Water Youth Network

The Water Youth Network is a global connector in the water sector, made up of a vibrant community of students and young professionals and across disciplines. The Water Youth Network is neither an implementation organization nor a fund, but rather an organization that encourages and enables the connection of young individuals and organizations within and beyond the water sector.

Water Youth Network was born out of a group of young water professionals who met at the 6th World Water Forum (WWF) in Marseille, France in 2012. The organization was first registered in France in 2013, and later shifted its registration in the Netherlands in 2017. The initial concept of the network came from a recognition that there are many water-related organizations with common goals, but there is a lack of cooperation among youth organizations and between youth organizations and “established” organizations. Likewise, the group of young professionals at the 6th WWF saw great potential in shifting the involvement of young people from a “decorative” role to a more meaningful role, especially in decision-making forums. Water Youth Movement and Youth Diplomacy, two organizations which comprised the Youth Task Force responsible for organizing the student and youth sessions at WWF 6, realized the need for continued action and collaboration beyond the Forum and decided to collaboratively create the Water Youth Network.