My name is Natalija Fisher, and I am here on behalf of the Water Youth Network. A global volunteer run organization that has been facilitating continuous, meaningful, and active youth participation at global water governance forums.

We believe that while monitoring and facilitating the implementation of SDGs, national governments need to fully include civil society throughout the process. Not doing so is a wasted opportunity. More than beneficiaries of the 2030 Agenda, young scientists, researchers, innovators and indigenous knowledge holders are coming up with innovative ways to contribute to Goal 6. Citizen science is one of many examples. It is no wonder that people took note this past March when a 13 year old Anishinaabe girl from Canada spoke from the heart about respecting water.  

Beyond consulting with young people what is needed is to mainstream the application of their innovation and the use of their knowledge and the data they produce in SDG related decision making processes at all levels.

The Youth Statement of the World Water Forum 8 (WWF), held in Brazil earlier this year, called for creating

“legitimate spaces for the representation, inclusion and participation of young people and youth groups in high level political decision-making and organizational processes…”.

Youth Forums are a great start, but intergenerational policy dialogues build capacity for meaningful participation, promote knowledge transfer and the sharing of emerging innovations for achieving SDG goals.