Tim Rotteveel represented Wavemakers United Foundation at the UN High-Level Preparatory Meetings in preparation for the UN Water Conference 2026, following his participation in the Youth Interactive Days, which helped shape the discussions. He also joined the stakeholder meeting, which emphasized inclusive governance and the need for concrete, actionable outcomes leading up to 2026.
As Dutch Special Envoy for Water Meike van Ginneken stated:
“Water is the problem, but we can make it a solution.”
The Youth Interactive Days serve as preparation for the high-level meetings, aiming to align youth voices around SDG6 and prepare participants collectively for active participation in the UN Water Conference later this year, co-organized by Senegal and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
During Interactive Dialogue 5: Water in Multilateral Processes, Tim called on behalf of Wavemakers to integrate youth structurally into decision-making and implementation, beyond one-off participation at the conference itself.
Youth engagement should never be reduced to tokenism; instead, young people must be meaningfully involved in shaping solutions and policies — moving from participation to co-creation.
With UNWC 2026, 2028, and the Water Agenda 2030 ahead, collaboration and action will be essential. In the months leading up to the conference, Wavemakers United Foundation will focus on structurally placing youth on the agenda and ensuring their active role in follow-up and implementation.