The significance of engaging young people in the design and implementation of policies, plans and standards in Disaster Risk Reduction has been recognized by the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030. The Youth Forum at the Budapest Water Summit 2016 further showed that young people are unified across disciplines and scales to understand, innovate and adapt to the complex and dynamic nature of the global water system and climate change.

“Action on water is an absolute and ethical imperative…Acting now is a matter of human dignity, justice, and survival. Waiting to act is no longer an option.” This was one of the strong messages of the Budapest Water Summit 2016, which took place 28-30 November in Budapest, Hungary. GWP global and GWP Central and Eastern Europe joined forces to represent the network at the event.

The 2nd Regional Conference of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) labelled project “Governance & Financing for the Mediterranean Water Sector” was organised on 5-6 December 2016, in Tunis, Tunisia, by the Global Water Partnership - Mediterranean (GWP-Med), in close collaboration with the H2020 Pollution Reduction & Prevention Investment Group (PRPI) & National Action Plan process. It convened more than 110 decision makers and representatives of government, civil society, international organisations, donors and financing institutions and the private sector.

GWP is proud to announce the winners of the Global Competition for #YouthLed Projects. The winners will be presented today at COP22 in Marrakech at the side event “Youth for Water and Climate: From Commitments to Action”, organised by GWP and youth network partners.

GWP Slovenia organized an exhibition as a tribute to the most unique international competition that connect art with water – the Danube Art Master.

Please note the deadline has passed and we are no longer accepting applications. We are looking for young activists to join forces for water & climate! Five awards of €1,000 each are available for youth-led projects which are based on the white paper recommendations made at COP 21.

Experts from Randbee Consultants, Global Water Partnership Central and Eastern Europe and Global Water Partnership Bulgaria held a meeting with professors, students and young researchers from the University of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Geodesy on 19 September in Sofia, Bulgaria.

From 15-17^th August, 2016, the Global Water Partnership Southern Africa conveyed Water Demand Management skills to a group of Masters Students undertaking the Water Demand Management Module being offered at the University of Western Cape. By virtue of the University of Western Cape being a WaterNet member, and GWPSA’s close affiliation to WaterNet, the 2 institutions were able to work together to build human capacity in Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM). 

The Youth H₂O forum joined a number of stakeholders in commemorating World Water Day which fell on 22^nd March 2016. The day was commemorated in two different places. The main event was held in Choma Southern province on the 21^st March, and the other event was held in Lusaka at Mtendere Clinic. 

The Mauritius Youth Water Network (MYWN) is an association comprising youth from different organisations (government, NGOs and other civil society organisations).  The MYWN was set up in June 2015 following a National Youth Forum during the SADC Water Week. The forum brought together youth leaders to develop a national action plan for the implementation of the AMCOW Policy and Strategy on Mainstreaming Youth in the Water and Sanitation Sector and SADC Youth Strategy.