A Youth-Led Vision for Water, Energy and Food Security
Throughout 2024, the International Secretariat for Water (ISW) and its Central Asian Youth for Water network (CAY4Water) actively contributed to the Drops of the Future regional workshops—an initiative of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and the Swiss Confederation (SDC). These workshops were held across the five Central Asian countries—Kyrgyzstan (Bishkek), Uzbekistan (Tashkent), Kazakhstan (Astana), Turkmenistan (Ashgabat)—with a final closing event in Vienna, Austria.
Focusing on the water–energy–food nexus, the process underscored the crucial role of young people in shaping a sustainable and cooperative future in Central Asia. It fostered rich exchanges that emphasized cross-border collaboration, innovative thinking, and the shared management of resources under the framework of the Blue Peace Central Asia program.
“Young people in Central Asia are ready to become catalysts for change in their region. Thanks to these capacity-building workshops, they were able to sharpen their knowledge, make their voices heard, and propose concrete solutions.”
— Sara Scardavilli, Youth Sector Coordinator – Central Asia, ISW
Each workshop followed a dynamic and collaborative format, gathering young professionals, researchers, government representatives, and civil society actors. Working in groups, participants explored five core themes:
- Digitalization and knowledge
- Societal change and narratives
- Synergies between water, energy, and food
- Empowering youth through tradition
- Embracing diversity for stronger solutions
Over the course of the process, participants co-developed a joint declaration—a powerful expression of their shared vision for the region. The final version, presented in Vienna, outlines key challenges and proposes concrete, innovative solutions based on nature-based approaches, improved water governance, and regional cooperation.
ISW, through its CAY4Water network, actively supported youth participation, amplifying their voices and championing their local initiatives. At the Vienna event, ISW also hosted an exhibit showcasing Youth Parliaments for Water—tools for inclusive dialogue, peacebuilding, and awareness-raising around shared water resources.
These workshops showcased the transformative potential of intergenerational and cross-sectoral dialogue and reaffirmed the indispensable role of youth and civil society in shaping the future of regional water governance in Central Asia.
ISW remains committed to supporting these dynamic processes and strengthening youth leadership in water cooperation across the region and beyond.
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