Deadline: February 25, 2017 | Register here
Dates: March 21-22, 2017
Eligibility: Young people aged 18 to 35 and working /or studying the water sector in the Mediterranean. Regardless of their place of residence, applicants must be nationals from one of the following Mediterranean countries: Albania, Algeria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Cyprus, Egypt, France, Greece, Italy, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Malta, Morocco, Montenegro, Palestinian Territories, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Syria, Tunisia and Turkey. Applicants may be working in public institutions, research institutes, start-ups, NGOs, or as freelancers. Both individual and group applications are welcome.
Location: CMI World Water Day will take place in Marseille, France

Mediterranean Water Heroes Youth Contest 2017

World Water Day

Every year, World Water Day draws the world’s attention to key global water issues. World Water Day 2017 focuses on Water and Wastewater. Wastewater can be a valuable resource in the circular economy and an efficient investment in the health of humans and ecosystems.

The MENA region is the most water-scarce region in the world, with 15 countries in the region suffering from extreme water scarcity (less than 500 m³/year of renewable water per capita per year). Numerous phenomena are further worsening water security in the region, notably climate change and environmental factors, population growth, increased urbanization, ongoing water mismanagement and faulty water service provision systems.

Wastewater is an important means to reverse this downward spiral, and can contribute to viable regional mitigation and adaptation measures in order to increase water security in the Mediterranean. It has an important role to play in agriculture, urban green spaces, domestic water use (e.g. sanitation) and landscape restoration, amongst others. However, negative perceptions related to wastewater limit its safe use. Better understanding how and where it can be used safely is an important step in making wastewater socially acceptable.

A Contest Focusing on Mediterranean Youth

Youth has an important role to play in working towards water security and increased water awareness. Young people are involved in innovative water-related projects and research around the Mediterranean and are key in securing a more sustainable water future in the region.

For all of these reasons, the Center for Mediterranean Integration (CMI) is organizing a youth-focused Mediterranean event entitled “Youth Innovating with Wastewater for a Sustainable Mediterranean”, on March 21-22, 2017. The aim of this event is to focus on wastewater as an important means for combating water scarcity in the Mediterranean region.

In the run-up to this event, the “Mediterranean Water Heroes” youth contest will offer young water activists from around the Mediterranean the opportunity to showcase their innovative work on wastewater and the circular economy.

What Ideas are Eligible?

Applicants are invited to submit their innovative work around the following themes:

• Zero Waste and Water in the Mediterranean: How can wastewater be perceived as a resource and used to increase water security in the Mediterranean?
• The Multiple Uses of Wastewater: What are the different ways in which wastewater can be safely reused to benefit both humans and the environment?
• Wastewater and the Circular Economy: How can wastewater contribute to creating new economic opportunities, specifically for young people, in a sustainable circular economy?

CMI encourages applications from a wide range of backgrounds, including young water activists, entrepreneurs and researchers.

Selection Criteria

Water-related projects and research will be assessed according to the following criteria:

• Innovative value
• Regional relevance and reproducibility
• Overall quality of the application
• Youth involvement
• Environmental, social and economic impact

Prizes

• Networking: Sponsored registration at the Stockholm Water Week, Stockholm, Sweden (August 27-September 1, 2017);
• Connecting with international experts: Key speaking role during the CMI “Youth Innovating with Wastewater for a Sustainable Mediterranean” World Water Day event in Marseille, France (March 21-22, 2017);
• Visibility: Showcasing of your work on the Center for Mediterranean Integration and partners’ websites;
• Video: Featuring your work in a CMI video on wastewater reuse in the Mediterranean;
• Mentoring: Peer-to-peer mentoring with other Mediterranean water activists and experts.

For more opportunities, check our opportunities sections and subscribe to our weekly newsletters.