Deadline: 15 July 2023

Call for application is open to youth from the Nile Basin countries who are interested in water and climate change, and who would like to propose creative solutions to apply and participate in the Nile Basin Competition for Youth.

The competition aims to identify innovative science, technology and policy-based solutions, good practices and experiences, methods and innovative approaches that promote sustainable water resources management.

Applicant should propose innovative ideas that directly result in responsive concrete redress actions in the following domains: Environmental and water-related issues, Natural resources management and planning, Climate change adaption and mitigation, Transboundary water governance, Water-related socio-economic development. Ideas with a water nexus approach are especially of special interest.

The competitions will be in the format of “Online Hackathon”, where 10 applicants from Nile basin countries will be selected to participate.

1. Who can participate?

• The competition is open to youth from the Nile Basin Countries , aged 15 – 35.
• Young women are especially encouraged to apply
• The applicant has an idea that contribute to the solution of a well-defined challenge in the Nile Basin;
• The applicant is the owner /co-owner of the idea;
• The applicant able to understand and express themselves in English;
• The applicant is able to participate in the 4 training sessions in June;

2. Why Participate?

• Build your capacity and engage in Nile Basin cooperation matters;
• An opportunity to have your voice heard in a wider audience of policy/decision makers;
• Present your ideas/concerns to Nile Basin Member States and other key stakeholders.

3. How to Enter?

• The applicant must fill in an application form available HERE
• Upon the close of the call for applications, the organizing team will review all submissions and choose 10 participants who will move on to the next stage of the competition.
• The 10 selected young leaders will participate in an intensive 4-days Design Thinking Training that will allow them to sharpen and shape their solution more, the participants will be trained in different tools in preparation for the online hackathon competitions.

IV. Selection Criteria

• Impact and relevance of the proposed solution to the challenges of the Nile Basin;
• Potential for implementation of the idea and sustainability of the solution;
• The innovation of the idea;
• The solution's inclusive and participatory nature, including the participation of women and youth and consideration of the concerns of disadvantaged groups;
• Water nexus inclusion in the solution;
• The applicant's capacity for leadership and personal development;
• Gender balance and equal geographic representation among the finalist.

5. About Nile Basin Initiative

The Nile Basin Initiative (NBI) is an intergovernmental partnership of 10 Nile Basin countries, namely Burundi, DR Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, The Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda. Eritrea participates as an observer.

For the first time in the Basin's history, an all-inclusive basin-wide institution was established, on 22nd February, 1999, to provide a forum for consultation and coordination among the Basin States for the sustainable management and development of the shared Nile Basin water and related resources for win-win benefits.