• UN Water Calls for Proposals: Youth-Led Flood and Drought Management Projects

• This initiative funds innovative projects that strengthen resilience to water-related hazards and support the Early Warnings for All initiative

• The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and Global Water Partnership (GWP) are supporting the Youth-Led Flood and Drought Management Projects.

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Islamabad: For the third year, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and Global Water Partnership (GWP) are launching the Global Integrated Flood and Drought Management Competition for Youth-Led Projects.

This initiative funds innovative projects that strengthen resilience to water-related hazards and support the Early Warnings for All initiative.

young people are crucial in tackling climate challenges, yet they remain underrepresented in decision-making. This competition empowers youth to lead climate action by developing community-focused solutions for floods and droughts. Winning projects receive funding, visibility, and opportunities for long-term impact.

• Previous winning projects include:

1. Water from a Rock – Created a real-time disaster risk mapping platform in South Africa.
2. Collaborative Mapping for Flooding Resilience – Trained communities in Medellín, Colombia, to map vulnerable areas.
3. AWAKE – Provided disaster preparedness education for children and people with disabilities in Indonesia.
4. YouthMappers Project – Used Geographic Information System tools in Tanzania to map flood-prone areas and evacuation routes.

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How to apply : 

Youth-led teams can submit proposals until 16 March 2025. Full details and submission guidelines are available on the official competition page. Youth-Led Flood and Drought Management Projects

Key themes include

• Drinking Water
• Sanitation and Hygiene
• Wastewater
• Water Quality
• Water Use Efficiency
• Water Stress
• Water Management
• Transboundary Cooperation
• Ecosystems
• International Cooperation
• Stakeholder Participation
• Institutional and Cross-Cutting
• Gender Contextualization

According to sources, some 1 Four billion people — almost two thirds of the world’s population — experience severe water scarcity for at least one month each year.

Also, 2 Over two billion people live in countries where water supply is inadequate. #3 Half of the world’s population could be living in areas facing water scarcity by as early as 2025. (UNICEF).

In March 2024, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged all countries to join the United Nations We must accelerate efforts to work together across borders, and I urge all countries to join and implement the United Nations Water Convention – which promotes managing shared water resources sustainably. Cooperating to safeguard water can power and sustain peace.

International organizations have stressed that “time is running out,” urging world leaders to move beyond rhetoric and take concrete action. The Global Integrated Flood and Drought Management Competition for Youth-Led Projects by The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and Global Water Partnership (GWP) calls for international partnerships to ensure clean water and sanitation for all, aligning with UN Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG-6). By fostering transboundary collaboration and innovative water management strategies, nations can collectively prevent climate-induced water crises from escalating further.

About UN Water

UN-Water team reports helping people to understand what is happening around the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, launches water campaigns, releases publications and where events are taking place around the world to water conservation.

UN Water’s latest initiative the Global Integrated Flood and Drought Management Competition for Youth-Led serves as a stark warning to the global community: water security is not just a national concern but a shared responsibility of humanity. As climate crisis continues to threaten global water resources, cooperation among nations is more critical than ever. The 2026 UN Water Conference must pave the way for actionable solutions that secure water for future generations.