Bring people together, tackle a local water challenge and turn ideas into action. Applications are now open for Coalition members interested in organising a Blue Climathon.
Water challenges are local, but finding solutions takes people working together. Through its stakeholder engagement services, CO-WATERS will support Coalition members to organise Blue Climathons: local innovation hackathons that bring citizens, stakeholders and other relevant actors together to develop solutions to water-related challenges in their communities.
Up to 20 Blue Climathons will be supported through the CO-WATERS project. Selected organisers will receive this support at no cost as part of the CO-WATERS project, including guidance throughout the preparation of their event, from defining the challenge and designing the format to mobilising participants and promoting the Climathon.
What support will organisers receive?
CO-WATERS will provide a structured programme covering key aspects of organising a successful Climathon, including:
- Climathon 101: understanding the format and how it can support local action
- Finding the right challenge: identifying and framing a water-related challenge that can bring people together
- Format and facilitation: designing the event and creating the conditions for productive collaboration
- Fundraising: exploring approaches to securing funding and resources for the event
- Promotion and branding: communicating the Climathon and mobilising participants
Organisers will also have access to Climathon resources and branding, continuous support from Blue Climathon experts, and a dedicated online community where Climathon organisers can exchange knowledge, resources and experience.
From local challenges to collective solutions
Blue Climathons typically take place over 12–48 hours, creating an intensive space for people with different perspectives and expertise to work together. The aim is not simply to discuss water challenges, but to generate ideas and practical solutions that respond to the needs of the local community.
Selected Coalition members will be responsible for finding local partners, coordinating logistics, recruiting and mobilising participants, taking part in the preparation programme and raising the funds needed to organise their event.
Please note that CO-WATERS does not provide funding for event organisation costs.
Ready to organise a Blue Climathon?
If your city, region, island or port has a water-related challenge that could benefit from bringing people together to find new solutions, this is an opportunity to turn local engagement into action.
Applications are now open for Coalition members. Apply here by 27 September to become one of the Blue Climathon organisers supported by CO-WATERS.
