Review of the mobilization of ISW and its partner networks at Stockholm World Water Week

Under the theme “Seeds for change: Innovative solutions for wiser water”, this year’s edition of Stockholm World Water Week brought together a diverse range of stakeholders to develop solutions to the world’s biggest water challenges, with topics ranging from food security and health to agriculture, technology, biodiversity and the climate crisis.

The event was an opportunity to follow up on commitments made at the UN Water Conference and place water at the heart of cooperation, development and peace, to showcase youth empowerment work on water and peace in regions such as Central Asia, and to highlight the actions and progress of the Global Youth Water Movement at previous international events and establish a framework for future international processes.

1. Reception on water diplomacy at the Swiss Embassy

ISW was honored to be invited to the high-level Swiss event on water diplomacy, held at the Swiss Embassy in conjunction with Stockholm World Water Week.

During the event, ISW presented its work on youth empowerment in the field of water and peace in regions such as Central Asia, where the threat of water wars is increasingly present. Carolina Tornesi-MacKinnon, President of the World Youth Water Parliament, also presented the enormous work carried out by the North American Youth Water Parliament in the context of the Columbia River Treaty negotiations.

ISW is grateful for its long-standing collaboration and partnership with the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, which has enabled us to mobilize, empower and connect millions of young people for water and peace around the world.

2. Dutch session on commitments made at the UN Water Conference

Did the UN Water Conference 2023 deliver on its promises to unite the world for water, to change the way we understand, value and manage our water, and to make water a priority in decision-making? And how can the global community maintain the momentum?

Organized as part of Stockholm World Water Week by the Dutch government, the session entitled “UN Water Conference 2023: From Voluntary Commitments to Impact” aimed to answer these tough questions.

ISW had the honor of representing the voices of the Butterfly Effect NGO coalition at this important discussion. In line with the letter that was recently sent to the UN Secretary General (put link), the following key elements were highlighted:

We need to move from the inclusion of civil society to the transformative and systematic inclusion of women, youth and indigenous voices.
We must find a place for water within the United Nations.
Governments and states must agree on a binding mechanism that ensures follow-up and accountability for water-related commitments made under the Water Agenda.

To view the entire session, click here

3. Engaging young people in global water processes: Building an influential movement

Building on years of youth engagement and mobilization in the international water space, the ISW, alongside several partners of the World Youth Water Movement, including the Water Youth Network, the World Youth Water Parliament, Wavemakers United and many others, put forward intergenerational perspectives on the key impact and role of young people in global water processes at Stockholm World Water Week.

This session highlighted the actions and progress of the World Youth Water Movement during the 9th World Water Forum and the UN2023 Water Conference, and established a framework for action for important upcoming processes, including the 10th World Water Forum.

Key messages from the session were:

Youth engagement is on an upward curve, with increased participation in a number of global events. “Youth engagement goes far beyond checking a box“, Mariana Dias Simpson, Sanitation and Water for All.
There is an urgent need to make the water sector attractive to young people upstream of employment, through education, by providing tools and platforms.
Mobilizing young people is essential, but not an end in itself. We must work to strengthen and enhance the content and contributions of youth organizations.

To view the entire session, click here

4. Mobilizing the Government of Canada on global water governance issues

On the sidelines of Stockholm World Water Week, a meeting was organized with Mr. Terry Duguid, Parliamentary Secretary to Canada’s Minister of the Environment and Climate Change, Mr. Steven Guilbeault, and representatives of the new Canadian Water Agency to discuss Canada’s role in water and peace, and global governance of water resources. Our team was also able to discuss a strengthened collaboration between Canada and the ISW to advance water issues nationally and internationally, with the mobilization of youth and civil society for water at the heart of the approach.

5. Accelerating governance change through social innovation and communities of practice

During this session organized in collaboration with the Global Water Partnership, the community of practice created as part of the Youth for Water and Climate Programme was presented and discussed with over 25 participants. This community was set up to meet the need for exchanges and networking on employability issues for young people in the water sector. Key issues discussed included the community’s potential impact, scaling-up and contribution to the water sector.