Deadline: August 31, 2026
Applications are invited for the IDMP/APFM Competition for Youth-Led Projects 2026-2027. Youth are among the groups most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change – particularly to floods and droughts, which 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 – for enhancing flood and drought resilience, promoting local climate action, and contributing to Early Warnings for All (EW4All).
The Competition for Youth-Led Projects aims to:
- Empower young people to design and lead practical solutions for disaster risk reduction, preparedness, and response.
- Strengthen community resilience through projects rooted in local needs.
- Encourage youth engagement and show the impacts youth can make in building flood and drought resilience.
Prizes
- Two prizes consisting of 3,000 CHF each will be awarded to selected projects which are in line with the objectives and selection criteria of the competition. Awarded project leaders will implement their initiatives over 9 months, with guidance and support from experts on floods and drought.
Eligibility
The proposed projects must:
- Be youth-led (students/young professionals aged 18 – 35) and demonstrate the active participation and engagement of youth of all ages below 35 in the proposed project activities.
- Be practical, results-oriented, have clearly identified objectives, timeline, and scope.
- Demonstrate a concrete contribution to enhancing resilience to floods and drought with tangible outputs.
- Be implemented within a maximum of 9 months.
- Be scalable and sustainable in time.
- Include a feasible innovative element (e.g., combining Indigenous and scientific approaches, a new community engagement model, low-cost adaptation methods, strong women’s engagement, etc.)
Application
Before submitting your proposal, read the submission guidelines carefully.
Proposals can be submitted in English or Spanish. To submit your proposal, complete the following submission form:
A proposal can only be submitted once, in one language. Proposals submitted multiple times will not be considered. Only proposals submitted through the submission forms will be taken into account.
For more information, visit Competition for Youth-Led Projects.
