 Good afternoon everyone. I think we are going to start at this point. I'm happy to invite everyone to our, and welcome to our original call today, connecting young water professionals in Africa. My name is Ludmila Odut. I'm a part of a steering committee. Beside that I have like around 10 years of experience in water sector and with IWA I'm already since 2018 participating in different activities and in particular of empowering young water professionals. We've been preparing this call together with Shaten Juma. She's also my colleague from steering committee. However, she had some kind of unexpected things at work, so unfortunately she will not be able to join. And I hope like next time we will be all together. Let me speak about few logistic things what we will have during our webinar. So during this call, this event will be recorded and will be made available on demand on the IWA Connect Plus with all presentations and other relevant information. All speakers are responsible for securing copyright permissions for any work that they will present on which they are not legal copyright holders. And the opinions and hypothesis of conclusions or recommendations contained in the presentations and other materials are the sole responsibility of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect IWA opinion. I would like to encourage you to use chat box in terms of introducing yourself. You can share your social media accounts if you want to share contacts as well. It would be great if you will start posting the questions there in case if you have to any of speakers. And overall, you can discuss any interesting things, whatever is relevant to the topic. Due to cameras and videos, I would like to ask everyone keep them closed during the event for the speakers when you will be presenting. That will be the time for you to turn on the camera and microphone. And I think we might even give the opportunity for the participants during the Q&A sessions to speak up their questions. All of the slides are already collected and they compiled in one file. So for all of the speakers, I would like just to ask you to coordinate with me and ask if you need any change of slide. Just for the review of today's agenda, we will have some short presentation about role of IWA Young Water Professionals chapters, then following two panels along with the Q&A sessions and also in the end of the call open discussion with final remarks. So let me try to talk shortly about IWA and Young Water Professionals community. Overall, International Water Association has an international reference and source of knowledge for sustainable water solutions. It's tried to support the global community to pursue their ambitions in relations to water-related SDGs. Also, it is like a catalyst for innovation, knowledge and best practice for water sector, external organizations and opinions leaders, as well as it's tried best to provide experience and leadership in transitioning to sustainable water solutions. Overall, IWA is represented in different regions, starting from America to Asia and South Pacific. It's represented by research institutes, by regulators, by consultants, by utilities. It consists of specialist groups, task groups, Young Water Professionals chapters and other parts of the organization. And as well, it has different activities. The governing member of Young Water Professionals is Young Water Professionals Steering Committee, which I'm a part of. So it's like we provide the advice to the overall IWA, to the secretariat and to the board in terms of what type of activities, what type of topics may be interested and how in a better way to engage and empower Young Water Professionals. Overall, we are like all under 35 years old and we are from multi-disciplinary backgrounds. Yes, as I already mentioned, we have one of the opportunities of engagement of Young Water Professionals is being a part of the chapters. So here on this map, you can see the distribution of our representatives of different chapters within the world. Being a part of Young Water Professionals, we can join a group to contribute the discussion. We can be a part of Steering Committee. We can be a part of Country Chapter as well of a specialist group. We can join the forum and the program committees and also be a part of organizing committees and other committees for the events like conferences and, I don't know, different workshops, webinars. Yes, so this is the possibilities of Young Water Professionals and if you are a bit about 35 years old, of course, you can also be a bit engaged with all of that, but with different perspective. So in terms of online events, currently what is available for Young Water Professionals is get-togethers, regional calls, which is currently we are all attending and also global coordination calls and IWA webinars. Within the online platforms, there is a possibility to be engaged through Young Water, IWA Connect+, it is open to all members. There is also like Young Water Professionals group and there is also groups for each country chapter. Within Microsoft tips channels, there is a bit more limited access. It's more like for Young Water Professionals Country Chapters leaders only and there is some kind of regulation store at that. Within the social media channels, there is like plenty of ways to be engaged through Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter and as well like regular website through which general information overall about IWA can be reached. Let's say our topic, Connecting Young Water Professionals in Africa. I would like to say that Africa has the youngest population in the world, so such a high number of young people. It's like a huge opportunity for region growth, right? However, this new generation should be fully empowered to release all of their like skills, energy and everything, but I'm sure. Even in different conditions, Young Professionals and in particular Young Water Professionals in our sector, they already involved and contributed a lot to and contributing currently a lot to their region and not only. So at this point, I would like to move to our first panel and introduced our first panelist. It is Abdul Majid Osman from Ghana. He is head of payroll unit and Human Resource Information Systems at Ghana Water Company Limited. Abdul has over 10 years working experience both in the private and public sector. He's currently, as I mentioned, head of payroll unit and Human Resource Information Systems at Ghana Water Company Limited and as well chair of Young Water Professionals of Ghana chapter. He has worked in various management capacities and has contributed enormously in attracting, developing and retaining staff to enable the Ghana Water Company Limited achieve its vision of supply and portable water to the urban sector. He also worked as career development coordinator with the Yale Center for Business and Environment where he researched internship opportunities for students in the realm of business and environment. Today, Abdul will be sharing with us achievements and experiences as well as challenges of Ghana chapter. So Abdul, you're welcome. Thank you very much, Rujmila, for the introduction. So you can load my slides now please. Yeah, they are already on. Yes. So let's go to the next one. As Shiratli mentioned, my name is Abdul Majid Osman and I'm the chair of the Young Water Professionals Ghana chapter. And I will begin by giving some background on the Ghana Water chapter. So we have on record a total of over 120 members who are on our WhatsApp platform and we regularly deal and connect with as far as issues about IWA Young Water Professionals are concerned. As part of the achievements for the chapter over the years, we mostly add an element of the company's orientation where we make sure that we introduce newly engaged staff to IWA Young Water Professionals. And to ensure that this thing is available and it is sustainable, the template that the HR department does always has IWA Young Water Professionals there. So anytime a new staff is engaged, he gets the opportunity to know