As part of civil society and youth mobilization for the 10^th World Water Forum to be held in Bali, Indonesia, from May 18 to 25, 2024, the International Secretariat for Water alongside the WASH Network Indonesia, Muhammadiyah and the Bali Youth Parliament for Water organized a two-day workshop on February 28^th and 29^th in Jakarta to raise awareness on water-related issues in Indonesia and mobilize civil society and youth towards the Forum.

The environmental and socio-economic challenges facing water-dependent Southeast-Asian countries, including Indonesia, are substantial, and further exacerbated by ongoing climate change. Now, more than ever, it’s crucial to actively engage civil society and young people in crafting and putting into action solutions. Youth should play a central role in shaping public policies that can effectively address these pressing challenges. Reminding decision-makers of their commitments, emphasizing responsibility for the rights to water and sanitation, promoting inclusive governance and ensuring respect for all human rights are all part of the pivotal role of civil society in all its components. Educating and empowering young people about key issues equips them with the necessary knowledge and insights, paving the way for their future leadership roles. The World Water Forum represents a unique opportunity for fostering collaborations that have a positive impact on our prosperous and sustainable future.

At the end of the two days’ workshop, the +120 participants were able to:

• Identify and understand Indonesian and sub-regional water-related challenges
• Develop key messages from Indonesian civil society and youth to be presented at the World Water Forum
• Meet and exchange views with various stakeholders in the water sector
• Foster strong engagement and mobilization of youth and civil society towards the World Water Forum

Thanks to high-level interventions, quality panels, comprehensive presentations and dynamic working groups, several concrete results were initiated:

• The Bali Youth Plan commits to sponsoring over 60 young individuals, creating a dedicated youth space, and facilitating inclusion in thematic sessions.
• The Embassy of Switzerland and SDC reaffirm support for youth and civil society initiatives under Swiss-Indonesian cooperation.
• The European Union in Indonesia announced the launch of a youth advisory board, to further improve EU-Indonesian partnership.
• Participants encouraged ISW for more long-term engagement in Indonesia [and its more remote provinces]

Overall, the workshop demonstrated the interest of Indonesian civil society as a whole (including youth) in water-related issues, and the need for partnerships to coordinate their actions. In this respect, the ISW is delighted to be able to count on strong partners in the region such as Muhammadiyah, Jegaring AMPL-  WASH Network and the Bali Youth Parliament for Water – mobilized by our teams last October during the Forum’s second stakeholder meeting – to pursue the work undertaken and strengthen civil society in the sub-region to improve access to drinking water and sanitation, and water governance.

• Discover the program and concept note here