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.
To submit your proposal, please carefully follow the submission guidelines available here. Please note that, as indicated in the submission guidelines, you are kindly required to submit a project concept note as well as an introduction video to your project. Make sure your concept note includes all the required information (project title, objectives, timeline, contact information of project leader etc.). Incomplete applications will not be taken into account.
Sumbit your proposal here.
Submission Deadline: 16 March 2025, h23:59 CET (h22:59 UTC).
For questions related to the competition or submission process, please contact bgiovinazzo@wmo.int .