Commonwealth Youth Ocean Hackathon Competition 2024

Welcome to the Commonwealth Youth Ocean Hackathon! This hackathon is an exciting initiative of the Commonwealth Blue Charter Ocean Youth Working Group. Leading up to the Ocean Symposium, this challenge aims to harness the creativity and innovation of youth across Commonwealth countries in addressing critical ocean-related challenges.

The Ocean Hackathon under the theme "Catalyzing Youth Solutions for our Ocean and Climate", invites young people from Commonwealth nations to submit their innovative ideas to solve pressing ocean issues. Participants can work individually or in teams to propose solutions in one or more of the following Commonwealth Blue Charter Action Groups:

• Plastic Pollution Reduction: Track, collect, recycle, or reduce plastic waste in oceans and coastal areas.
• Marine Conservation/Protected Areas: Monitor and protect marine habitats, endangered species, and biodiversity.
• Ocean Observation and Acidification Monitoring: Promote ocean observation and mitigate the effects of ocean acidification on marine ecosystems. 
• Sustainable Coastal Fisheries: Promote sustainable fishing, reduce bycatch, and minimize impacts on marine ecosystems. 
• Ocean and Climate Change Resilience: Mitigate the impacts of climate change on oceans and coastal communities.
• Ocean Education and Outreach: Develop educational tools to raise awareness about ocean conservation.
• Blue Economy Solutions: Create business models that promote economic growth while conserving ocean resources.
• Coral Reef Protection and Restoration: Monitor, protect and restore coral reefs in marine ecosystems.
• Mangrove Ecosystems and Livelihoods: Develop mechanisms to protect mangroves and livelihoods. 
• Sustainable Aquaculture: Promote sustainable aquaculture systems that promote economic growth while promoting the environment. 

• Table of Content
• About Commonwealth Youth Council (CYC)
• Youth Ocean Hackathon Competition
• Aim and Benefits of Youth Ocean Hackathon Competition
• Requirements for Youth Ocean Hackathon Competition Qualification
• Interview date, Process and Venue for Youth Ocean Hackathon Competition
• Application Deadline
• How to Apply

About Commonwealth Youth Council (CYC)

The Commonwealth Youth Council (CYC) is the largest and most diverse youth-led organization in the world. It is the recognized voice of more than 1.2 billion young people in the commonwealth. It was established by the Heads of Governments in the commonwealth inline with the Commonwealth Charter. It is an exciting inclusive initiative that seeks to communicate, engage and advocate for youth led participation. The CYC is an independent entity responsible for youth representation in the Commonwealth. The Commonwealth Youth Council is as a youth-led organisation which aims to further advan... continue reading

Youth Ocean Hackathon Competition

Aim and Benefits of Youth Ocean Hackathon Competition

Successful entries will be promoted across Commonwealth media and contribute to a policy recommendation document for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) and gain recognition at COP29 in Azerbaijan .

Requirements for Youth Ocean Hackathon Competition Qualification

• Open to young people aged 15 - 29 years old from Commonwealth countries. 
• Submissions, by filling the application form, can be from an individual or a team.  
• A solution to at least one issue from the Commonwealth Blue Charter action areas must be developed. 
• Must be a member of the Blue Charter Ocean Youth Working Group  

Interview date, Process and Venue for Youth Ocean Hackathon Competition

Winners will be announced at the Ocean Symposium at the upcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Samoa and COP29 in Azerbaijan. They will also be required to submit a blog post with photos at the 3rd, 6th and 9th month intervals after winning to showcase their progress.

Timeline:

• Opening Date for Entries: 12th August, 2024
• Closing Date for Entries: 31st August, 2024
• Assessment and Final Pitch: 1st - 22nd September, 2024

Application Deadline

How to Apply

Participants must submit either a video or a document detailing their chosen issue's relevance, current actions taken in their country, their proposed solution, implementation challenges, and needed resources. Submissions will be evaluated by a panel of judges, including experts from ocean and climate change fields.

For more details, visit Commonwealth website