Voice from the youth : Youth Mission at the 1st UNESCO Water Youth Dialogue
Youth Mission at the 1st UNESCO Water Youth Dialogue
By Sofia Corradi, Youth Delegate, The Americas, World Water Council
As Youth Delegate for the Americas, I had the honour of representing the World Water Council’s youth mission at the 1st UNESCO Water Youth Dialogue, held on June 12-13 at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris. The event followed the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Hydrological Programme (IHP), which took place on June 11.
Co-organized by UNESCO and the Global Youth Movement for Water, the Dialogue convened more than 60 in-person participants, alongside hundreds of virtual attendees, representing over 40 organizations. The collective aim was to co-develop a Water Youth Strategy that builds upon key milestones such as the Fill Up the Glass campaign from the 2023 UN Water Conference and the Bali Youth Targets presented at the 10th World Water Forum.
The Water Youth Strategy centers around three priority areas:
- Education and capacity building
- Career opportunities and innovation
- Meaningful youth engagement in water governance and management
Designed to address the structural barriers that young professionals face in the water sector, including limited access to funding, fragmented networks, and tokenistic involvement, the strategy advocates for institutionalized mechanisms that foster youth leadership and long-term collaboration. It will serve as a foundation for advocacy and action in the lead-up to the 2026 UN Water Conference and the 11th World Water Forum.
The two-day programme also featured expert consultations, local project showcases, skill-building sessions, and intergenerational dialogues. Set within the broader celebration of IHP’s 50th anniversary, the Dialogue provided a collaborative space where science, policy, and grassroots energy came together, demonstrating the powerful role that young people can play in shaping the future of water governance.