about IWA to get about Young Water Professionals and also to learn about how they can join and also participate in the activities of the Young Water Professionals. The other things that we've done is that the chapter has organized a series of seminars to introduce and bring members up to speed with current trends so far as water is concerned. Recently we had a seminar on flood management in Accra and how that is impacting the city, which is making it a city which is not resilient and also to withstand the challenges that counts with flooding. The other experience that we've had as a chapter is where we've been able to get the company to sponsor some members of the chapter to attend the IWA Congress in Copenhagen last year. And through this Congress, they were able to network, they were able to also share some papers. Personally, I was a chair and rapporteur for a session. My other colleagues also had the experience by chairing and sharing other events. When we return back in Ghana, we share this experience with our colleagues and also to share the opportunities that we have in the IWA and the Young Water Professionals. Last but not the least, the Young Water, the Ghana chapter is introducing what we call the mentorship, where we want to bring the, close the gap, the knowledge gap between our seniors who know, who understand, have a level of experience with regards to those who are new in the organization. We are doing this because the data available has shown to us that we have different courts of employees within the organization. We have the old generation and we have the Gen Z's, all of them are together. But with the introduction of the mentorship program, we are going to bring these two people together, where the younger ones will get to learn from the senior ones and also share the experiences that we have with them. Yes, I guess you had some issues, no problem. Yeah, great. I'm sorry for that. So we've introduced the mentorship program where we are reaching the gap, the knowledge gap that exists between the senior professionals and the young ones who are joining the organizations at a very young age, and the young ones in the schools, so that we can share some of these experiences with them as they join the other utility organizations for them to be able to contribute to the achievement of water for all aspects of the SDG goals. Can we go to the next slide please? Great. So despite all the things that we've done and some of the things that we've earmarked to do in the future, some of the challenges that we have is the low recognition locally. Most of the activities of the association are self funded. Most, there are some instances where as chair, I personally have to fund meetings or events that we do, which I think is not unsustainable. And we believe that this goes with the recognition so that once we get the organization that we work with to acknowledge the fact that the young water professionals is an essential element of the association, it makes it very easy for us to get the support that we need. However, the good news about the little recognition is that there is a 16 number governing member board, which is currently working behind the scenes to ensure that we get the necessary recognition that we need. And they are trying very hard to ensure that they get the necessary papers and the necessary approvals which has been approved by the chapter in London so that they will be able to write the respective institutions and schools so that we can recognize. Closely related to the little recognition is the funds to organize programs, which I have shared some earlier, because of the limited funds is very difficult for us to be able to organize events and let members come. And for us to have a very fruitful discussion. Due to this, we've limited the number of events that we hold within a period so that we don't overspend, as we have our own personal finances to take care of. Last but not the least is the membership dues. Most of the people that we introduced the chapter to are really interested in joining IDA. However, because of the issue of dues, they find it very difficult to even proceed with the discussion. As a way of proposal, I want to suggest that IWU looks if it can categorize the dues, so that if the staff is working, he can pay a certain amount. If the person is in school, he can pay a lesser amount or find a nice way to recategorize the payment of dues, because from most of the interactions I've had with members, they want to join, but they feel the dues is a bit high. So it kind of moves them away from joining or even picking up funds to register and become full members. So from what I have seen and the data available to me, out of the 120 members who are registered locally, only about 10 or 15 are registered members of IDA, which I think is very low. So if IWU can take a look at how the membership dues will be categorized, I think it will go a long way to open up the net and get more people to register and become members. So that's it by way of challenges that I can share and as far as the Ghana chapter is concerned. All right. It means you're finished with your presentation, Abdul? Yes, can you please say that again? I'm saying like means you are done with presentation, right? Yes, I'm done with the presentation. That's great. All right. Thank you very much. I believe like funds are quite important thing to a young water professional. So it's really a big deal to work on that. Yeah, I think we will be able to discuss it on the open discussion later on. Thank you very much for your presentation. And we move to another presenter. It's Charity Superio from Young Water Professionals Kenya. She currently works as Communication and Public Relations Practitioner at Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company. She is the president of Young Water Professionals Kenya chapter and served in the International Water Association, emerging water leaders, stewing committee as events and communications coordinators, our predecessors. Yeah, she works, worked in the water sector for 10 years now and she has been providing mentorship in various capacities. The recent one was 2022-23 National Global Water Initiative Programme owned by the Technical University of Denmark and early startups from different countries globally. Yes, what can I say? Karibu Charity, the floor is yours. Thank you so much. What an introduction. My name is Charity Superio from Nairobi Water and Sewerage Company, the current president for Young Water Professionals in Kenya chapter. Yes, probably we could start with my slides. A lot was a good presentation on Ghana by the way. You did a good job. Yeah, so mine is going to be extremely brief. So, I joined Iowa in 2020-12 and sorry, the screen is a bit, yes, and I've been in the Communication Department and I remember one of the biggest challenges that I had attending our conferences was, I felt like there was no space for any other discipline other than the engineers and the people in the chemistry biology world and so I think it was one of the best opportunities because I looked for an opportunity and I got it. Yes, PR now in Communication is well recognized by Iowa. So, thank you very much, Iowa. And yes, I always encourage everybody in my chapter that there's room and there's room and so much to do for every discipline in the water sector. So, maybe she'll just proceed. So, the Kenya chapter, I have now been the president for the past three years now, and we've been planting trees with other institutions with schools, we've been opening washclubs in different primary schools and secondary schools. We've been partnering with institutions and association in the campuses and universities and technical colleges as well. So, we've been quite active. I think the past two years until just after COVID, that's when our associations had going down. The funds were not as available as they used to be in the previous and I think I'm also here to hear about countries that have different water institutions and how they go about in terms of their membership