Youth for Water and Climate Program

Background As global crises multiply, the vital importance of integrated and sustainable water management and water security is exacerbated. Young people make up more than half of the global population and are heavily and directly affected by water issues. They are also at the forefront of implementing the Sustainable Development Goals. The relationship between climate resilience, water security and youth employment is an urgent issue and will become more central in coming years. In the water sector, there are serious gaps in the workforce due to the shortage of human resources and lack of coordination between the needs of the industry and the offer of educational institutions. Organizations in the water space have expressed the need to gain access to tools, knowledge and expertise to better guide and mentor young professionals. Young people have also identified significant barriers regarding employability and entrepreneurship including lack of access to education and training and the need to gain more professional experience. The 2016 United Nations World Water Development Report on Water and Jobs recognizes that the challenges facing the water sector require the design of adequate training tools and innovative learning approaches. Objectives The Youth for Water and Climate Programme had four main objectives. 1. Increase the capacity of partner organizations and youth workers to work at the European level and increase the level of synergy and cooperation between partner organizations. Improve the exchange of experience, knowledge and good practices between partners and hence increase the collective impact of the partner organizations with youth. 2. Develop and implement innovative and common methodologies and tools to mentor and support young people in their professional development and the development of their entrepreneurial projects in the water sector. 3. Empower European youth, including underpriviliged and marginalized youth, and strengthen their capacities regarding transversal skils and specific skills related to the water sector. Facilitate their transition to the labour market and increase their employment opportunities. 4. Support the development of high quality youth-led projects in terms of technical specifications, efficiency, monitoring, evaluation, quality assessment and job creation potential by youth, including underpviliged youth, contributing to address water and climate related challenges. Implementation The first phase of the project was dedicated to co-developing tools and ressources including the "Building Your Water and Climate Career" online curriculum which presents 4 modules (water and climate career paths, leadership and communication skills, entrepreneurship and job searching) and over 30 factsheets, the Mentoring Guide both for mentors and mentees and the Community of Practice on the Global Water Partnership Toolbox which presents opportunities to share articles, create blos and connect with peers and mentors. During this first phase, four transnational meetings were organized were organized amongst partners. During the second part of the project, 20 young professionals, aged 18-30 years old, from France, Sweden, Slovakia, Hungary and Belgium, took part in an 8-month programme which combined two 5-day in-person workshops in Budapest and Stockholm, a participation in Stockholm World Water Week, a mentorship opportunity with an experience professional, support in finding an internship, active participation in the community of practice and the completion of the 4 modules of the online curriculum. The last phase of the programme was dedicated to evaluating the outcomes of the project and producing the YWC Roadbook. Achievements The YWC Programme has allowed for the development of common and innovative methodologies to strengthen a global youth partnership addressing capacity-development gaps in the water and climate space. The project increased the access of the organisations to highly talented and skilled young professionals. For the mentors, this programme has allowed them to cultivate new and fresh perspectives in their field of work. The young professionals acquired transversal and specific skills to develop bankable projects and access employment opportunities. Following the programme, 100% of the participants are either working or studying in the water & climate space. The project also allowed for the strengthening of their network, connecting with experience professionals. The youth also strengthened their civic and entrepreneurial spirit, providing relevant solutions to local and regional issues. The tools and ressources developed by the partners (Online Curriculum, Mentoring Guide, Community of Practice & Roadbook) are now accessible to all youth and organizations that wish to replicate and scale the initiative. The project was presented at major international events including Swiss Water & Climate Forum, Stockholm World Water Week and COP27.