Highlights

Due to the evolving situation of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and the growing health concerns related to this virus as well the logistics complications that we currently globally face as a result of this health epidemic, the Center for Mediterranean Integration (CMI) have decided to adapt the 2020 World Water Day to a virtual format.
 

Our main concern in taking this decision is ensuring the health and safety of the participants and our staff.

We remain fully committed to maintaining a productive dialogue with all attending parties and to effectively engage on the pressing issues of water shortages in the current climate change status. 

Background

Every year, the World Water Day draws the world’s attention to key water challenges. The CMI's World Water Day 2020 focuses on the theme of “Water and Climate Change – and how the two are inextricably linked”.

In order to better understand the complex interlinkages between water and climate change in the Mediterranean region and address this issue from a youth perspective, CMI is organizing the Fourth edition of its flagship regional youth workshop on March 23rd, 2020. The event will be held virtually du the current Coronavirus (COVID-19) global health epidemic.

Objectives

This fourth edition is built on the first three CMI Mediterranean Water Heroes Contests and World Water Day youth workshops: “Youth Innovating with Wastewater for a Sustainable Mediterranean”  (Marseille, France 2017), “Nature-Based Solutions for a Water Secure Mediterranean” (Anafora Community, Cairo, Egypt 2018) and “Water and Migration” (Marrakesh, Morocco 2019) which aimed at raising the awareness of the future generation of water leaders on key water challenges the Mediterranean region is faced with.

The world water day workshops are designed to connect and build the capacities of young professionals, researchers, students through the CMI-managed Mediterranean Youth for Water Network (MedYWat) which was launched in 2017.

Expected Outcomes

The 2020 CMI World Water Day youth workshop aims to stimulate inter-generational learning between young Mediterranean water practitioners and senior experts, notably through the CMI Call for Papers on Water and Climate Change, while further involving and supporting the CMI-managed Mediterranean Youth for Water Network (MedYWat) and enhancing collaboration with key regional players on the water and climate change theme.