Save the Date
African Youth Water Summit 2027
Theme: Youth Driving Water Security in Africa: From Voice to Action
- 22–23 September 2027
- Accra, Ghana
- 300 participants expected
Where youth are transforming Africa's water future.
Water affects everything: health, education, food security, climate resilience, economic growth, and human dignity. Yet millions of Africans still lack access to safe water and sanitation.
Vision & Mission
An Africa where youth drive water security for all.
Vision
Water Security for All.
A vision AYWF is committed to achieving by and with African youth, through policy dialogue, research, advocacy, innovation, knowledge exchange, partnerships and collective action.
Mission
To empower and mobilize African youth to drive water security through policy dialogue, research, advocacy, innovation, and collaborative action for equitable, sustainable, and climate-resilient water solutions across Africa.
Membership at a Glance
A growing continental network.
300+
Active members
36+
Countries represented
Members by region
As of the second half of 2026
- West Africa50%
- East Africa25%
- Central Africa15%
- Southern Africa5%
- North Africa3%
- Americas, Europe & Asia2%
AYWF is more than a network. It is a movement of African youth who are committed to driving sustainable water solutions, climate action, and community-led transformation across the continent.
0African Nations
SDG 6Core Focus
Youth-LedContinental Platform
Water Justice& Policy Advocacy
Our Story
How the Forum began.
The African Youth Water Forum began in 2021, when Young Visionary Leaders Ghana founded the Global Youth Water Network to connect young water professionals, advocates, researchers and students across Ghana, Nigeria, Togo, Uganda, Kenya and beyond.
In 2023 the network became the African Youth Water Forum. More than a change of name, it marked a shift towards a distinctly African continental platform, grounded in the continent's own realities, priorities, knowledge and approaches to water governance.
Today the Forum connects more than 300 members across over 36 African countries, from Northern to Southern Africa and into the wider diaspora, guided by a single vision: Water Security for All.
What We Work On
Our core focus areas.
Water Governance and Policy Advocacy
AYWF promotes meaningful youth participation in water governance and policy processes at local, national, regional, continental and global levels, supporting young people to engage decision-makers and advocate for inclusive, sustainable water governance.
Water Security and Sustainable Water Management
AYWF promotes approaches that address water availability, accessibility, quality, affordability, sustainability and resilience, including the sustainable management of transboundary water resources and water ecosystems.
WASH
AYWF advocates for universal and equitable access to Water, Sanitation and Hygiene across urban and rural settlements, with particular attention to underserved communities, schools, health facilities, vulnerable populations and marginalized groups.
Climate Change and Water Resilience
Recognizing how closely climate change and water security are linked, AYWF promotes youth-led action on adaptation, resilience, drought, floods, water-related disasters, ecosystem protection and climate-resilient water infrastructure.
Research, Innovation and Knowledge Management
AYWF promotes youth-led research, evidence generation, innovation, technology, knowledge exchange and documentation of good practices to strengthen evidence-based water governance and decision-making.
Youth Leadership and Capacity Development
The Forum invests in strengthening the knowledge, skills, leadership and institutional capacities of young people so they can effectively participate in and lead water-sector initiatives.
Environmental Sustainability
AYWF promotes the protection and restoration of water bodies, wetlands, forests, watersheds and other ecosystems essential to water security.
Partnerships and Resource Mobilisation
AYWF builds strategic partnerships with governments, development partners, civil society organizations, research institutions, universities, private-sector actors, youth networks and other stakeholders.
What's On
Events shaping Africa's water future.
From the African Youth Water Summit 2027 to youth-led campaigns, explore where AYWF brings the movement together.
2026–2030 Plan
Bold targets, measurable impact.
Our five-year roadmap sets the milestones that will make AYWF Africa's leading youth water platform by 2030.
- Annual
African Youth Water Declaration
A youth-authored declaration issued every year to shape the continental water agenda.
- By 2028
5 Regional Youth Water Hubs
Hubs across all five African sub-regions to anchor regional collaboration.
- By 2030
1,000 Youth Leaders Trained
A continental cohort of trained advocates, innovators, and organizers.
- By 2030
Partnerships with 20 governments & 50 institutions
Deep partnerships to turn youth advocacy into policy and practice.
What Drives Us
Core values guiding the movement.
Inclusivity
Representation of diverse youth voices from every corner of Africa.
Innovation
Creative, youth-led solutions to Africa's most complex water challenges.
Equity & Justice
Fair access to water resources for every community, without exception.
Collaboration
Partnerships across governments, private sector, civil society, and academia.
Accountability
Transparent, evidence-based youth advocacy that delivers real results.
Five commitments shape how AYWF works, who it works with, and who it answers to.
Learn what we stand forNews & Stories
