Founded by the International Water Association (IWA), supported by the Regional Capacity Building Network RCDN, and collaborating with IAWD, the IWA Young Water Professionals network is busy building its profile and reach in the Danube region. A first peer to peer exchange meeting took place last summer in Vienna. Now the follow up event gathered representatives from six West Balkan countries in Ohrid.

For a sector increasingly plagued by staffing problems, investing in the career perspectives and systematic development of young talent is nothing less than success-critical, and a region-wide network of motivated, ambitioned young professionals is a gift of immense value. Young Water Professionals gather in national chapters and connect across borders to build their careers, develop professionally, gain profile, and make contact with employers.

During the current start phase, peer-to-peer exchange workshops are instrumental in establishing new chapters and creating common ground for future activities.

On 18 and 19 March, Young Water Professionals from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia, and Serbia gathered at the Hotel Tino in Ohrid, North Macedonia to take stock of the ongoing networking efforts and to work on a position paper on the workforce in the water sector .

Supported by Kirsten de Vette as Facilitator, and Pierantonio Lavena as Project Leader, the participants discussed action plans and growth strategies and drove their first position paper towards completion. This paper will not only contribute the Young Water Professional perspective to a comprehensive State of the Sector analysis of issues like workforce shortages, unemployment risks, salary levels, and gender equality, but will be presented at the upcoming 2025 Danube Water Conference.

We appreciate that the Young Water Professionals are pulling their weight and continue to support them to make their voices heard!