A platform to connect young water project leaders with technical and financial support.

Young people make up a large proportion of the population and they are heavily affected by water and climate issues. Youth are already proposing inspiring and innovative ideas and creating their own spaces to advocate, design and improve their future but they are limited by resources, capacity and connections. Youth face an important financing gap to implement water and climate initiatives as the available financing mechanism are not suited to the needs of youth which includes important non-financial support such as training, mentoring and networking. Once youth are equipped to realize their full potential, youth can become effective leaders in the water & climate sector and contribute to the achievement of the SDGs.

In the lead-up to COP 21, youth from more than 20 countries decided to be part of this crucial global debate. Supported by numerous partners, they issued a White Paper which focused on four key areas where youth felt they could build climate change resilience: water and agriculture, water and health, water related risks, and sharing water resources.

The Youth for Water and Climate Platform (YWC) launched in March 2018, wishes to augment the COP21 youth-originated momentum and further empower youth by strengthening their capacities and knowledge of the water and climate sector, connecting the youth with a community of young leaders, partners and mentors and financially and technically support the implementation of bankable projects.

The platform is led by the International Secretariat for Water (ISW) and the Global Water Partnership (GWP) and counts on the support of a number of organizations active at the global, regional, and country level.

After more than two years of concerted efforts, the YWC platform looks back on a series of achievements such as a very positive response from young water leaders to the call for projects and a lasting positive impact for the local communities supported by the  youth-projects which have been implemented.  For the partners involved, the platform has allowed to exchange knowledge and expertise regarding the implementation of youth empowerment activities in the water sector, while leveraging resources.

The Youth for Water and Climate Programme

The program will offer two five-day in-person workshops, a mentorship opportunity, support in finding an internship, a community of practice and a complete online curriculum to support youth who wish to further develop their professional skills and/or entrepreneurial skills in the water and climate sector.

This program, financed by Erasmus+, targets youth aged 18-30, currently based in Hungary, France, Sweden, Belgium, and Slovakia, who wish to develop a bankable project in their communities or wish to pursue a career within an existing organisation in the water and climate sector.  

To learn more about the YWC Programme: https://youthwaterclimate.org/take-part-to-the-youth-for-water-and-climate-programme/