Demand 06
Ensure Youth and Women’s Leadership in Water Governance
Women and girls bear the daily burden of fetching and managing household water, carrying nearly 70 percent of the water collection burden across Africa, while young people will inherit the region’s water future (Pan African Lawyers Union, 2026; UN Women & AUC-WGYD, 2026). Despite this, water ministries, utility boards, and river basin authorities remain dominated by older men, and existing gender inclusion policies rarely translate into executive-level representation (Ako et al., 2024). We demand binding quotas, dedicated seats, and real voting power for youth and women at community, national, and regional levels; not symbolic consultation after policy decisions are already made. This must extend to policies that address gender responsiveness to water governance. 95% of consultation respondents rated formal youth roles in national and regional water policy as very (24%) or extremely (71%) important. Youth explicitly called for "binding youth leadership in all water governance decisions" and proposed ring-fencing a dedicated percentage of national water management funds specifically for youth-led environmental protection initiatives (UNFCCC, 2023).
Call To Action
We call for gender-responsive and youth-inclusive water policies, budgets and implementation plans, including a guarantee of meaningful representation of women and youth in water governance at community, national and regional levels.
We call for dedicated seats and voting rights for youth and women in water ministries, utility boards and river basin authorities., extending to youth and women participation in decisions from the beginning as critical stakeholders in co-creation, not only during consultation and or validation.
We call on governments to allocate dedicated funding for youth- and women-led water, climate and environmental initiatives, and for capacity-building and leadership opportunities that enable young people and women to influence water policy at local, national and regional levels.
We call for transparent reporting on women’s and youth’s representation in water governance and decision-making bodies.
We call for the establishment of a formal West African Youth and Women Water Fellowship Program that pairs emerging leaders with veteran water diplomats and utility executives to guarantee hands-on mentorship, technical training, and direct pathways to executive appointments.
References
[6] https://www.vanguardngr.com/2021/08/food-storage-as-business-opportunity/
[7] https://www.thecable.ng/fao-14-4m-nigerians-facing-food-crisis-amid-insecurity-rising-inflation