In alignment with the 2022 UN Ocean Conference theme, “Scaling up ocean action based on science and innovation for the implementation of Goal 14: stocktaking, partnerships and solutions”, and with the aim of giving youth the opportunity to contribute to the implementation of SDG14, the Governments of Portugal and Kenya and the UN Global Compact will organize the UN Ocean Conference Youth and Innovation Forum, in cooperation with CEiiA, Cascais, Nova School of Business and Economics (Nova SBE), SOA, and with support from UN DESA.
The Youth and Innovation Forum will be a platform for ocean action and implementing youth-led solutions at scale to address SDG 14 targets. The Forum will seek to advance and inspire interdisciplinary thinking to address ocean challenges.
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Participants will be evaluated based on these criteria:
- Background – the extent to which the nominee’s area of focus professionally, academically, or in his/her civic engagement is relevant to the SDG14 targets
- Vision – the extent to which the nominee’s current work aligns with the goals and values of the youth forum
- Ocean Impact – the amount of impact the nominee’s current and previous work has had on an area of the ocean sector. This will be evaluated in terms of number of people reached, geographic area covered, scale of operations, impact on legislation etc.
- Scalability – can the nominee’s work be scaled to new audiences, geographies, or sectors
- Leadership – concrete examples of leadership through projects or initiatives and attendance at major events and forums
Program Timeline:
- 24 June, morning: Free time to explore Lisbon
- 24 June, afternoon: live-streamed opening plenary
- 25 June, morning: sessions on the interactive dialogue themes
- 25 June, afternoon: participants will split into teams for a design challenge for the innovation integrating the 5 challenges and the 8 interactive dialogues.
- 26 June, morning: continuation of the Innovation / design challenge
- 26 June, afternoon: award ceremony with high level judges and VIP networking
- 27-29 June: delegates will have the chance to attend the UN Ocean Conference.
Location:
PortugalBenefits
The objectives of the Youth and Innovation Forum are to:
- Feature youth-led solutions at the UN Ocean Conference and Youth and Innovation Forum that can address 2020 SDG 14 targets and other goals towards the implementation of the 2030 Agenda
- Help young entrepreneurs, and innovators, and solutionists scale up their initiatives, projects, and ideas with professional training and, matchmaking with mentors, investors, the private sector and government officials to maximize their impact
- Highlight the importance of knowledge and science as the basis of innovation and ocean action – both in terms of business and policy
- Engage young leaders as a key driver for change
- Give youth the opportunity to contribute to the political process of the UN Ocean Conference by facilitating inputs to the eight interactive dialogues
- Support youth participants in creating solutions to challenges around the 5 Tipping Points for a Healthy and Productive Ocean during the Innovathon.
Eligibilities
- All applicants must be ages 18-35 to be eligible.
- The Youth and Innovation Forum prioritizes resources (funding and registrations) for nominees from Developing Countries and Middle-Income Countries.
Application Process
Fill out the online application form.
Looking for fully-funded opportunities, install the Youth Opportunities Android or iOS App here.
Application Deadline: April 26, 2022
Application ClosedOfficial link
