Edit 9 September: Please note that the deadline for applying for these internships was 8 September 2019, and we are therefore no longer accepting submissions. Thank you to all who applied, successful applicants will be contacted.

12 August marks International Youth Day - the 2019 theme is “transforming education”, highlighting efforts to make education more relevant, equitable and inclusive for all youth. GWP launched its Youth Engagement Strategy in 2015 and has since then been actively pursuing various youth initiatives. Coinciding with International Youth Day, GWP's new Youth Engagement Specialist, Rianna Gonzales, takes up her new position in the GWP secretariat in Stockholm, Sweden. She describes the youth sector as “an explosion of energy and hope."

The Summer School "When the stakes are high: Water Engineering and Global Diplomacy for Sustainable Cities. Decentralized Sanitation, Recycling and Zero-waste concepts" took place on 18.-28. June 2019 in Piran, Slovenia.

The GWP Steering Committee met at the global GWP secretariat in Stockholm, Sweden, on 11-13 June to discuss GWP's new strategy, governance reform, and knowledge and learning. The Committee acts as a Board of Directors and meets twice a year. While here, a few members shared stories on where they’ve seen water resources management work well for development.

We invite you to read the draft strategy and share your thoughts. Comments will be considered and incorporated into the final version of the strategy document, which will be launched in July 2019. The consultation period runs from 6-20 May 2019.

The regional organization Global Water Partnership – Mediterranean (GWP-Med | www.gwpmed.org) and the Energy and Water Agency of Malta (EWA| www.energywateragency.gov.mt) are issuing a call for proposals for college and university students and newly graduates.

World Water Day (WWD) is commemorated on 22 March every year. This year’s theme was “Leaving no one behind”. GWP and its Partners worldwide supported the theme by arranging a wide range of activities. A few of the events are highlighted here – with more photos and quotes for the day available on GWP’s Instagram account.

On 8 March 2019: International Women’s Day falls on 8 March with this year’s theme “Think equal, build smart, innovate for change” which focuses on innovative ways in which individuals can advance gender equality and the empowerment of women, particularly in the areas of access to public services, social protection systems and sustainable infrastructure. Transformations, integrated approaches and new solutions are necessary particularly for advancing gender equality and empowering women on the journey to achieve the ambitious Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In other words, “business as usual” will not be sufficient and should put forward innovative approaches that removes structural barriers and ensures no woman and no girl is left behind.