because like in Kenya, we only have Nairobi water that is the strongest with the strongest and the highest members in Kenya. You see like in our country in Kenya, we have different counties, we have like 32 counties and we are only represented in five counties out of the 32. So, you can imagine how many other youths out there are not aware about the Iowa and the water professionals. So, I think it's also been a challenge for us to pull other water companies because they feel like the Nairobi water is really championing it too much and it's Nairobi water dominated. So, it's been tough trying to like pull all other youths in the other different water companies and ensuring them like this what you're doing and would like all of you to come on board. I think we also need a patron that is going to provide leadership on a management level because for this and this patron has to like bring everybody on board and make other managing directors appreciate and understand the role of the youth in the water sector. So, as I speak right now, I'm just speaking for the Nairobi water. I've just tried to pull a few water youths in the other organizations. And so far, I can say that we are 15 registered and just like Ghana, the membership fee for the Iowa makes them share of a bit because they think it's a bit expensive for them to join. Probably because they are pay equaling to be allowing them to have this association membership fees or probably the companies to allow them to pay for the corporate membership fee like Nairobi water because they're not really into the Iowa in the Iowa world. So, right now as I speak, I really speak mostly for the Nairobi and yes, I've also been able to provide mentorship. With just the currently ended National Global Water Initiative. That is a program owned by the Technical University of Denmark, DTU. It is, it was just about the Alistata from different countries and also countries in the Kenya. And it was also out of these that I was able to pull other youths in the other water companies and three-quarter of them, of the members are also from the NGO, the GUAR initiative that we just concluded. And I think after we just finished that, that's how we are able to attend the Iowa in Denmark. I'll probably admit a few of you, like our April vice chair. Yes. And yes, we planted trees, started washclubs. We visited the homeless as our CSR activity that is a corporate social responsibility. We usually participate in forums and just like the ended Nairobi International Trade Fair show and usually get a space as young water professionals to showcase our activities and introduce ourselves and our governor from Nairobi actually visited our stand and he promised to give us his support. So I'm actually planning to meet him by next week and that could be a good platform for us at least to see if we can get fundings for our activities that we can continue from where we have left. We've also provided mentorship in the universities and we are able to give them to give them easy access for internship programs in our company, especially those who are in the water sector. Or even those who are not because I've really tried to make this as flexible as possible because as I mentioned, people just thought it was about the engineers and technical people in the Iowa sector. So yes, we've tried to open so much and currently we are doing a campaign that is save the water drop. I think it's something that is affecting most countries right now, the global warming and the lack of rains. So it's a simple campaign that is just sensitizing our customers about the little treated water that they're getting into their taps. We educate them by just telling them first the process of where they get the water that is the sources and how it's treated until how it's distributed and how they get into their taps. So that way we just make them appreciate the whole procedure and give them the confidence of taking water from their taps because I think it's a, I don't know if it's a position for most of these countries like in Kenya. Kenyans, three quarter of them don't believe in taking tap water because they feel like it's not safe. So it's also one of the challenges that as a company we are going through, but as young water we are trying to really educate our customers and the public about the safety of our water and that it's 100% safe for consumption without boiling it first. So by the water, by the safety of the water which in Swahili is Okoa Tonella Magi is just telling them, hey please make wise use of the water that you're getting on your taps, through your taps rather sorry, by consuming it or cooking with it. So why don't you use it for your domestic house chores because that way you're making, you're not making much use of the water so it's basically a few, just a few tips like when you're brushing your teeth and remember to close your tap when you're brushing and then let it flow when you're rinsing your teeth I mean. When you're sharing, you know like those two, I wish I wish I'd shared on the slide, some of the artworks that I can share with you guys later. They're just flyers with small animations and how you can use water. Don't use a tap water for washing your car. Instead, use some recycled water to do the same instead of you know, like just use the consumption of water. That is tap, that is what the water is all about and we are also taking in the fat oils, FOG is the fat oils and grease that is basically how to dispose the fats oils and grease in your house so that we can stop dealing with blockages of the pipes at home. So those are the two currently and ongoing campaigns that I have been able in my regime to actually spearhead. Yes. I think I can share with you the tips if you'd like to later on and also for the FOGs. And yes, I think that's it for me now. As I mentioned lack of motivation due to inconsistency in funding and reliable support from the senior management staff, which I'm really hoping that we can change. We can change this once I meet the governor next week. By this it has made a lot of your motor professionals shy because they are doing papers. When they get invited to go and present their papers in abroad, they get declined because of lack of funds. Just before the meeting I was sharing with the team that we got our approval to attend the Iowa Congress in Rwanda, but unfortunately, we just got a circular that we can't attend because of the lack of funds so such things really make us go down a bit. We are criticising the young water professional. Everybody is just in for what's in for me, not volunteering without expecting anything in return. Yes, lessons I've drawn from being an Iowa member I would say, don't hold information like I've seen so many people do. Let others grow under your leadership, mentor them, teach them and support others. Volunteering comes with networking, which opens opportunities both socially and professionally. I have really gained so much under the volunteering in the Iowa world. I keep telling my peers the same. And lastly, don't have to be better than the boardroom, invite yourself, learn, identify the gap and then bridge it. I take pride in what I've done in communications in the Iowa world under the leadership and the mentorship that I've had in the past. I think that's it. Thank you. Yeah, thank you charity very much for your such a detailed description of your experience. And I believe being represented even in five counties, it's already like very good achievement, right? And on another hand, you still have a lot of young water professionals to involve like in all of the activities and to, you know, besides involving them also like to improve the country as well. Yeah, and now we will, I think, move to another speaker. It is the Dala defy representative of sorry chair of young water professionals of Morocco chapter. He works as a project director at South hydraulic in Morocco, and was in process improvement and construction management of project portfolio across the country. He graduated with masters in water resource engineering from University