This activity took place under the aegis of the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development of the Government of DR Congo, organized by CB-HYDRONET and the National Water Partnership of DR Congo and benefited from technical and financial support from UKAID, Australian AID, GIZ, GWP/SA and IPS. The activity was initiated by the SADC executive secretariat to involve its member states in the development of the Regional Strategic Plan IV. This activity included two parallel activities dedicated to young water professionals from the DRC and journalists dedicated to water-related issues. CB–HYDRONET had full responsibility for leading the National Young Water Professionals Forum which took place on the first day of SADC Water Week.
The results
The summary of the results of this national forum of young water professionals is as follows:
> The popularization of the existing water policy and legislative framework in the DRC which supports the engagement of young people. Thus water policy is devoted to the following vision:
Vision on water and food security: The DRC recognizes the importance of water for food production and economic development;
Vision on water and disaster management: the DRC subscribes to the policy of managing floods and droughts, preventing environmental degradation, maintaining drinking water;
Vision on water and water supply in rural areas: the DRC wants to increase the number of people with access to drinking water to 60% by 2020, ensure the sustainability of viable water sources define the framework intervention with a clear definition of responsibilities at all operational levels, establish a national water supply and sanitation program for rural areas;
Vision on water and urban water supply and sanitation: in this regard, the DRC subscribes to increasing access to sufficient quality and quantity of water;
Vision on water and the environment: Recognizing the constraints linked to environmental degradation, the DRC intends to preserve the sustainability of the ecosystem by adopting laws on the management of water resources, regulations on pollution and discharges, reforestation and database management;
Vision on water and navigation: The DRC recognizes the development of the navigation network as a means of exchange and socio-economic and cultural development, because it provides information at lower cost.
> The above-mentioned water policy features designed to support stakeholder participation in the water sector in the DRC include: the principle of equity, water sector coordination, capacity building and human resources development in the water sector.
The recommendations
The recommendations made to develop effective youth engagement in the DRC were as follows:
Conduct a country-wide needs assessment with a view to developing a roadmap of action programs for youth in the water sector;
Support the development of policies and legal frameworks that specifically promote the active engagement of young people in the water sector as well as address the challenges related to this engagement;
Develop and implement capacity building programs that target the needs and empower young water professionals;
Strengthen the role of the existing network such as CB-HYDRONET in the engagement, participation and coordination of young water professionals;
Facilitate regular meetings with the aim of raising awareness among young people;
Support awareness and awareness campaigns across the country.