Water and Youth Opportunities in the Mediterranean

Addressing the Youth Unemployment Gap in the Mediterranean

Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) is an intergovernmental organization of 42 member states from Europe and the Mediterranean Basin: the 27 EU member states and 15 Mediterranean partner countries from North Africa, Western Asia and Southern Europe. The UfM is a significant driving force for water security in the Mediterranean.

The UfM wanted to address the high unemployment gap of youth post-graduation in the Mediterranean, which had also been compounded by the challenges of COVID-19 on the job market worldwide.

A Gap Analysis and Survey Assessment

In order to best address this need, Lindsey was subcontracted by the UfM’s technical assistance firm GreenTech in order to develop a gap analysis report to gain a better understanding of what the global and regional trends of water jobs were pre- and post- COVID-19, to address the mismatch of youth skills compared to the water job market, and to identify skills needed for the future water job market. The research focused on two regional levels including the UfM countries at large, and the Mediterranean region.

Furthermore, Lindsey and the GreenTech team surveyed Mediterranean youth regarding their perceptions of the future challenges and skills required for the water job market of the future.  A survey assessment was developed in order to identify ways in which the UfM can support youth in reaching their water sector job potential. The survey worked to identify (1) What support is required to youth, (2) Additional training needed for youth to be successful in their water careers, (3) How likely do they think they will get a job right after graduation? and (4) What innovative ideas exist among the youth in response to a digitized economy for the water sector?

The survey was sent by Lindsey and her team to the nearly 50 water, youth, and climate change focused organizations in the Mediterranean Region. Weekly reminders were sent out to recipients in order to ensure a high response rate.  In tandem with the survey, the team conducted a focus group meeting with a small group of representatives from these organizations to have a dialogue about the subjects of the survey.

Outcomes and insights from the gap analysis, the survey, and the small group dialogue, were combined to form the analysis report ‘Water and Youth Opportunities in the Mediterranean.’

Results Feed To Drafting A Water and Youth Engagement Strategy

Feedback from the analysis was used to develop a 2.5 hour webinar training for youth in the Mediterranean. Lindsey and the team hosted the training titled, ‘The Future of Water Jobs: Post Covid 19 Opportunities for Youth in the Mediterranean,’ in order to help equip youth for the water sector job market.

The results from the Gap Analysis and survey were later used to help draft the 5-Year Water and Youth Engagement Strategy as part of ongoing work with the UfM.