of Texas at hosting and he's passionate about construction and water advocacy. And today we are happy to hear from about activities review and achieve goals of your chapter. You're welcome. Well, we're pretty young this chapter compared to the two chapters. So my presentation is probably going to be a little brief first and the other ones. We're only a few months old. The rationale behind creation of our chapter is to really comes at a time where Morocco is heading that heading through absolute water scarcity by 2030 so there's a general awareness of the stakes of water issues in Morocco. It is the case for seniors but also for young younger people so our chapters has been an attempt to really address address the issue for young people and really give them a voice. I think that young people can also contribute to solving the issue, or at least to have their say. We have so we're a few months old our main focus has been on the LinkedIn or LinkedIn page as a way or platform to communicate and reach out to our young water professionals. And regularly about issues about Morocco, water problems in the region and nationally. We, we have attended a couple of conferences and spread the word about the chapter. An example is the attendance of the third international conference on water and climate in July, where we're presented by our vice chair. We also have security participation the annual meetings of the World Bank coming up this Monday in Marrakech. So we're always excited to spread the word about our activities and always reach out to more to other young members. Our main focus so far has has been on a series of webinars that we have started. So this has been our way of promoting knowledge and experience sharing. We've done a couple of the conflicts done one on on the canals underground canals by researcher with another one by by a researcher again on water wastewater treatment plants. And our approach is pretty much action oriented so we don't want to just do these experience sharing webinars but we also want to come up with the practical outputs and recommendations for people to use. So what we've been doing is coming up with articles and also recording the webinars to share with other people that can use them. We've come up with the example that we can see here the canals we've come up with a list of recommendations. Very practical and that we've published published an article about it. More of a white paper about it so that professionals but also researchers can go on the work reach out to the researchers interested. So we truly try to make it useful for people. Yeah so the webinars have been really really insightful for us and we look further to expand on those we are looking at another webinar for the Libyan floods with a way of like two speakers one from Libya and one from Morocco to discuss the consequence of the floods and the risks. So we have another one on finance so it's not only technical topics. It's also non technical governance to finance other, hopefully more broader topics. So yeah so we're always excited to share the knowledge with the young motor professionals. This was the other last webinar on wastewater treatment plants. This is just the link for the practical recommendations. So some of the challenges we've been facing so far. Well basically right now we're still three steering committee members full time jobs which are to expand on the impact so we're looking to hire more members as the development of following interaction and we have been pretty successful with that, especially through our LinkedIn page. We developed enough interesting messages from people asking about how they can get involved so we're excited to move on to the next phase of hiring people and hiring help to expand on the impact. We approached for the creation of the local association to reflect the need for in person events. We have started the process it takes some time but we're on it we're going to move on with that until we're able to host our first conference host workshops and we have many ideas to explore. Speaking of plants. The next slide. Well, before the next step benefits about being Iowa chapter so some of the some of the benefits made it for people looking to create a YP chapter. Some of the benefits we really enjoyed is is access to tons of resources online to the community the help of people like Isabella with Miller to really shed some light on what we do and help with the resources to support. This has been tremendously helpful. We've been sharing opportunities and really have an access to opportunities to participate in events and conferences so it has been a pretty exciting. We had few collaborations one with Canada we attended one of their events and but we're always looking, looking for other collaboration for further collaboration other chapters and I think this is one of the major benefits of YWP chapters is really the regional look in the water issues but also international one. Of course we enjoyed the Iowa legitimacy and support. This, this is there and this has been very useful to really gain traction and reach out to young people. It does speak to them when it's an Iowa entity so this has been very helpful. So some of some of the current plans and well short term and but also middle long term. We've, we have been looking into ways to promote networking, and also helping really people meet and share experiences so we're looking at a digital space for network events. Of course, as I said expanding on the webinar series, which was very insightful. Yeah, we also want to really promote the role of more professionals and the three cats helps the younger generation through for their orientation and future impact. Research studies in the like Morocco and region. And of course as I said we're working on the in person presence so we're, once we have that we're going to plan our first conference and rational development workshops and other such nice. That's it for me. Thank you. Thank you so much. I don't know for me it looks like your webinars were kind of quite advanced with some very interesting technologies and visualization so I believe you are working hard on that. And, yeah, and all of other activities what you're trying to do for young water professionals are impressing. So now moving to Q&A panel. Let me ask something from tower. I'm just wondering how about this initiative for recognition of 10 young water professionals of the year. I think, how do you think to do that like, what is your approach for that. It is very interesting and I believe it can be encouraging for them. Well, it would come up pretty organically I think we're going to reach out to people that would see very active in the community, whether on a national level of regional. So we want to really shed light on the work of these local regional leaders do. It could be our spontaneous initiative by reaching out to these individuals asking them to share the story with us and and their work so we want to promote their work but also give it could be a symbolic reward for even further if we can sponsor that. So, yeah, so that's the approach so far we can develop it further. Alright, thank you very much for your response and I encourage all of the participants to, if they have any questions to maybe raise the hand so we will allow you to use the microphone and speak up. Anyone is a volunteer with a question. Doctor and thank you the presenters for this wonderful message you've shared with us. My name is Muhimba Morris at Foreign Lab in Algeria, pursuing the mine master of science in water policy. I'd like to know from the presenters seems most of the challenging or the most challenging issue that cuts across all of the chapters is the issue of finance. I think there must be a strategy that must have been laid down to assure that financing is becoming is achieving. I will go from them, which criteria is now on board to close the gap the financing gap in the water sector, because it's like financing is an issue. How do you think this issue could be handled at domestic level before we do this on the international