Collaborative Visions of the Future: Conflict-Sensitive Lessons from the Balkan Youth Environmental Assembly and the Water Youth Network

Natalija Vojno, Our Living Waters / Our Shared Futures (Canada)

This presentation explores how youth-led initiatives can foster conflict-sensitive environmental governance and collaborative visions of the future through two examples: the Balkan Youth Environmental Assembly (BYEA) and the Water Youth Network (WYN). Drawing on experiences from regional environmental dialogue in the Balkans and transboundary water cooperation initiatives in the Nile Basin, the presentation highlights how young people create inclusive spaces for knowledge exchange, regional dialogue, and environmental governance. Insights from the WYN’s “Youth in Water Diplomacy Workshop” illustrate the adaptive roles young people play in water conflict and cooperation. Together, these cases show that youth adopt leadership roles as connectors, thought leaders, and entrepreneurs as needed. If opportunities for civic engagement, meaningful employment and youth involvement in decision-making are lacking within water governance systems, then the possibility of young people to contribute constructively to those systems is lessened. The presentation reflects on the enabling conditions necessary to support meaningful youth participation, including institutional inclusion, capacity-building, community connection, financial support, and security.