The UN 2023 Water Conference will be held in New York, United States from 22nd to 24th March 2023 at the UN Headquarters. Co-hosted by Tajikistan and the Kingdom of Netherlands, the Conference will be a watershed moment for the world that will culminate in a bold Water Action Agenda.
The key building blocks of the Water Action Agenda include:
- commitment to action
- sustained and scalable implementation
- follow-up and review processes
Read more about the Water Action Agenda here
Marking the midterm comprehensive review of the implementation of the objectives of the International Decade for Action, ‘Water for Sustainable Development’, 2018-2028, the conference will feature an opening and closing ceremony, six plenary meetings and five multi-stakeholder interactive dialogues. It will also feature several high-level special events and side events organized by Member States, the UN system and other stakeholders. See the full programme here.
Water Youth Network at the Conference
Young people under 35 years make up more than half of the population, and more than 40 per cent of young people are vulnerable to the water crisis, further compounded by the impacts of climate change. Yet, the inclusion of young people into major decision processes continues to remain limited.
Further, decisions and policies made today will directly impact the lives of young people, because we inherit the future from the current generation. Engaging us, young people, into this conversation will only ensure that our voices are heard, respected and included in formulating the Water Action Agenda that will define our future.
As a specially accredited stakeholder at the conference, WYN actively advocates for the need to engage youth into such major decision-making processes. WYN is a co-organizer and participant at several in-person and special side events at the UN Headquarters, virtual events and off-site events.
Details of the side events are as follows:
Towards Youth Inclusive Water Governance: Filling the Information and Knowledge Voids
When: 06:00 EST
Where: Online
Partner Organizations: Foundation for Ecological Security, FES, Youth4WaterIndia, UNU-CRIS, Water Initiatives, WFL(Cameroon), UPWCD, Manthan, UNIFY, Water Youth Network, WCC, Ohenagianos.
Description: In this session, we will have youth leaders and subject experts discourse on barriers and opportunities to Reconnecting Youth to the Water commons through a Youth-led and Youth-Centered Approach.
Cross-sectoral partnerships to accelerate progress towards inclusive sanitation
When: 11:00 – 12:15 EST
Where: Conference Room B, UN Headquarters
Partner Organizations: International Water Association, Government of Brazil, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, UNICEF, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH (GIZ), Grundfos, African Global Networks, Water Youth Network (WWN), International Secretariat for Water.
Description: Representatives from the public, private, and social sectors will discuss their perspectives on how cross sectoral partnerships can collaborate to support national governments in achieving SDG 6.2. More information about the event is here.
Implementing the 2023 Praia Call for Action through the Decade’s work streams
When: 12:30 – 13:45 EST
Where: Conference Room 6, UN Headquarters
Partner Organizations: Government of Cabo Verde, FAO, Global Framework on Water Scarcity in Agriculture, Switzerland, The Permanent Inter State Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel, Women for Water Partnership, WYN – Water Youth Network.
Description: Dialogue on how to implement the Praia Call for Action endorsed by WASAG Partners and Stakeholders during the 2nd WASAG International Forum on Water Scarcity held in Cabo Verde last February. More information can be found here.
Mobilizing Cross-Sector Audiences for Water Action
When: 13:30 – 15:00 EST
Where: 79 5th Avenue New York, NY 10003
Partner Organizations: International Chamber of Commerce, Purpose, Government of Brazil, The Ministry of the Environment (MMA) and Capgemini (local hosts.)
Description: This session will activate cross-sector partners to mobilize audiences for water action. Participants will explore opportunities for building issue awareness, salience, and support in order to accelerate action for SDG 6. More information about the event is here.
Inclusivity in disaster preparedness: youth leadership as a critical ingredient to improve resilience to water-related disasters
When: 09:30 – 10:45 EST
Where: Side-event Room B, UN Headquarters
Partner Organizations: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization; Global Resilience Partnership; World Meteorological Organisation; Central Asia Youth for Water Network; Caribbean Risk and Disaster Management Network Youth Platform; African Youth Advisory Board on DRR; U-INSPIRE Alliance; Uganda *TBD.
Description: This event will reflect on successful cases of cross-sectoral partnerships between youth groups and leading organizations in the field of DRR and climate resilience.
Hearing the Unheard, the Human Right to Water and Sanitation
When: 15:00 – 16:30 EST
Where: the Church Center of the United Nations, 777 United Nations Plaza, New York, NY 10017
Partner Organizations: South Africa – Republic of South Africa, Department of Water and Sanitation, End Water Poverty, Water Integrity Network, OHCHR, UNSR, ICLEI, UCLG, ESCR-Net, ONGAWA, Simavi, WWI, WU, ANEW, Coalition Eau; WYN, FanMex, UYPETDL, RWSN, KEWASNET, Redes del Agua, with member state support from Liberia and South Africa, ESCR-Net and Franciscans Internationa
Description: Event and digital campaign (#HearingTheUnheardHRWS) will share video/live testimony from marginalised groups with responses from the Special Rapporteur, OHCHR and national and local government.
Empowering Women, Youth and Indigenous Persons to Accelerate Global Water Security in the Water Action Decade (HYBRID EVENT)
When: 8:30 – 10:00 EST
Where: Riverview Room, 28th Floor East Tower, Millennium Hilton New York, ONE UN Plaza, New York
Partner Organizations: World Bank Group, Equal Aqua, WaterAid, Water for Women, GWSP, Australian Aid, UNESCO, Australian Water Partnership, Water Youth Network, IWA, American Water Works Association, Institute for Sustainable Futures, SIDA.
Description: This roundtable discussion will focus on concere actions to accelerate progress in women, youth and indigenous peoples representation in decision-making in water resource management institutions, water supply and sanitation utilities, private businesses providing services in the water sector, and in transboundary water organizations.
Special Event: Water Leadership: Uniting for a Sustainable World
When: 10:00 – 13:00 EST
Where: Conference Room 2, UN Headquarters
Partner Organizations: MGCY, WMG, ISW, WYN, UN1FY, IWA, GWP, WYPW, Water and Climate Coalition, Wavemakers United, Sanitation and Water for All, OHCHR, UN Special Rapporteur (Rights to Water and Sanitation), UCLG, FAO, Aither, LAMG, YOUNGO
Description: This Special Event is designed to determine actionable commitments that each participant can implement to support critical engagement with underrepresented groups. It will co-create inclusive leadership mechanisms for the follow-up and monitoring of the Water Action Agenda that will put at the forefront the voices of marginalized communities. It will identify priority intergenerational, intersectoral, gender and geographically inclusive partnerships and commitments to scale up engagement. The Event will also inspire cooperation and unity across the water sector and across our world. More information about the event is here
Water security in savannah and rainforest biomes
When: Saturday 25 March 2023 14:00 – 17:00
Where: Online
Partner Organizations: Engajamundo, A Vida no Cerrado, Baía Viva
Description: The event aims to create discussions between specialists, young people and general audience on the complex issues related to water management and conservation, especially in the Cerrado and Atlantic Forest biomes in Brazil, and connecting international experiences to develop common strategies and build strategies to take action.
WYN Members at the conference include:
Sophie Erfurth
Water Governance