financing and funding. Then secondly, I'd like to know if I register as a member and then I look I reach the age of 35. Does it mean that I'm out of the game or I can still remain a member but when the age has kicked me out. Then lastly, I'd like to hear from you how basically engage the young professionals that are still in school like us. How best is there no opportunity that these chapters offer in terms of internship training like that. Thank you so much. Thank you very much for question mohinda maybe Abdul or charity can handle this question or you can divide it because there was like kind of complex one. Let me let me let me try I'll begin by answering the last question then I'll move backwards. So when it comes to offering internship opportunities for young water professionals. I will suggest we look at it from the perspective of recognition. Like I mentioned earlier in my presentation, we had a challenge of recognition. However, thanks to the governing and members that we have now who are working tirelessly to ensure that we get the necessary recognition. This is achieved for us as in Ghana chapter. Well, what we are going to do is for all organizations that we have relationship with to accept an element of internship as part of the program that we are going to do in doing so. It makes it very easy for us to implement. For instance, I work with the Ghana water company limited, not all members of young water professionals in Ghana. Our members are staff of Ghana water, some of them are in school, some of them are in different organizations. So once we have the government member and we have this agreement with this stakeholders, we can find an avenue for us to offer this internship opportunities for our members. And also on the issue of funding. I've, I've personally had a discussion with some of my executives, where we are looking at charging and some deals introducing the deals elements where members of young water professionals will be. However, what we want to be careful about is once money is being taken. We have to have regular programs so that members can see that their money's are being used to good use. Because the moment you start taking money and you don't make good use of it, that can even become a reason where members will not even join or leave the association. I'll leave the rest of the questions for my colleagues on the call to respond. Thank you. Yeah, sure. Thank you very much for your response. Maybe charity has something to add to the question of mojinder. Hi mojinder. Thank you for your questions. I think I will tackle about the, the member once you are 35 years and above. I have a policy in my chapter that once you have been an active member for over three years and extremely active member for that for the three years. We don't dispose you you automatically become a YWP mentor. So we don't kick you out of the groups or our email system. You're always in loop because you're a valued member to us. You have so much to learn from you. And one of the things that advocate for so much is mentorship so that we can be able to make others grow and knowledge sharing. So for us, no, we don't, we don't just dispose it 35 years and I'm actually almost 35 years. So no, we just get to you a role as a mentor for. Yeah, under the YWP. However, I think that Iowa should also be so clear about what happens once you're 35 years and you've been an active member for a certain period of time. Yeah, I think we kind of working on that what to do with further like this, let's say mid mid year professionals in between young professionals and you know senior ones. So yeah, thank you so much for your response to mojinda and for the questions as well. I think we will be moving continue our discussion after second panel but for now we will be moving to another panelist. And I'm happy to introduce our representative from South Africa. This organ for Sosimo his junior water engineer at Zutari South Africa. As well he is like national coordination lead in young water professionals, South Africa, he holds bachelor's degree in civil engineering in must master's degree in water quality engineering from University of Cape Town. So he's passionate about improving water infrastructure and technology in Africa. He believes joining young water professionals bring him closer to his goal. We have a different networks he will form and the different activities he will take part in. It sounds like very inspiring. And I know very soon after one month this chapter will have a conference. And we'll be happy to hear about conference journey to date and including lesson learned for any other chapters hoping to organize conference. Again, the floor is yours. Thanks, you just let me if you can hear me. Yes, I can hear you. Right. Thanks for the introduction and hi to everyone. I'll first go through an overview of my presentation. I'll first go through the conference history in South Africa of the way that we piece then moved to the general benefits of having a conference to why WPs. Then touch on the overview of the conference were currently organizing. Touch on the theme and the sub theme, then moved to the progress we we have made up till today. Then the lessons learned. I think that's well, maybe spend a minute or two or spend most of my time there and finally just introduce the organizing committee has been working quite hard to get us where we are right now. The next like this. So, the South African wide of rupees have been organizing conference for a decade now. The first was in 2010. And most of them have been have had over 200 delegates. We've had those one international conference that was in 2017 in Cape Town. And all this conferences are typically happening every other year. After 2019 was covered in 2020. So unfortunately, in 2021 we couldn't have a physical conference. And we decided in 2023 to get back to having a physical conference and that has been the main drive to organize this one. Next slide please. Most of you have been to conferences of organized a conference so you mostly know what the benefits are in the networking aspect. The opportunities to present your research or to learn about the research of your peers. The opportunities to develop soft skills and technical skills. And also having some form of accreditation, we get some CPD points. Those are points for professionals in South Africa, whenever we attend such conferences. So, all in all, it's always a good experience for young professionals and students to attend conferences. Move to the next slide please. Okay, and I'll touch a bit on the details of the conference. And for those who know South Africa is in Stellenbosch, it will happen roughly a month from now, the 7th to 10th of November. Initially when we planned the conference, we were expecting about 100 to 150 delegates, but we might have more. We had over 80 presentations and over 40 oral presentations. Okay, sorry about that. So we might be closer to the 200 number in my opinion. The conference will basically be three days or at least two and a half days. The first two days will be full of presentations and also presentations and three workshops, one technical and probably two non technical workshops. And the third day, which should be a half day, will basically be a technical tour in three different locations. One in a wastewater treatment works, one in a wine farm that treats its wastewater, and the third one in a water hub. And it will end with the Galatina as usual. Right I've read it already but the conference team is breaking silence. The reason I chose that theme is because as you will know, there are different width of vulnerabilities in different parts of the world, due to maybe climatic extremes or poor governance or old infrastructure or inadequate infrastructure and solutions to such problems require inputs from different disciplines from engineers from scientists from policy makers and so on and so forth. We realize that for most of the past years, these disciplines have been working in an isolated fashion. The aim of the conference is to target those young