Welcome to the Mediterranean Sustainability Award

SCP/RAC is launching the WeMed Award, a flagship initiative of the MSSD to promote an inclusive transition to sustainability in the Mediterranean and recognise success stories of sustainable businesses and public authorities supporting them.

Sustainable businesses are key drivers for the transition towards a green, circular and blue economy in the Mediterranean, but they need an enabling policy environment to thrive. This new award aims to recognise the work of innovative green entrepreneurs from Southern Mediterranean countries, as well as the efforts undertaken by other actors in the entrepreneurship ecosystem to support them, such as public authorities, financial institutions, Business Support Organisations or civil society organisations.

Why a Mediterranean award?

 At the COP21, the Contracting Parties requested that the Barcelona Convention System, through the Regional Activity Centre for Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP/RAC), launch the first edition of a Mediterranean business award for environmental innovation, as a flagship initiative of the Mediterranean Strategy for Sustainable Development (MSSD).

There are many awards highlighting eco-innovations in Europe, but the benchmarking study conducted by SCP/RAC highlighted that there aren’t as many awards recognising these kinds of achievements in Southern Mediterranean countries.

The award will shine a light on sustainable businesses from Southern Mediterranean countries that contribute to sustainable and fair consumption and production models. Therefore, the core selection criteria will be related to environmental, social and economic value creation.

Moreover, the award aims to raise awareness about the challenges that sustainable entrepreneurs face and the important role of other actors in working together and strengthening the supporting ecosystem.

Recognising gender equality

When developing the award, gender mainstreaming was an important aspect that was taken into account. The award will reward participants that have implemented measures to ensure gender equality in their sustainable initiatives. Moreover, the jury will be gender and geographically-balanced, being formed by four female and three male experts from Northern and Southern Mediterranean countries.  

Practical information

Each edition will have a different thematic focus and different categories of participants.

For the 2021 edition, the categories invited to apply are A) Sustainable Businesses (both at early and growth stage) and B) Public Authorities.

The prize will consist of a cash award of 10,000€ or 15,000€ for Sustainable Businesses and an honorary award combined with a study visit for the Public Authorities.

The call for applications will be opened during the month of May for 30 days, and the winners will be announced in October 2021.

All the information is available at www.wemedaward.org

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