IWA YWP Rwanda Chapter recognised as the 2025 IWA YWP Chapter of the Year

IWA is delighted to share that the IWA Young Water Professionals Rwanda Chapter was recognised as the 2025 YWP Chapter of the Year during the 7th IWA Emerging Water Leaders Forum in Bangkok, Thailand. The forum was held during the IWA Water and Development Congress and Exhibition.

This honour is part of an initiative launched by IWA in 2024 to recognise and celebrate the outstanding contributions of the IWA Young Water Professionals (YWPs) Community and YWP Country Chapters worldwide.  

The evaluation process, led by the IWA YWP Steering Committee, its Chapter Coordination Sub-Committee, and supported by the IWA Secretariat, assessed the achievements of each chapter in 2024 based on quality, innovation, collaboration, impact, and alignment with IWA’s Strategic Goals. The Rwanda YWP Chapter stood out for its remarkable dedication, technical excellence, and community-focused initiatives.

Throughout 2024, the Rwanda YWP Chapter demonstrated exceptional engagement with the broader IWA network. Two members of its steering committee actively participated in the IWA World Water Congress & Exhibition held in Toronto, Canada, strengthening connections between the Rwandan YWP community and global water professionals. The Chapter also collaborated with the IWA Zambia Chapter to deliver a webinar on African youth engagement in advancing SDG6, reflecting its commitment to regional cooperation and shared learning. Furthermore, the Chapter’s coordinator was selected to join the IWA LeaP Leadership Programme, marking a significant milestone in nurturing future leaders within the sector.

In addition to its strong engagement efforts, Rwanda YWP made impressive advancements in technical research and innovation. Through its Smart Water Management Hub, the Chapter developed artificial intelligence-based flood forecasting models to enhance flood risk reduction in Kigali and provided specialised training in HEC-HMS and HEC-RAS modelling tools to its technical team. The Hub also initiated a project aimed at improving agricultural water productivity by mapping irrigation schemes and designing an AI-powered irrigation scheduling tool. Meanwhile, the Sustainable Landscape Hub contributed to national resilience efforts by mapping flood-prone watersheds in partnership with IISD, the World Resources Institute, and the City of Kigali under the SUNCASA Project. It further supported environmental monitoring by tracking the spread of water hyacinth in Lake Cyohoha using NDVI and Sentinel-2 technology and developed Invest models to support urban stormwater retention and flood mitigation planning.

The Climate Resilient WASH Practices Hub also achieved significant impact in 2024. The Chapter trained over six hundred individuals in Bugesera District on gender-responsive and climate-resilient WASH strategies, expanding local capacity to adapt to climate risks. It conducted extensive mapping of nearly ninety-five thousand water users across twenty-five districts to strengthen the resilience of the country’s water supply systems and carried out an assessment of the climate resilience of the Yanze water supply system. These efforts reflect the Chapter’s holistic approach to addressing water challenges through scientific insight, community engagement, and technical capacity development.

Beyond technical projects, Rwanda YWP excelled in knowledge sharing and professional development. More than 250 professionals benefited from training in hydrological modelling, WASH governance, and gender-responsive approaches. The Chapter organised a series of knowledge-sharing sessions covering topics such as climate change modelling, machine learning applications for water management, and the use of INVEST tools. Its digital engagement strategy also proved highly effective, with the Chapter increasing its reach to more than 600 followers across LinkedIn, Twitter (X), and Instagram. The launch of the Rwanda YWP website further enhanced opportunities for professional networking and learning within the national and global water sector.

The Chapter’s achievements in 2024 were also reflected in a series of awards and recognitions. The Co-Lead of the Smart Water Management Hub received the 2024 ASCE Young Civil Engineer Award in South Carolina, a testament to the Chapter’s technical leadership and global excellence. The Lead of the Climate Resilient WASH Practices Hub served on the Emerging Water Leaders Forum programme committee at the IWA World Water Congress in Toronto, further strengthening Rwanda’s presence in international water dialogues. The Chapter’s Chairperson and Coordinator also represented Rwanda YWP at the World Water Congress & Exhibition in Toronto, highlighting the Chapter’s growing influence. The coordinator’s selection into the IWA LeaP Leadership Programme further reinforced the Chapter’s reputation for cultivating outstanding emerging leaders.

The Rwanda YWP Chapter’s mission is to address the country’s water challenges by empowering young professionals, strengthening knowledge exchange, and providing a benchmark for excellence within Rwanda’s water sector. Its approach is rooted in providing career guidance, facilitating opportunities for professional engagement, supporting national water initiatives, and developing impactful projects that promote water security, environmental sustainability, and climate resilience. These efforts are anchored in the Chapter’s strategic focus areas, which include smart water management, sustainable landscapes, climate-resilient WASH practices, capacity development, and communication and knowledge management.

Looking ahead to 2026, the Chapter has outlined an ambitious agenda aligned with the high-level aims for YWP Chapters identified by the IWA YWP Steering Committee. It aims to maintain a strong and professional network for young water professionals in Rwanda through targeted training initiatives, such as project proposal development workshops, sessions on innovative water technologies, and high school outreach activities designed to raise awareness on circular economy and climate change. The Chapter is also committed to expanding professional development opportunities by creating pathways for job and internship placements, preparing grant proposals, and organising conferences with expert-led discussions that facilitate learning and skill development.

Collaboration remains a cornerstone of the Chapter’s future strategy. Rwanda YWP plans to participate actively in IWA’s global coordination calls and international events, reinforcing its commitment to cross-regional learning. The Chapter also aims to contribute to broader African YWP initiatives, strengthening ties with neighbouring chapters and supporting the development of a more interconnected and resilient regional water network.

The recognition of the Rwanda YWP Chapter as the 2025 YWP Chapter of the Year highlights the profound impact that passionate, skilled, and collaborative young professionals can have on the water sector. IWA celebrates the Rwanda Chapter for its exceptional achievements and looks forward to witnessing its continued leadership and contributions to the global community of emerging water professionals.

If you have questions regarding the IWA YWP Community, please, contact Isabela Espindola, IWA Membership Engagement Senior Officer, at isabela.espindola@iwahq.org.

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