The Youth for Water and Climate Programme is a capacity-building program, led by the International Secretariat for Water – Solidarity Water Europe with the financial support of Erasmus+, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and the Agence de l’Eau Artois-Picardie. The tools, structure and content of the YWC programme were developed with a consortium of partners including the Global Water Partnership, Global Water Partnership – Central and Eastern Europe, cewas, Global Water Partnership Hungary and Good Planet Belgium.
The water sector and connected sectors are facing serious gaps in the workforce due to the shortage of human resources, differences in the skills required depending on the rural or urban environment, the lack of incentives for workers, and the lack of coordination between the needs of the industry and the offer of educational institutions. The Youth for Water and Climate (YWC) Programme aims to address these gaps and equip youth with the necessary skills to integrate the water sector, connect them with senior professional and organisations and integrate them to a vibrant young water leaders community. Following the implementation of the pilot phase YWC Programme, 100% of participants secured a job or furthered their studies in the water & climate sector.
The programme’s second phase was launched in Strasbourg in December 2023, with the support of the European Union (Erasmus +), with the aim of expanding the number of beneficiaries.
The YWC programme targets young people, aged between 18 and 30 years old, who wish to gain tools and skills and expand their network to integrate or pursue a career within the water and connected sectors. It also targets youth who wish to further strengthen their entrepreneurial project in this sector.
If this feels like you, read on – you could be our ideal candidate for the program’s next phase!
Why should you join the YWC Programme?
The programme will offer a participation in a inspiring in-person workshops, an integration of a community of practice and a complete online curriculum to support youth who wish to further develop their professional skills and/or entrepreneurial skills in the water and connected sectors.
After completing the planned mobility, you are guaranteed to receive a certificate recognized across the European Union that value all the competences and tools acquired through the programme : the Youthpass!
Learn and boost your skills
As a participant of the Youth for Water and Climate Programme, you will take part in a 5-day international seminar that will take place in Budapest (Hungary) from February 7th to 13th, 2026.
Through this international seminar, you’ll benefit from a European vision of water-related issues, with insights specific to the mobility country, by meeting local players in the field and reflecting together on the sector’s themes.
Finally, you’ll enjoy personalized workshops in line with the key themes of the YWC Curriculum.
The YWC Curriculum is an open-source and freely available online course which will provide you with the tools and skills to be able to take action in the water and climate sectors.
The objective is to support you in developing specific skills related to water and climate in order to strengthen youth employability in the sector.
Here are the themes of the modules that will be covered, which you will also deepen in workshops during the international seminars.
- Take-up a career in the water & climate sector
- Develop personal professional skills
- Learn how to start an impactful business or plan your own initiative
- Start a professional career in the water and connected sectors
Receive mentoring from experience professionals
You will also be matched with a mentor, an experienced professional from the water and climate sector, with whom you shall connect on a regular basis.
They will give you personalized advice on your future career and tell you all about the jobs in the sector and the opportunities available to you.
Mentors from the previous cohorts included directors of Water agencies, managers of organizations in the water sector, representatives of local, national or international institutions, etc.
Throughout the programme, you will receive guidance to maximize the impact of this relationship through the Mentorship Guide developed by the partners.
Join a wide community of practice
Participating in this program will enable you to forge valuable connections and build your network through interactions with mentors, partners, and fellow water sector professionals. You will be invited to actively participate in an online community of practice with all mentors, partners, and young participants of the YWC Programme.
The community of practice will be a safe platform for collaboration and coordinated action, building leadership capacity, sharing of ideas, and improving the quality of knowledge and learning approaches. You will be invited to take ownership of this space and actively participate in its design and management.
What is the calendar of activities?
Deadline to submit your application: 05/01/2026
In-person workshop in Budapest (Hungary): From February 7th to 13th, 2026.
What are the selection criteria?
- You are between 18 and 30 years old
- Currently living in one of these countries: Bulgaria, France, Greece, Hungary, Romania or the Netherlands.
- Studying, working and/or volunteering in a field related to water and climate
- Strong commitment and interest for water and climate related issues (national, regional or international level)
- Significant motivation to take part in the program & availability to take part in all the program activities.
- Must be able to communicate in English
- Must have access to Internet
- Be fully available for the first mobility organized in Budapest (Hungary), from February 7th to 13th, 2026.
What are the fees and costs?
The fees and costs related to the workshops will mostly be covered by the organizers:
- International transportation
- Accommodation and food
- Activities and program expenses
Covered by the participants:
- Local transportation
- Insurance (mandatory)
- Other personal expenses
How can I apply?
To apply, you must submit this form, including the short 2min video presentation and the 200-word essay, before the 05/01/26.
Do you have any question?
Consult the YWC platform: https://youthwaterclimate.org/ywc-programme/
For any question, please contact Clément DOLISI, European office Coordinator at ISW-SWE : cdolisi@see-swe.org.
