For the occasion of World Ocean Day, the EU Neighbors South and SwitchMed launched the Eyes On Blue competition to select the 3 Blue Entrepreneurs of the Southern Mediterranean region.
After the success of the 2021 Eyes On Green competition, the European Commission Directorate-General for Neighborhood and Enlargement Negotiations (DG NEAR), EU Neighbors South, and the SwitchMed program partnered again for the 2022 campaign.
This 2022 competition will focus on water issues in the Southern Mediterranean region.
The competition will be aiming to select the 3 best Blue entrepreneurs’ projects focusing on water in 8 countries, including Lebanon, Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Libya, Morocco, Palestine, and Tunisia.
The competition will allow the participants to highlight projects aimed at initiating innovative and entrepreneurial projects for the “Blue Economy”, and encouraging the region’s citizens to find innovative and sustainable solutions.
Additionally, participants from SwitchMed and EU-funded projects will issue an Open Call to organizations tackling water issues in the mentioned countries and have previously worked in the Blue Economy, Water scarcity and water demand management, and WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene).
The 3 Eyes On Blue winners will receive the following prizes:
- 1st prize: 2,000 euros and a 2,000 euro voucher to spend on services for the business.
- 2nd Prize: 1,750 euro and a 1,750 euro voucher to spend on services for the business.
- 3rd Prize: 1,000 euros and a 1.000 euro voucher to spend on services for the business.
The application deadline will close on June 30, 2022. On July 31, 10 best projects will be selected by the Jury.
By the end of August and mid-September, voting through EU Neighbors South social media pages will take place, and the Awards ceremony will be held either in September or October.
Those interested to participate can apply here.
