October 29, 2024 
6 Min 
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Supporting Youth-Led Initiatives for a Sustainable Future
Context
Youth aged 15 to 24 represent a significant 16% of the world’s population. Despite this, they are frequently excluded from decision-making processes that will shape their futures. The active involvement of youth is crucial for the successful implementation of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Increasingly, young people are stepping up to champion a sustainable future through advocacy, volunteering, and engagement in community organizations. However, their efforts often lack the necessary technical and financial support. A recent study by the Climate Works Foundation reveals that funding for youth-led climate initiatives accounts for a mere 0.76% of climate mitigation funding from major foundations between 2019 and 2021. Young people are often viewed as “high risk” by potential funders, despite their innovative ideas and determination to effect change. Therefore, enhancing access to funding and technical support is vital for empowering youth.
The 1 Million Youth Actions Challenge (1MYAC) was launched in September 2021 by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and is currently implemented by the International Secretariat for Water (ISW). This initiative aims to mobilize youth worldwide to take concrete actions towards a sustainable future, focusing on four key SDGs: clean water and sanitation (SDG 6), responsible consumption and production (SDG 12), climate action (SDG 13), and life on land (SDG 15). With 67 Standard Actions developed by and for youth, the initiative seeks to inspire and hold participants accountable in their efforts. The ultimate goal is to reach 1,000,000 youth actions.
Building on the success of the first call for projects in 2023, the ISW is excited to announce the second call to action, encouraging and supporting youth-led actions that impact communities at the grassroots and local levels.
Objective
The primary objective of this call for projects is to support the implementation of youth-led initiatives focused on clean water and sanitation, responsible consumption and production, climate action, and biodiversity. Additionally, the initiative aims to enhance the capacities of young leaders as agents of change within the water and climate sectors.
Themes
The call for projects will center around four main themes aligned with the SDGs targeted by the 1MYAC initiative:
- Clean Water and Sanitation (SDG 6):
- Test and provide clean water for your community.
- Organize a river/coastal/lake/canal clean-up.
- Build sanitation facilities or related solutions.
- Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG 12):
- Recycle plastics into building materials or other products.
- Produce local fertilizers.
- Climate Action (SDG 13):
- Reforestation efforts, including mangrove planting.
- Create art pieces/events/workshops related to climate issues.
- Life on Land (SDG 15):
- Cultivate a community garden for fruits and vegetables.
- Set up composters and create habitats for birds, insects, and bees.
Projects demonstrating significant innovation and creativity beyond these standard actions are also encouraged, provided they align with one or more of the targeted SDGs.
Prize & Incentives
Selected projects will receive seed funding ranging from 1,500 CAD to 5,000 CAD. Project leaders will also benefit from technical support in project management and partnership building.
The funding can cover:
- Costs for materials and services directly related to the project (transportation, supplies, equipment).
- Fees for experts and other services (excluding the labor costs of the lead applicant and collaborators).
In addition, selected projects will gain visibility on the 1MYAC website and the Youth for Water and Climate Platform. They will receive ongoing guidance and training from the 1MYAC team and have opportunities for peer-to-peer exchanges with other project leaders.
Eligibility
To be eligible, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Complete at least one 1MYAC Standard Action before submitting their project. If you haven’t completed one yet, we encourage you to start now! Actions can include setting up a composter, planting mangroves, or recovering plastic waste from rivers.
- The project must be entirely youth-led (participants aged 10 to 30 years) and include youth in all stages of the project cycle.
- The project must address at least one of the four targeted SDGs.
- Project proposals must be submitted in German, Spanish, French, or English.
- Projects can be new or ongoing.
Additional criteria for consideration include:
- Projects from low- and middle-income countries.
- Initiatives benefiting disadvantaged groups (children, elderly, migrants, refugees, individuals with disabilities).
- Projects led by or targeting women and girls.
- Evidence of the project leader’s capacity to lead within their community.
- Projects conceived and led by a 1MYAC Ambassador.
How to Apply
Application Steps:
- Prepare a Project Presentation Video (max. 3 minutes) covering:
- Your previous 1MYAC experiences and accomplishments.
- Your status as a 1MYAC Ambassador.
- The relevance of the project to your community and its practical implementation.
- Youth inclusion and leadership within the project.
- The projected impact on the local level and number of people affected.
- Innovative aspects of the project.
- Local partnerships and multi-stakeholder integration.
- Financial feasibility.
- Sustainability and adaptability of the project.
- Be clear and concise!
- Show enthusiasm for the potential impact of your project.
- Technical quality is less important than the clarity of your message.
- Upload Your Video to YouTube to facilitate sharing.
- Submit Your Project Online through the Youth for Water and Climate Platform. Ensure you answer all application questions thoroughly.
Activities and Timeline
- Submission Deadline: November 5th, 2024, at 23:00 CEST.
- Applicants will receive a confirmation email upon submission.
- Pre-selected applicants will be invited to submit a complete project plan.
- Winners will be announced on the 1MYAC and YWC websites in the second week of December 2024.
Projects must commence upon completion of agreements and be completed by August 2025. Financial and operational reports will be required at various stages of the project.
Project Proposal Analysis
- Relevance (35%): Alignment with community needs, target demographic considerations, and clarity of goals.
- Feasibility (20%): Financial viability, credible implementation plans, and partnerships.
- Impact (20%): Stakeholder involvement and realistic impact expectations.
- Youth Inclusion and Leadership (10%): Participation of youth across all project phases and demonstrated leadership capacity.
- 1MYAC Active Involvement (5%): Previous contributions to the 1MYAC community.
- Creativity (5%): Innovative and outside-the-box project elements.
- Sustainability (5%): Plans for upscaling and replicability.
More Information
If some doubts remains or burning questions? Join one of our 2 webinars (Montreal time) ! Subtitles will be available
in Spanish, Portuguese, Russian and German.
• September 25th, 9 am (UTC-4) – English : click here to register
• October 3rd, 1 pm (UTC-4) – French : click here to register
For questions of further information please send an email to Noémie Plumier, 1MYAC Project Manager:
1myac.info@gmail.com