) by the end of 2027. Despite the urgent need, only half of the countries worldwide report having adequate multi-hazard EWS.
In this context, the role of youth in enhancing flood and drought resilience, contributing to the goal of the Early Warnings for All initiative (EW4All) has never been more crucial. Young people often bring new perspectives and innovative ideas to the table. Their creativity and willingness to challenge traditional approaches can lead to new solutions and approaches to climate action.
In alignment with the United Nations Youth Strategy established in 2018, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the Global Water Partnership (GWP) are leading this initiative to support youth-led water-related projects.
Objectives
Following the success of the previous two competitions in 2022 and 2023, the Global Integrated Flood and Drought Management Competition for Youth-Led Projects 2025 aims to involve young professionals in climate action efforts to promote global resilience to flood and drought. More specifically, the objectives of the competition are:
- To enhance communities’ resilience (preparedness, response, and adaptation) to floods and drought events through youth involvement.
- To showcase the impact youth can have in supporting communities’ flood and drought resilience.
- To create opportunities for youth to implement, scale, and sustain their projects in the long term, ensuring youth is increasingly involved in climate action efforts and their initiatives receive recognition and visibility.
Eligibility Criteria
The proposed projects must:
- Be youth-led (students/young professionals under 35) and demonstrate the active participation and engagement of youth in the proposed project activities.
- Contribute to enhancing resilience to floods and drought.
- Be innovative, and results-oriented, having clearly identified objectives, timeline, and scope.
- Be implemented within a maximum of 9 months.
- Be scalable and sustainable in time.
Projects can be submitted by individuals or youth-led organizations/teams of young professionals. Projects can be implemented anywhere. However, priority will be given to:
- Projects implemented in Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDSs), particularly those benefitting the most vulnerable groups.
- Projects supporting gender-transformative approaches.
- Projects reflecting the use of Indigenous knowledge and nature-based solutions.
- Scalable and replicable projects.
Projects outside these priority areas are still eligible for selection.
The contribution provided to the selected project for the implementation of the foreseen activities is of 3000 CHF.
Submissions are now closed! Thanks for submitting your project proposals. We will carefully evaluate the proposals in the following weeks, and we will get in touch with the shortlisted candidates in April.
For questions related to the competition or submission process, please contact bgiovinazzo@wmo.int .
24 Responses
This is really an educative project. Am glad to be part of it. Thank you
Thank you for the update! We’re very interested.
As our Planet grapples with the consequences of climate change, such projects are significant in providing the necessary remedies. In my country Uganda, floods and droughts occur more often in certain areas. It is the same case in other countries in Africa and around the World. Most importantly, am happy to be part of the solution. As an Undergraduate Student at Makerere University School of Public Health, i feel rewarded to trigger the positive change in the World. Thank you.
This a great opportunity for organizations like mine where young people initiate, own and effectively lead climate resilient enterprise that promotes equality through climate justice agribusiness.
Great project
Can’t wait to be part of this amazing opportunity.
This is really a crucial project, I have been already working with the project in the least developed countries where the youth were one of the main victims of the climate change impacts through flood and drought. This initiative will bring positive impacts for those who are suffering at the front line.
Happy to be part of this. We shall strive to ensure our people are always prepared and have been enlightened about floods and drought preparedness.
This methodology is good for local community engagement through intensive training on climate efforts and drought and flood knowledge skills for proper management of such cases.
Hey, I’m Emmanuel Korkollie from Liberia, the Executive Director for a youth led environmental organization called Voice of Environment-VOE. My is highly interested to help implement this initiative
It’s a good idea and it will bring change in the community
I want to join and be apart of this opportunity
I’m interested and be part of this movement
Am interested and ready to participate.
Due to unpredictable changes in weather and climate change.food security and disaster management is paramount.
Unpredictable and extreme weather pattern results natural disaster drought and flooding causing most peoples vulnerable affecting daily lifestyle,economic loss,starvation and hunger.
I as a young climate activist by seeing and exposing to above remedies(impact of climate change) which become global interest to implement some adaptation and mitigation actions and approaches at Community Base level.
Therefore,I’m much interest to that innovative movement .
Nowadays the world has faced challenges with Flood and Drought, especially In African Countries, I need to be part of this chance
Great, this is an amazing idea
I want to join and be part of this movement
This is such a great network opportunity especially for growing organizations like our. Planet Earth requires these and more similar interventions. Loking forward to great strategic partnership
I just want to be a part of this amazing movement
Highly needed to come with innovative ways on risks management now I feel like it’s my opportunity no showcase it
Belle opportunité pour la jeunesse engagé dans la gestion durable de la biodiversité
I want to join with you
Highly delighted to be part of this great initiative that will bring alot of evironmental sustainablity through our different assertion or knowledge.