water professionals who have been trying to integrate different disciplines, hence the theme breaking silos. You can move to the next slide please. The conference broken into five sub teams from innovation technology to community participation, which is an important communities. The next one will be on climate change and water security. And another one on water governance and the final one around sanitation, water and health. Next slide please. Right at the moment, the progress that we've made is we've secured a venue already we've made the payments. We've got like two sponsors already our cost one so and the syllabus one so so we're full for that. Our technical tools are finalized with the locations agreed on and everything sorted out in terms of logistics. We've got our keynote speakers. The oral and verbal presentations all the abstracts have been reviewed and emails have been sent to those who were accepted and confirmations are being made right now and we have over 50 registrations already. So we're happy about that and move to the next place. Okay, I think this probably the most important slide for those who would like to organize conferences. Or the passion ones have been have been running these with the team. These are the few points that I think were the most important or the ones to really take into consideration when organizing conference. The process is being proactive and getting a team running as soon as possible. We decided to really go for the conference early this year around March or so, and it was very important for us to, to get a team, a team that will do the work, not just a team of people want to the team, the people who actually lead in the different subcommittees and the different tasks required so that was that was critical. The second is getting help from those with experience. I'd never organized or never chair the conference before, but a lot of people have chair conferences before so it was critical for me to call them email them and get some guidance from to know where the pitfalls are to know what to look out for and so on and so forth. The next is trusting the team. You can do everything alone cannot see it's impossible and hence you have to really understand that each person that joined the team wanted to join the team because they wanted to contribute or have an input so it's important for you to trust the team and let those who are needing different aspects in those aspects. My accomplishment doesn't really help in this case. The next point is around planning. So the first month or so my main task was having a plan from March till basically November to know exactly what we're going to do different subcommittees who are going to do their main milestones and roughly when we wanted those milestones to be completed to ensure that the conference was successful. Obviously that's that's very rough at the start but as you go as time goes by more inputs come through and make that plan a bit more solid. The next is about money to organize a conference or to organize a different conference you need money money come from sponsors typically. And you need to have a list of sponsors a very long list because a lot of them will not respond a lot of them will not respond out of 30 or 40 you might get one or two positive responses so have an exhaustive needs list. Once you might most potential sponsors and start contacting them as early as possible. The next points around traceability. And I believe that holds for every, every type of work you do, wherever you need continuity. In the previous conferences that we're organizing so we're not traceable so if I couldn't have access to the meeting minutes or to the different agenda points or things like that I wouldn't be able to our team wasn't going to be able to to perform as we're performing right now so what we have to do right now what we're doing is ensure that everything is traceable on our side so all our meetings have recorded all the meeting minutes are kept somewhere, all the different templates and everything we're using is saved such such that the next team that organize a conference has easy access to those and it facilities the way they plan their next conference. And finally it's about managing and tracking all your finances. That's you have to do it from the start to know if you can provide some. Discounts for some delegates or not, or if you can have a nice galadine or not. Or if you can have a better venue or not so you have to definitely manage and track your finances as you go by. Right. And this slide is just showing the whole that the team are working on this conference is. I'm Eugene the conference chair and it's correct and your recipe who's competing this piece right now. It was kept down who's the conference vice chair and so who's a technical subcommittee chair mk respond marketing communication. Committee chair and moment you let me send us exhibition and sponsorship subcommittee chair. If you want to get in contact or find us. You can hit us up on LinkedIn, young professional South Africa, Twitter at whether the BZ or your website where the BZ.org. Thanks. That's it from my side with me. Thank you again. Being myself a part of the organizing committee of conference I can feel you I can understand and confirm that is quite big deal to, or to manage everything even like, yeah, think about every inch part of that so let's say big congratulations to you guys for your work. Yeah, sharing experience with those who is planning to have this type of activities is also quite important. So thank you for sharing that with others. We will be moving to another East European country, sorry, is African country. It's Rwanda. I'm happy to introduce. She is chapter coordination of young water professionals at Rwanda, as well she is wash governance expert in IRC wash, and her work consists of driving IRC's capacity building agenda and lead that is centralized governance strengthening in Rwanda. She has degree in water policy and governance and bachelor's degree in civil engineering with specialization in water resource management. And yeah, I'm happy to give you the floor. I thank you very much. We can go ahead with the presentation I recognize that time is of the essence. Can you hear me very well just to confirm. Yeah, sure. We can hear you. I'm going to be introducing you. The Rwanda young water professional, which is also currently and I want chapter. And as they introduced me my name is Benini Shimmy Mugwaneza from Rwanda, and I am the current chapter coordinator. So, about our chapter then about chapter we are all composed of dedicated and enthusiastic and really passionate water environmental professionals. The reason why I'm emphasizing on that is that I really keep, you know, coming back on that. We make sure that we work with the people who are really into this, because it's time consuming it requires dedication it requires being passionate and actually willing to to work together with others. So this is the first really criteria to fit in our chapter. It was launched in 2012 by passionate back then young water professionals but currently seniors. In 2012, this picture was actually when it was launched, but it was also in partnership with the East African conference young water professional conference. So the Rwanda chapter was registered in Rwanda as a non government organization in 2019, and it became an Iowa branded chapter in 2023 in January this year. This is briefly about our background, we can move on with the slides please. Our mission is to work with the Rwanda water sector we want as young people to also contribute in addressing the issues that are in the sector, bringing our knowledge, bringing our expertise, bringing our time, bringing our dedication to solve the issues. And of course, while doing that we want to also empower all the young water professionals in various ways through knowledge sharing mentorship and offering a point of benchmark. We operate under specific areas of interest but you will see that they actually kind of bring together all the water related matters that at least