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How can we solve the water and sanitation crisis?

World Water Day is a time to reflect and act on the critical importance of water and the challenges we face in managing this precious resource sustainably. Access to clean water and sanitation facilities is a fundamental human right, yet 2.2 billion people lack access to safe drinking water, and 4.2 billion people lack access to safely managed sanitation services. The consequences are devastating, waterborne diseases, lost productivity, and limited opportunities for education and economic growth.

The good news is that we have the tools and technology to solve this crisis. The key is to accelerate change and make it happen faster.

As part of the Kofi Annan Changemakers initiative, we interviewed Afolayan Juwon Samuel, Kofi Annan Changemaker 2022 and Chapter Facilitator for the World Youth Parliament for Water, to get his insights on accelerating the change to solve the water and sanitation crisis.

Afolayan Juwon Samuel

Afolayan Juwon Samuel

Who is Afolayan Juwon Samuel and what is he doing to help solve the water and sanitation crisis?

Afolayan is a mobiliser and educator for SDG6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), targeting Young Professionals (YWPs) and Entrepreneurs (YWEs) in the water, sanitation, and hygiene sector (WASH). Afolayan is the chapter facilitator for the World Youth Parliament for Water (WYPW), a youth-led organisation advocating for youth inclusion in water processes.

Afolayan facilitates the creation of youth-led water chapters, networks for young water professionals, educational materials for water actors, and platforms for water entrepreneurs. His goal is to create an information-driven community where youth, indigenous people, and the demographics affected by water realities can utilise their knowledge and skills instead of depending solely on external interventions.

Afolayan deploys an information-based approach to drive water sustainability, especially amongst indigenous people, local communities, and youths of African descent. He recently launched an initiative to identify indigenous innovations that have translational potential in addressing water, sanitation, and hygiene problems within the local communities, then creating the platforms where these innovations could be exhibited and supported.

2.2 billion people lack access to safe drinking water, and 4.2 billion people lack access to safely managed sanitation services

Afolayan’s principal project is an intergenerational dialogue and capacity development programme that has the participation of over 100 African youths selected across the continent’s cardinals.

Through this project, Afolayan and his team have redefined the mechanisms of WASH response in African communities and proposed models for the digitisation of water response, especially leveraging the experience of participating water professionals. The programme also established the intersectional relevance of water and how water resources are coupled to the different developmental indices.

A main part of the programme is an online education platform, freely accessible to youths in the water sector. The platform is set up to equip youths with the information and education needed for their initiatives as local actors in the WASH sector. Beyond Africa, Afolayan leads the team responsible for creating a water parliament for youth at the WYPW, and they currently have over 40 chapters across the world.

Test your water knowledge!

Encouraging businesses and corporations to take responsibility

Today, scores of businesses and sectors are facing substantial risks in direct operation or their value chains that are related to water availability, and this is expected to increase with increasing water stress creating huge risks around physical, regulatory, and economic aspects of such industries. Afolayan emphasizes the need for improved water system assessment and infrastructure maintenance to address water wastage through leakages, routine assessment of industrial production processes to reduce contamination of surface and ground waters, and the extension of recycling processes to reduce water usage and toxic by-products generated from production processes. He also encourages the treatment and reuse of industrial resources, such as wastewater, which can be done at a low cost. These are critical steps towards ensuring that businesses and corporations are accountable for their water usage and its impact on the environment.

Ensuring access to clean and safe water for future generations

Looking to the future, Afolayan stresses that investing in critical water infrastructure at all levels is crucial to ensure that future generations have access to clean and safe water. At the WYPW, they recommend exploring new innovations to ensure sustainability in water management systems, such as rainwater harvesting, wastewater treatment and reuse, and the adoption of efficient water conservation systems that can be easily taught to children.

The good news is that we have the tools and technology to solve this crisis. The key is to accelerate change and make it happen faster.

Afolayan also highlights the need for proper education and awareness about water sanitation and hygiene facilities, which can be as simple as tracking water bills and programmed water usage systems. He believes that collaboration between youths and stakeholders must increase, as young people will be a core component of the future. Simple actions like tracking water bills and programmed water usage systems can also raise awareness and promote proper education towards the use of water sanitation and hygiene facilities. By taking action today, we can ensure that future generations have access to the critical resource of clean and safe water.

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An urgent need to solve the water and sanitation crisis

As we observe World Water Day on the 22nd of March, it is important to reflect on the urgent need to solve the water and sanitation crisis facing billions of people around the world. The lack of access to clean water and sanitation facilities has devastating consequences, and it is our collective responsibility to accelerate change and make a positive impact.

We are encouraged by the innovative approaches and actions of young changemakers like Afolayan, who are leading the way in advocating for youth inclusion in water processes and promoting sustainable water management practices. Investing in critical water infrastructure, promoting education and awareness, and encouraging businesses to take responsibility for their water usage are all critical steps towards ensuring access to clean and safe water for future generations.

By working together, we can create a better, more sustainable future for all.

Discover the UN Water Action Agenda