On 12 August 2026, the African Youth Water Forum convened a virtual event to commemorate International Youth Day 2026 under the theme "Different Contexts, Common Aspirations: Youth Leading Water Governance Across Africa."
The dialogue brought together 60 participants from different African countries and professional backgrounds — youth leaders, water professionals, researchers, academics, civil society actors and development practitioners — to examine the role of youth in shaping Africa's water future.
Download the full report (PDF)
What the dialogue explored
The conversation moved past whether young people should participate in water governance, and focused instead on how they can move from being beneficiaries or observers of water-related processes to becoming active contributors, decision-makers, innovators, advocates and leaders within water governance systems.
Discussion centred on four threads:
- Translating research into practical community solutions.
- Using storytelling and film as tools for advocacy.
- Promoting meaningful youth participation in decision-making.
- Strengthening partnerships, capacity building, evidence generation and access to resources for youth-led initiatives.
The central message was that although youth across Africa operate in different contexts, they share common aspirations: inclusive governance, sustainable development, stronger communities and a water-secure Africa.
The panel
Robert Strand, Founder and CEO of the World Water Film Festival, shared insights on the role of film and storytelling in transforming public attention into emotional engagement, civic action and community-led solutions. He emphasised the importance of authentic, dignified, human-centred and solutions-oriented stories in water advocacy.
Angella Nakkungu, World Bank Scholar at the IHE Delft Institute, highlighted the importance of strengthening the connection between academic research and community-level action, and discussed how partnerships, student platforms, citizen science and community engagement can help translate research into practical solutions and contribute to policy influence.
Gauri Nimbalkar, of the UN Major Group for Children and Youth, emphasised meaningful youth participation in decision-making and encouraged youth to bring grassroots evidence and lived experiences into policy processes. She also highlighted the value of accessible policy briefs and clear pathways for youth engagement in multilateral processes.
Defoe Isaac Kekesi, Co-Convener of the African Youth Water Forum, emphasised the importance of young people recognising their capacity to lead and actively pursuing opportunities within governance and decision-making spaces. He called for stronger investment in youth capacity building and resources for youth-led civil society initiatives.
The session was moderated by Jennifer Adzemah.
Introducing our coordination structure
The event also provided an opportunity to introduce AYWF's Continental Coordinating Council and regional coordination structure, reinforcing the Forum's commitment to strengthening youth-led coordination and engagement across Africa.
What we took away
The dialogue demonstrated that while young people across Africa operate within different social, economic, environmental and institutional contexts, they share a common aspiration to contribute to a more sustainable, inclusive and water-secure future.
A central message from the event was clear: youth leadership must be supported with meaningful decision-making opportunities, knowledge, resources, partnerships and platforms for action.
AYWF remains committed to building these pathways and strengthening collaboration with its members, speakers, partners, institutions and youth networks across Africa.
Different contexts. Common aspirations. One continent. A shared water future.