we see in our country. There is water resources management, environmental management, water sanitation and hygiene, climate change resilience and adaptation. And the key activities that we do of course not limited to these we conduct networking and knowledge sharing events. We do capacity building through different ways and we do project development and implementation so networking and knowledge sharing is done through webinars. Each year we organize a knowledge sharing activity at the national level and that knowledge sharing activity is usually a conference. It was a web, I would say an online meeting back in during the COVID period, but we usually make sure that it becomes a big conference where we invite seniors in the water sector, leaders, and also invite young water professionals from those who are still in school, those who are in their early years of, you know, career internships, just starting jobs, and we bring our knowledge together. And it's always really, I would say a lot of energy that comes out from these from these yearly events, because that's when you see the members joining the young water professionals motivated and willing to actually participate in work. And to do capacity building, this is done through partnership with other organizations that I will maybe mention later. There are organizations in the water sector who are willing and who I have on their agenda to actually work with young water professionals. So we make sure that we leverage that and to work with them to actually organize various capacity building activities. Project development and implementation we have, we have the knowledge to do the projects because most of us have gone through the studies. And this is also done because it also emphasizes on the learning part. So we actually take on board projects that we implement of course with partnership with other organizations and deliver. Next slide please. So how we work. This is a, this is a structure that we are currently operating under we have the government, the governance board which is composed of key founding members of the chapter. These are more I would say that these are more like mentors of the chapter. These people have founded the chapter but now they are like in very high level positions in the country and the water sector other others consulting even abroad, working abroad but in the sector. So these are like our mentors that we go to for advices for for strategic planning. And under the governance board we have the operations and the business development have composed of operations manager business development leads and finance experts. Of course, since we do implementation of project we have we earn income. And then we make sure that there is compensation of the members who have contributed we have to pay taxes we have to make sure that we comply with all the finance requirements. We have operations operations that make sure that all the activities are well coordinated, and you have business development I talked about. I talked about a project implementation that but we have to actually look for business we have to look for projects to implement and we make sure that this is coordinated under the business development lead and of course that. This hub is of overseen by the I word, run that chapter coordinator, which is me. And, and also there is, I will say the across cutting hubs, which is the communications have that has to work with other have. And you have the capacity development and career guidance have cross cutting as well because this is the ultimate goal of the can be large. We have not water management have we have the climate resilience wash up, and we have the sustainable landscapes have these have bring together the previous, the topics that I previously mentioned, and these have actually help us to, you know, look for opportunities that are specific and actually they can dedicate their time and concentrate their efforts to a specific topic, rather than, you know, being all over the place. So these have identified projects potential projects potential opportunities to work together and collaborate with other organizations. They bring them on the table and they work with operations and chapter coordination have to actually take, take the decision to move forward. Each hub has an action plan on a daily basis that they develop and work with accordingly. And so far, the capacity development of young water professionals, fresh graduates. This is done under our capacity development have but also we work with partners as I emphasize in, we have partners in the country who are willing to work with young water professionals, like the, the, the, the, the, the, the impact of the kingdom of the Netherlands. We have IRC we have units for Randa we have many strong environment, and many more others. We currently have also a partnership with the in place with them with water companies. So there is always opportunities to collaborate and when we have knowledge sharing events organizations like the University of Randa and under the College of Science and Technologies who are already, you know, it dedicated to share knowledge, the global water partnership and the Randa water partnership. Those are the organizations that we have worked so far with to actually organize the yearly knowledge sharing events that I've talked about. These are the pictures of some of those. The first one is a training that was being delivered to fresh young graduates about to worship them strengthening. The second one is a yearly knowledge sharing event that we organized in partnership with the global water partnership in Randa. And the last one was a knowledge sharing event with University of Randa. Moving forward, please. Other key achievements. We also do advocacy and campaign, campaigns initiatives. This is something that I realized that we share with other chapters that have presented. We make sure that we go with the agenda of the country in the water and environmental sector and we contribute. This is an activity that we're doing of tree planting in partnership with the Ministry of Environment. And then we work with also other partners to make sure that we participate in other countries. In Randa we have a monthly day where a community cleaning day. And this is an opportunity that we usually use to actually contribute towards other water related activities that are needed. And we do tours in schools, you know, sometimes grad students in high school do not really know what it is about water. And some of us actually, you know, joined even the fields without really understanding, but we want them to actually understand what it is about and how they can join and how they can contribute. So we do tour in high schools to explain how they can actually contribute. So always a part of the knowledge sharing agenda of us. In project implementation, we have implemented quite a number of projects that we still implementing. And as you can see, this one, there are many projects that we have implemented, like for example, this one on natural best natural best solution for flood mitigation in informal settlement. This is a project that we have implemented in partnership with UNESCO. They basically, I would say, hires us to do the study and we delivered the final study. And you can see that all the projects actually fall under the different hubs that I highlighted. We have also implemented projects in partnership with the the World Resources Institute, the urban water resilience initiatives. These are studies, we go on the field, we do data collection, we produce documents and finding and we deliver. And currently we are working with the World Resources Institute again on the identification and scoping of priority urban water resilience projects for the city of Kigali and Los Angeles. Moving forward, please. Yes, so we are currently still implementing other projects. And but also, ultimately, we want, I would say that we have, we have been really focused for the past couple of years on building ourselves as a chapter as a random chapter. I personally joined the chapter