On October 17, 2024, Lako Stephane represented the Water Youth Network (WYN) at the High-Level Rome Water Dialogue on the Global Framework on Water Scarcity in Agriculture (WASAG) at FAO headquarters in Rome. This critical event, which is part of the World Food Forum (WFF), brought together hundreds of participants, including government ministers, FAO representatives, and key figures from academia, civil society, and international organizations. The dialogue continued the 2024-2025 theme on effective water resources management, emphasizing water’s vital role in achieving sustainable agriculture, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life.

The event’s main goals were to strengthen collaboration among stakeholders, refine WASAG’s operating mechanisms, and address priorities for managing water scarcity in agriculture. Significant outcomes included the endorsement of the Rome Declaration on water scarcity in agriculture, the adoption of a new member-state-led WASAG structure, and a roadmap toward the WASAG Strategic Plan for 2025-2031. The new WASAG Steering Committee, which includes representatives from various regions, will now drive efforts to align water and agriculture discussions, recognizing the intense pressures both sectors face due to climate change.

One of the highlights was the adoption of the Youth Statement on Water Scarcity in Agriculture, a product of extensive consultation led by WFF, FAO’s Land and Water Division, the World Youth Parliament for Water, and WYN. This statement emphasized youth’s role in shaping water strategies, urging continued support for youth-led initiatives to tackle water challenges. Lako Stephane and the Water Youth Network remain dedicated to supporting WASAG’s mission to secure water and food for future generations, reinforcing that youth are key players in these efforts.

FAO and other partners underscored WASAG’s importance in advancing the Global Water Action Agenda, contributing to Sustainable Development Goals 6 (clean water and sanitation) and 17 (partnerships for the goals). WASAG provides a unique platform for integrating water concerns into agriculture and vice versa, fostering dialogue and solutions that bridge both sectors in a world increasingly impacted by climate change. WYN is proud to continue collaborating with partners to build a water-secure future through WASAG initiatives.