AFRICA REGION PROCESS DEVELOP WATER AND YOUTH STRATEGIC PLAN BY 2012

1. AFRICA REGION PROCESS DEVELOP WATER AND YOUTH STRATEGIC PLAN BY 2012

2. OVERVIEW OF THE PRESENTATION • Introduction • Background and Rationale • Legal instruments and policies on Water • Target Action plan and commitment for strategic plan for the Youth • Solutions • Key Recommendations • 2012 Youth Strategy Action Plan

3. Introduction • Water is the basis of life and development. Thus, water use and protection must underpin the rejuvenation of Africa and the achievement of all the MDGs. • Human right to water should apply basically to “basic needs” for drinking, cooking, and fundamental domestic uses and economic development

4. Global Water Distribution: • 97% is undrinkable sea water • 2% is locked in polar ice caps • 0.08 % is available for human consumption Human Consumption of Water: • 7 % for domestic purposes • 23 % in Industry • 70% in Agriculture 2/3 of the world population will be affected by water shortages by the 2025

5. Background and rationale of the target • A rapid assessment of Africa’s water policy and legal framework reveals that the governments have recognized the importance of integrating youth issues in the sector. Africa Youths are committed to the achievement of the Africa Water Vision 2025 which envisions an Africa where there is an equitable and sustainable use and management of water resources for poverty alleviation, socio-economic development, regional cooperation and environment.

6. Africa has a big youthful population which is an asset for social and economic transformation. However, youth are marginalized from the family, community, national, Regional and political life.

7. Role of Youth in the Water Sector • Policy & Decision Making Processes • Research & Documentation • Advocacy • Capacity Building • M & E • Project Management and Financing • Education/training • Peer Mentoring and Volunteerism

8. Legal Instruments and Policies on Water: • The Abuja Ministerial Declaration on Water: A Key to Sustainable Development,” which was adopted in April 2002 and which establishes the African Ministerial Conference on Water • African Convention on the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources • Dublin Principles • Protocol on Shared Watercourses in the Southern African Development Community

9. United Nations Convention on the Law of the Non-Navigational Uses of International Water Courses • the Charter of the Organization of African Unity, which was concluded in May 1963 • African Convention on the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources was adopted at Algiers in September 1968 • Treaty Establishing the African Economic Community

10. Target action plans, commitments and solutions for Youth Strategy on Water Strategic objective 1: Evidence base to support decision making on youth and water developed • Actions for achieving this objective • Conduct and annual analysis on the status of youth in the water sector (Analysis of the institutions, policies, programmes and projects and their responsiveness to the needs and priorities of the youth) • Conduct a capacity needs assessment for the sector on youth engagement • Conduct a scoping study on youth actions and actors in the water sector

11. Strategic objective 2: Enabling environment for youth engagement in the water sector created • Actions for achieving this objective • Review existing policies and strategies to integrate youth interests • Youth and water policy for Africa

12. Strategic objective 3: Human resource capacity for youth mainstreaming strengthened Actions for achieving this objective • Training for youth focal points and youth officers in the government and civil society in the line ministries and sector as a whole • Capacity building for Africa Youth Water Professionals

13. Strategic objective 4: Youth specific projects for youth on water developed (thematic areas include; governance, climate change, catchment conservation, education and capacity building) Actions for achieving this objective • Youth in water governance project: youth in AMCOW, WWF, WRUAs, CAACs, Boards etc. • Water literacy projects for schools primary and secondary schools (Building a water conscious generation) • Youth Tree planting and catchment conservation projects at all levels • Payment for ecosystem service in areas where water towers are threatened to incentivize conservation and reverse degradation as well as create employment for youth

14. Strategic objective 5: Monitoring and evaluating institutional arrangements, planning and budgeting promoted. Actions for achieving this objective • Developing youth-specific indicators, including those related to the quantity and quality of youth participation in the project. M&E should also involve asking young people’s view of how much progress has been made and what the challenges are. • Develop an M&E system for youth provides input into the water sector MTP reporting framework; • Provide training on M&E and report writing.

