Young innovators shape sustainable solutions at the Mediterranean Youth Water Hackathon
26-28 February 2025, Fes, Morocco. The Mediterranean Youth Water Hackathon concluded on 28 February 2025, bringing together young innovators from across the region to tackle critical challenges within the Water, Energy, Food, and Ecosystems (WEFE) Nexus. Organised by the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) and supported by the German Development Cooperation (GIZ), Sida, HLD pour la Méditerranée, and Young Water Solutions, the event was implemented by Cewas, MedYWat, and the EuroMed University of Fes (UEMF).
The three-day hackathon provided a dynamic and interactive platform for 15 outstanding teams, composed of 28 young participants, selected from a highly competitive pool of over 500 applicants (more than 1,200 youth). Throughout the event, participants engaged in intensive workshops, received mentorship from industry experts, and collaborated in teams to develop innovative solutions that address pressing issues within the WEFE Nexus.
Participants benefited from a range of capacity-building activities, including crash courses designed to strengthen their entrepreneurial and technical skills. Expert-led sessions covered sustainable resource management, innovative business models, and investment strategies, equipping participants with the knowledge needed to transform their ideas into viable solutions. Additionally, team-building exercises and social activities fostered collaboration and networking among the diverse group of young entrepreneurs.
On the final day, a panel of jurors evaluated the proposed solutions based on innovation, feasibility, and impact. Three outstanding teams emerged as winners and will receive financial and technical support to further develop their projects.
1st place: Typhinity (Mauritania)
- Team: Djeinaba Aly Camara (Mauritania), representing a team including Adam Sy and Mohamed Diagana (Mauritania)
- Solution: Typhinity focuses on producing and commercialising organic compost and biochar derived from the invasive plant Typha. By addressing environmental degradation and promoting sustainable agriculture, their solution contributes to both ecological restoration and economic development.
2nd place: Trovador (Portugal)
- Team: Marta Bernardino (Portugal) and Margarida Guedes (Portugal), with third member Sebastião Mendonça (Portugal)
- Solution: Trovador developed an innovative robotic solution for automated reforestation, accelerating afforestation efforts in areas where human labour and heavy machinery are impractical. Their technology has the potential to significantly enhance reforestation efficiency and biodiversity conservation.
2nd place (tie): Laheq Halak (Palestine)
- Team: Khouloud Gassem (Tunisia) and Clara Casasnovas (Spain), with team members Alex, Jabra, and Joseph Dukmak (Palestine)
- Solution: Laheq Halak designed a mobile app to combat food waste in Palestine by connecting local vendors with consumers, offering surplus or near-expiry food at reduced prices. This initiative contributes to both economic relief and sustainability.
The three winning teams will receive cash prizes to help advance their projects—€3,000 for the first-place winner and €1,000 each for the two runner-up teams. Moreover, they will participate in an exclusive online bootcamp, where they will receive tailored mentorship from Cewas and Young Water Solutions trainers, as well as guidance from external experts. This additional support aims to refine their business models, strengthen their technical skills, and prepare them for future implementation and scaling.
The Mediterranean Youth Water Hackathon reaffirmed the crucial role of young entrepreneurs in driving sustainable development and addressing the challenges within the WEFE Nexus. By fostering innovation, collaboration, and knowledge exchange, the initiative provided a platform for youth to contribute meaningful and lasting solutions to pressing environmental challenges.
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