The WeMed Award, a flagship initiative of the Mediterranean Strategy for Sustainable Development (MSSD), launched by MedWaves under UNEP/MAP, is opening its 5th edition. The award recognises entrepreneurs and sustainable business models that generate environmental, economic and social value across the Mediterranean region, while fostering the replication and scaling-up of eco-innovative solutions carried by the community of "Switchers."
A new focus: the nexus between green and social innovation
Following a 4th edition dedicated to the Sustainable Blue Economy, and previous editions centred on Green Entrepreneurship, Circular Textile & Fashion, and Green Business Support Ecosystems, the 5th edition of the WeMed Award focuses this year on the nexus between green and social innovations.
Timeline
- 1 July 2026: applications open, for a period of 30 days
- September 2026: shortlisting of finalists
- 2 November 2026: award ceremony in Barcelona, held during a high-level event
Who can apply?
The 2026 edition is open to early- and growth-stage "Sustainable Business Models," as defined in decision IG.25/18, adopted by the Conference of the Parties to the Barcelona Convention (Antalya, 2021). Eligible applicants are entities legally constituted in the geography covered by the Switchers Fund (EU regions with a GDP below 70% of the EU average, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Egypt, Lebanon, Montenegro, Morocco, Palestine, Tunisia, and Türkiye), whether corporate entities, cooperatives, or self-employed individuals with up to 250 employees or members.
Two categories are open:
- Early stage: businesses operational for a maximum of 3 years, showing potential environmental and social benefits;
- Growth stage: fully operational businesses established between 3 and 10 years ago (or more, in the case of a recent shift to a sustainable model), demonstrating quantifiable environmental and social benefits.
Each category carries a cash prize of €20,000.
Evaluation criteria include the reduction of environmental impacts, eco-innovation and eco-design, the response to social needs, the economic viability of the business model, as well as, as desirable criteria, gender-inclusive governance and working conditions, and the potential for replicability and scaling-up.
More than just an award
Beyond the financial prize, winners benefit from technical and financial support through the Switchers Support Programme and the Switchers Fund, join a Mediterranean community of changemakers advocating for a fairer, greener Mediterranean, and take part in co-created awareness-raising campaigns promoting the social and circular economy.
The WeMed Award in numbers
Since its creation, the WeMed Award has recognised 15 winners, received over 200 applications from 22 Mediterranean countries, awarded €157,000 in prizes, and reached more than 6 million users on social media. Past winners include Green Fashion (Egypt), Grade A+ (Lebanon), Rifò (Italy), Irwise (Tunisia), Chitelix (Tunisia) and Ecoprod (Morocco).
More information and applications at: www.wemedaward.org