15. Strategic objective 6: Networking and stakeholder coordination in youth activities in the water sector promoted • Establish a youth and water forum to provide a space for youth to dialogue on key issues that affect the water sector to feedback into governments, private sectors and stakeholders. decision making • Developing of a website that sub regions and National networks can feed on

16. Solutions • Promoting water harvesting and storage capacity at farm and household, and school through the Youth participation • Introducing a Regional, Sub-regional and National summer school water efficiency course for all university students in collaboration with the universities • Africa Junior water prize: Annual competition among youth who portray exemplary work in catchment conservation , water and sanitation resources uses efficiency • Educational and curriculum material development on water, sanitation and disaster risk reduction • Youth promoting green technology as a form of addressing the poverty and environment cycle.

17. Limits of the Approach • Political Will on the part of Governments to implement youth led programs • Limited Funding for Youth programs at all levels • Non recognition of youths as relevant stakeholders in the water sector • Capacity of youth to implement the projects • Youth involvement in AMCOW structure activities • Integrating youth into water programmes and projects of all stakeholders (Government, CSOs, Private Sector, Donor organizations at all levels)

18. Key Recommendations • Capacity Building for youth working in the water and Sanitation sector at all level. • Technical (mentoring) and financial support for implementation of youth-led projects in line with the Youth Strategy on Water and Sanitation. • Partnerships with relevant stakeholders to implement the Youth Strategy on Water • Physical Coordination of youth activities on Water and Sanitation at Regional, Sub-regional and National level.

19. Need to establish a dedicated water fund for Africa Youth and similar funds at national and basin levels. Such funds will support integrated water resource management as well as initiatives to encourage cooperation on shared basins. • Water Financing: To mitigate the impact of water-related disasters and climatic change, suitable funding and compensation instruments should be developed reflecting, where appropriate, the "polluter pays" principle, with those countries which have contributed most to the problems contributing to their solutions • Need to create a nexus between Water, Sanitation & Hygiene, food security, environment and access to international markets • Mainstream Youth into policy and decision making processes in the water sector and related sectors at all levels

20. 2012 Youth Strategy Action Plan •  Young African Professionals forum on Water in South Africa by Africa Youth Movement on Water, AMCOW, South African Government, GWP in Jan, 2012 • TV Documentary on Water and Youth by Africa Youth Movement on Water (Jan – March, 2012) • National Youth Summit on Youth & Water Strategy by National Youth Movement on Water (Jan – Dec 2012)

21. Children & Youth Toolkit on Water, Sanitation & Hygiene March 2012 • Sub regional Children and Youth Strategy Meeting on Water Feb 2012 • Children & Youth Side event on WaterMarseille, Mar 2012

22. Young African Professionals on Water Side event during AMCOW+10 Anniversary, Egypt by Africa Youth Movement on Water and AMCOW. April 30, 2012 • Post Water Forum in Ghana by WaterAid Ghana and Africa Youth Movement on Water, May 2012 • African Youth Summit on Water, Sanitation & Hygiene by South African Min of Water (Dept of Youth), Africa Youth Movement on Water and UN Habitat, June 2012

23. Young Water and Sanitation Professionals Conference in Kenya by GWP, IWA, 2012 • Database of Young African Professionals on Water and Sanitation by Africa Youth Movement on Water (Dec 2011 – Mar 2012) • Involvement in water programmes and projects of partners by Africa Youth Movement on Water and all stakeholders

24. Target Group Members AMCOW GWP Water & Youth International Movement WaterAid ANEW Youth WASH organizations UN Habitat

25. “Water Policy, Programmes and Projects without the Youth, is not for the Youth. • Therefore, we enjoin all stakeholders to mainstream youth in policy and decision making process at ALL LEVELS!”

26. Thank you • Asante Sana • Obrigado • Merci • Jere Jeff