Water for Finance: Youth dialogue on Investments, Financing, Innovation and Impact

Financing remains one of the water sector’s most pressing challenges. Official development assistance (ODA) for water and sanitation has declined since its 2018–2019 peak. At the same time, private capital accounts for less than 2% of annual water spending in developing countries. Meanwhile, non-revenue water (NRW) averages approximately 36% globally and reaches around 40% in emerging and low-income economies.

At the same time, the continent holds real opportunities and lessons worth sharing. Regional and international platforms including African Ministers' Council on Water (AMCOW) related symposiums, the Africa Water & Sanitation Systems Leadership Symposium (August 2026, Kigali Rwanda), and the Stockholm International Water Week (SIWI) knowledge-sharing spaces continue to surface good practices and innovative approaches that can inform investment decisions and be adapted or scaled up elsewhere on the continent.

In this context, this webinar is a preparatory and capacity-building activity within the Global Youth Movement for Water (GYMW) & UN Major Group for Children and Youth (UNMGCY) series, ahead of the 2026 UN Water Conference. It will provide a focused space for exchange among young water professionals, public institutions, financial partners and civil society to explore practical financing pathways, emerging technologies and innovations, and the role of youth in making water investments more efficient, sustainable and accountable.

Please note: the event will be hosted in English, with no translation available. Participation is free of charge, and no certificate will be provided.

• 1st webinar: Introduction to the 2026 UN Water Conference and the Global Youth Movement for Water
• 2nd webinar: Water for Planet: Nature-based Solutions to Protect Aquatic Ecosystems
• 3rd webinar: Water for Prosperity: Empowering Youth, Shaping Prosperity Through Water
• 4th webinar: Water for Finance: Youth dialogue on Investments, Financing, Innovation and Impact
• 5th webinar: Water for People: Advancing Equitable Access to Water and Sanitation

This webinar is intended for:

• Young water and sanitation professionals
• Students, researchers and academics
• Youth-led organisations and networks
• Water and sanitation utilities
• Public institutions and local authorities
• Policymakers and decision-makers
• Private-sector representatives
• NGOs and civil society organisations
• Professionals working across the water, energy, food and environmental sectors

By the end of this webinar, participants will be able to :

• Explain the main financing challenges and opportunities shaping water investment, and the priorities of the Interactive Dialogue on Investments for Water.
• Identify practical financing pathways including national resources, development finance, blended finance and private capital that can help mobilise investment for water and sanitation.
• Recognise African good practices, technologies and innovations that improve the efficiency, sustainability and accountability of water investments.
• Assess the roles young professionals and youth organisations can play in water investment, policy, innovation and advocacy.
• Formulate practical recommendations and partnership ideas to feed into the African preparatory process for the 2026 UN Water Conference.

Speakers

• Amadou Gueye, Ministry of Water and Sanitation, Senegal
• Henk Ovink, Executive Director, Commissioner for the Global Commission on the Economics of Water, Netherlands
• Moripe Nchedi, Africa Water Investment Program, South Africa
• Nicholas Tandi, Global head of the water sector at SNV, Netherlands
• Prateesh Prasad, Impact and Knowledge Manager at Aqua for All

Moderator

• Hadi Toure Guindo, IWA YWP Mali Chapter / AFREAU, Mali

This webinar is part of the Global Youth Movement for Water (GYMW) & UN Major Group for Children and Youth (UNMGCY) Capacity Development Series towards the 2026 United Nations Water Conference. The series brings together young water professionals, youth-led organisations, international organisations and sector experts to strengthen the capacity of young people to engage meaningfully in the preparatory process for the Conference.

Through eight interactive webinars, participants will explore the key themes of the 2026 UN Water Conference, deepen their understanding of global water governance, and connect with a global network of young leaders committed to advancing water security and sustainable development. The series will culminate in the development of a Youth Position Statement, reflecting the perspectives and recommendations of young people from around the world to support youth engagement before, during and beyond the 2026 UN Water Conference.

The Global Youth Movement for Water is a collaborative initiative led together by the International Secretariat for Water (ISW), UNESCO, the International Water Association (IWA), the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), the Water Youth Network (WYN), the United Nations Major Group for Children and Youth (UNMGCY), AJPEAS, AFR'EAU, Wavemakers United Foundation, and other partners committed to empowering the next generation of water leaders.

The UN Major Group for Children and Youth (UNMGCY) engages on water-related issues through the Water Youth Network (WYN), which serves as the SDG 6 constituency lead.