An Arab Youth Center Initiative, in Strategic Partnership with the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Applications Open — Deadline: 13 August 2026, 12:00 AM Abu Dhabi Time.
OVERVIEW
The Global Youth Water Envoys Program is a capacity-building and diplomatic engagement program established ahead of the 2026 UN Water Conference, co-hosted by the United Arab Emirates and the Republic of Senegal in Abu Dhabi this December, and endorsed by the Conference Presidencies.
The program will select and prepare 100 young leaders from across the world's regions for structured, substantive participation in global water governance. Through a phased journey of foundational training, thematic specialization, and direct engagement with national delegations and institutional partners, the program positions its cohort not as observers of the 2026 UN Water Conference, but as contributors to its outcomes — across the Conference proceedings, its six Interactive Dialogues, and the wider multilateral platforms shaping the international water agenda.
The program reflects the United Arab Emirates’ long-standing commitment to building partnerships, strengthening regional cooperation, and empowering youth to play a meaningful role in addressing global challenges, including one of the defining issues of this generation: water.
Meeting a Global Need
Water insecurity is not distributed equally, and neither is the capacity to respond to it.
Communities across the Global South continue to bear a disproportionate share of the world's water stress, compounded by existing environmental and developmental vulnerabilities. At the same time, youth engagement within formal water governance structures remains largely consultative, present at the margins of process, rather than embedded within it.
The Global Youth Water Envoys Program addresses this gap directly, establishing a structured mechanism through which youth expertise and lived experience inform policy, rather than accompany it.
What We Expect from Our Envoys
As a Global Youth Water Envoy, you will be expected to:
- Complete the full program journey, including all training sessions and engagement activities.
- Dedicate approximately 3–4 hours per week to program activities throughout the active program period.
- Actively contribute to your assigned Interactive Dialogue track.
- Demonstrate professionalism, collaboration, and respect in all interactions with fellow participants, experts, partners, policymakers, and institutional stakeholders.
- Represent youth perspectives in discussions and platforms related to global water governance.
- Participate in key program milestones, including the 2026 UN Water Conference, subject to program and logistical arrangements.
- Engage with experts, policymakers, and institutional leaders throughout the program.
- Contribute to the six Interactive Dialogues of the 2026 UN Water Conference by participating in discussions, engaging with national delegations, and supporting collaborative dialogue that advances knowledge exchange and long-term policy impact.
Are You Ready to Take on the Challenge?
Applicants should meet the following criteria:
- Aged between 18 and 35 years at the time of the 2026 UN Water Conference.
- Demonstrate proficiency in English, the program's primary working language.
- Have an interest in or relevant experience in water governance, public policy, climate action, sustainability, innovation, finance, or other water-related fields.
- Committed to actively participating throughout the program and representing youth perspectives within their communities.
The program is committed to ensuring broad geographic representation and welcoming participants from diverse backgrounds. Selection is merit-based, with priority given to applicants from water-stressed regions, including Africa, the Arab States, and Asia and the Pacific, as identified by the Water Stress Country Index.
What Will You Gain?
By completing the program, you will:
- Join a global network of 100 Youth Water Envoys.
- Benefit from training and mentorship delivered by leading experts and specialists in the water sector.
- Contribute to the development of the Global Youth Water Statement.
- Build valuable connections with policymakers, international organizations, and leaders across the water sector.
- Participate in the 2026 UN Water Conference in Abu Dhabi.
- Become part of an international alumni network, with ongoing opportunities for collaboration and engagement.
APPLICATION Deadline: 13 August 2026, 12:00 AM Abu Dhabi Time