22 groups had registered for the first round, representing 303 participants from Ethiopia, France, Iran, Italy, Nigeria, Portugal, Slovakia, South Africa, and Spain. Project proposals were submitted by ten groups, covering five European countries (France, Italy, Portugal, Slovakia, and Spain), three African countries (Ethiopia, Nigeria, and South Africa), and one Middle Eastern country, for a total of 116 participants.

The groups that submitted proposals had an average of 12 participants, with a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 49 members. Notably, eight groups had 50% or more female members, highlighting the initiative’s commitment to gender diversity and inclusion. Among participants contributing to submitted proposals, 40% were under the age of thirty, while 60% were over thirty.

The groups explored potential local NbS applied to a variety of contexts, including agricultural, coastal, and urban environments; some projects considered multiple contexts simultaneously. Several proposals addressed multiple benefits, often going beyond environmental impact to include citizen engagement, social improvement, and economic advantages. All submissions gave careful attention to social issues, reflecting on how their projects could meaningfully improve their communities