Contest Organizers

The Center for Mediterranean Integration (CMI) is leading the contest with funding from the UK Conflict, Stability and Security Fund (CSSF) and in collaboration with its Water Hub partners (The International Water Management Institute (IWMI), International Center for Water Management Services (CEWAS), French Development Agency, German Development Agency, European Investment Bank, CIHEAM, World Bank, Plan Bleu) and the CMI-supported Mediterranean Youth Water network (MedYWat).

• Young people aged 18 to 35 and working and/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.
• Applications from Libya, Algeria, and Egypt are strongly encouraged.
• Applicants may be active within public institutions, research institutes, start-ups, NGOs, or are freelancers. 
• The official languages of the contest are English and Arabic.

Contest prizes will be announced during the World Water Day 2020.

In addition to the prizes, the selected contest winners will be offered a speaking role in the different World Water Day 2020 workshop sessions in Murcia, Spain as well as:

• Connection with international water and migration experts and young water professionals:  
• Visibility: Showcasing your work on the online channels of the Center for Mediterranean Integration and its partners
• Mentoring: Peer-to-peer mentoring with other Mediterranean water activists and experts.

Other selected participants will also be invited to participate in the workshop in March 2020.

CMI encourages applications from all backgrounds, including young water activists, entrepreneurs, and researchers. 

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

• Water and Climate Change Policies
• Water Scarcity and Drought Management Best Practices
• Water Security Migration Nexus
• Water and Circular Economy (entrepreneurship)
   

• Deadline December 15^th midnight CET time
• December 20^th: Announcement of the contest results
• March 23-26 2020 (tbc): Participation of the contest winners at CMI World Water Day

Only completed applications will be taken into consideration. Water-related projects and research will be assessed according to the following criteria:

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

Selection Committee

The jury will consist of the CMI team and selected water experts from CMI’s Water Hub partner organizations, notably the World Bank, AFD, GIZ, EIB, CIHEAM, Plan Bleu, IWMI and CEWAS as well as the CMI-managed Mediterranean Youth for Water Network (MedYWat).

How can you apply?

Applications will be submitted through this page in either English or Arabic.

For any questions regarding the contest, kindly get in touch with us at water@cmimarseille.org

Legal Aspects

The above competition rules are binding throughout the entire duration of the “Mediterranean Water Heroes” World Water Day Youth Contest. Participating in the contest indicates that applicants have read and accepted these rules and regulations and agree to abide by them. CMI reserves the right to disqualify any contest applicant that it believes is not abiding by the rules of the CMI World Water Day Contest.