UNICEF Youth Leading in Water Resilience

Assembly water quality testing at Faithway College.

Policy and Programmatic Recommendations To secure long-term, wide-ranging impact, several policy-level actions and recommendations are proposed. These recommendations aim to institutionalise the successful elements of the project and address the systemic issues that underlie water insecurity.

Strengthen WASH Education Policy

Invest in Water Infrastructure at Schools and Communities

Foster Multi Stakeholder Water Resilience Committees

Integrate Youth Led Monitoring into National WASH Programs

Government should formally adopt youth-led water quality monitoring as part of national WASH strategies. Schools can serve as monitoring hubs, with student and teacher-led reporting integrated into municipal databases. Investment in platforms like WaterCAN and official training for local officials will enhance citizen-driven water management. Establishing an annual “Youth Water Parliament” will ensure continued engagement, enabling young voices to contribute meaningfully to policy and accountability.

Environmental and WASH education should be embedded into school curricula, with modules on water conservation, testing, and climate resilience integrated into subjects like Geography and Natural Sciences. Schools should establish eco clubs to conduct regular WASH audits. Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres should incorporate play-based water conservation lessons to normalize sustainability from a young age. Institutionalizing these educational approaches

Government and partners must address water scarcity and contamination risks by improving infrastructure in schools and communities. This includes borehole drilling, rainwater harvesting, and sanitation upgrades. A WASH Infrastructure Grant should be introduced to support schools actively engaged in water monitoring. Maintenance policies must ensure regular servicing of water systems, turning youth-led data into actionable improvements that build trust in community-government cooperation.

To sustain collaboration, local water resilience committees should be formalized, including youth, schools, municipal officials, and NGOs. These committees will review data, discuss water challenges, and drive collective action. Public participation in water governance should be strengthened by integrating youth into water advisory boards and catchment management forums. Institutionalizing these committees will scale youth-led efforts into long-term policy influence at local and national levels.

ensures long-term youth involvement in environmental stewardship.

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