in 2019 as an active member. And we are, we currently have 100 and and we have had 170, I would say 79 chapter members that we have of course those who have graduated from to the senior past. And when they are interested, they can actually join the board members. And then we keep in touch to towards the implemented. This is actually where we get partnerships from, you know, the seniors, we get in touch reconnect and then this is how we get partnerships and project implementation. We have also worked with chapters in the region to see how we can collaborate. And obviously, since we have been an Iowa branded chapter, we have seen that it's a good global network to be part of. This is, for example, being part of these calls where we can learn from other chapters. And we all know very well that we are going to be hosted, Randa is going to host the Iowa Congress, and this is a great opportunity for us. And being an Iowa branded chapter now we are proactively working with the Iowa Young Water Professionals to definitely contribute proactively. And of course, I talked about partnerships. And yes, please. I'm sorry. You have very really serious structure. I believe your chapter is very looks like very advanced and doing really great job but maybe we need to finish a bit we have someone more speaker. Sorry. This is the last slide. I've really pretty much covered everything that any questions is welcome. Thank you so much for your time. Yes, thank you very much for your presentation and we'll be shortly moving to another speaker because we're, we're like, you know, the time and our next speaker will be Serge Boshonga from Democratic Republic of Congo. He is an environmentalist green and temper and temper and water climate activist for Democratic Republic of Congo. And since 2016 he has been involved in several use activities and projects of on issues related to the presentation of water resources sanitation and fight against climate change. Today he will be sharing experience of DRC Congo Young Water Professionals chapter as a platform for exchange of experiences between professionals of water sanitation and environment in his country. Serge, can you please speak up. I think that Serge is having some issues with connection. Anyway, let's make you open his mic now let's see. Serge, can you hear us. All right. Yes, we can hear you. Can you please present. Thank you very much. As you've been I said my name is Serge Boshonga, and I'm the current chair of the Iowa Young Water Professionals DRC. Next slide please. So the Iowa Young Water Professionals chapter is a network of young Congolese under the age of 35 and who wish to develop their network, develop their careers and the development of the water sector in DRC. And our goal is to provide work and network in order of course to advance their careers in the water sector and gets connected internationally. So, some of our specific objectives are to create a platform for the exchange of experiences between the water sanitation, but also to create to provide career development and personal growth to young water professional raise awareness on issue related to water resources, sanitation and the fight against climate change, sharing the Iowa effort in reducing the impact of climate change and environmental degradation and lastly conduct public and private sanitation action for the improvement of. Serge, we are having some issues with your audio. Serge, since we are having some issues with your internet connection. I was saying, as long as Serge having some issues with internet it seems like his presentation will not be like, you know, heard good enough so I feel like we will just include this material in the, in the, you know, previous slides what we'll be sharing so everyone can can hear about that and we also have like very short time already. Yeah, I'm sorry about that but it seems like we will not be able to hear from him, I would like to but yeah unfortunately. Yes. Just quick question to our last panelist and overall like the audience, who is already like young water professionals like what gave you the most being a young water professional and a part of a chapter, just for we have maybe two three minutes to discuss this question. Anyone is willing to. Maybe. You again, would you like to step up. Just repeat the question, please. I was giving some kind of open question like what gave you the most to be a young water professionals and maybe in particular RWA one or being a part of a chapter, what do you think like on your personal view. What gave me the most being a while. Okay, what I'm understanding is what the, what have gained from being part of what a big chapter. And I think it's first. I think the main thing is the network of gained. It's a tremendous network in the water sector, nationally and internationally. And the second is probably organizational skills, especially when I'm organizing when I'm part of the organizing committee of this conference. Those are the two aspects are also. All right. Thank you very much anyone would like. I'm happy to, to, to answer that as well. Yes, this is Benin from Rwanda and what I gained from being part of the young water professional network is is career growth career growth because it was an opportunity to get mentors to learn how to do the work to learn the issues and how I can contribute. So basically the level that I am with my career today is thanks to being part of the network. Okay, that's, that's I think as well what I can agree to, because having like skills, whatever we Jane here right beside like our technical knowledge and I don't know other professional experience it's also give us some some opportunity for the opportunities for the career. So, anyone else from the audience would like to respond, maybe one volunteer, and then we'll be concluding. Yeah, it looks like no much volunteers. Hello everyone. Yes, yes. We can hear you. Yes, I was presenting myself. So my name is Fadela Galba. Yes. And I'm from Niger. Okay. Well, I'm present I'm representing a dedicated a dedicated group of individuals committed to addressing the critical waters challenges facing in Niger. So, as you know, the country is facing multiple water related issues. What make this situation even more promise, promising in the unwavering, unwavering enthusiasm and motivation among the youth in Niger to take action. And I would like to express my deep interest in being part of Iowa. We already have a Niger group of young people who are very interested in the water sector. So I was wondering like, how can we join. So, that one I think you can write to Isabella and she can share. Hi, please send me an email about it is and we can discuss I can support it during the process and I can send you all the information that you need to establish a chapter in our chapter in your country. Okay, thank you very much. Fadela for interest in your comments. So I think we will be concluding and let me just share some few announcement for the future events. Very soon like after few months in December we will have water and development congress and exhibition in Rwanda. And, yeah, as well there will be like emerging water leaders forum. Which will have the topic in hovering your water professionals to champion the course for water and climate resilient future. So I believe it will be great if the young professionals from the region will join and contribute to this forum. And also we have this account called to become a member. So, please use this opportunity. And yes, thank you very much for the panelists and also to the participants because you know, all of the contribution counts and I believe sharing our experience always can inspire someone or give some other like thoughts or like give some opportunities to other young professionals who for example never knew about this before, or like we're always somehow seeking for some new information and opportunities. So, yes, thank you very much and I was happy to have all of you here today and to commemorate this event. See you during the next, our original calls. Bye. Thank you everyone. Bye-bye.