Applications are now open for the Global Integrated Flood and Drought Management Competition for Youth-Led Projects 2026–2027, organized by the Associated Programme on Flood Management (APFM) and the Integrated Drought Management Programme (IDMP)—joint programmes of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the Global Water Partnership (GWP), in partnership with the **Water Youth Network (WYN).

The competition is designed to empower young people to develop and implement innovative, practical solutions that strengthen resilience to floods and droughts while supporting the Early Warnings for All (EW4All) initiative. Successful projects will receive funding, mentoring, and international recognition.

Competition Summary

• Programme: Global Integrated Flood and Drought Management Competition for Youth-Led Projects 2026–2027
• Organizers:
  • World Meteorological Organization (WMO)
  • Global Water Partnership (GWP)
  • Associated Programme on Flood Management (APFM)
  • Integrated Drought Management Programme (IDMP)
  • Water Youth Network (WYN)
• Programme Type: Global Youth Project Competition
• Funding: CHF 3,000 implementation grant for selected projects
• Eligible Countries: All countries
• Eligible Age: 18–35 years
• Project Duration: Maximum 9 months
• Application Deadline: 31 August 2026 (23:59 CEST / 21:59 UTC)

About the Competition

Floods and droughts continue to threaten lives, livelihoods, food security, and water resources around the world. Through this competition, the organizers aim to encourage youth-led innovations that improve disaster preparedness, early warning systems, and climate resilience.

The competition seeks projects capable of making measurable impacts while encouraging young people to play active roles in climate adaptation, disaster risk reduction, and sustainable development.

Competition Grant

Selected projects will receive:

• CHF 3,000 to implement the proposed project.
• International recognition.
• Opportunity to implement impactful community projects.
• Exposure to global experts in flood and drought management.
• Networking opportunities with WMO, GWP, APFM, IDMP, and Water Youth Network.
• Increased visibility for innovative youth-led climate solutions.

Eligibility Criteria

Mandatory Requirements

Projects must:

• Be youth-led, involving students or young professionals aged 18–35 years.
• Demonstrate active participation and engagement of young people throughout the project.
• Be practical and results-oriented, with clearly defined objectives, implementation timeline, and scope.
• Demonstrate a concrete contribution to enhancing resilience to floods and droughts with tangible outputs.
• Be completed within a maximum of 9 months.
• Be scalable and sustainable over time.
• Include a feasible innovative element, such as:
  • Combining Indigenous and scientific approaches.
  • New community engagement models.
  • Low-cost adaptation methods.
  • Strong women’s participation and engagement.

Desirable Requirements

Projects may be submitted by:

• Individual applicants.
• Youth-led organizations.
• Teams of young professionals.

Projects may be implemented anywhere in the world.

However, priority will be given to:

• Projects implemented in Least Developed Countries (LDCs).
• Projects implemented in Small Island Developing States (SIDSs).
• Projects benefiting the most vulnerable communities.
• Projects promoting gender-transformative approaches.
• Projects incorporating Indigenous knowledge.
• Projects using nature-based solutions.

Small-scale pilot projects with strong local impact are especially encouraged.

Applications will not be considered if:

• The project is not relevant to flood or drought resilience.
• The proposal is incomplete, vague, or too abstract.
• The proposal appears to be AI-generated without project-specific details.
• The applicant cannot demonstrate youth leadership.
• The proposal is submitted after the application deadline.

Selection Criteria

Projects will be evaluated based on:

• Relevance to integrated flood and drought management.
• Practicality and feasibility.
• Social impact.
• Innovation and creativity.
• Local partnerships and stakeholder engagement.
• Financial feasibility.
• Sustainability and potential for replication or scaling.

How to Apply

Interested applicants should:

1. Visit the official competition application portal through the IDMP Youth Engagement page.
2. Complete the online application form in English.
3. Provide all required information about the proposed project.
4. Submit the completed proposal before the deadline.

After submission:

• All proposals will undergo evaluation.
• Leaders of shortlisted projects may be contacted for additional information before final selection.

Important Dates

• Application Deadline: 31 August 2026
• Time: 23:59 CEST (21:59 UTC)

Why You Should Apply

The Global Integrated Flood and Drought Management Competition provides young innovators with an opportunity to transform climate resilience ideas into practical solutions. Beyond the CHF 3,000 implementation grant, participants gain international exposure, recognition from leading global organizations, and the opportunity to create sustainable, community-driven projects that improve preparedness for floods and droughts while advancing global climate resilience efforts.