Nigeria: COP31 - African Youths Map Water Challenges in 51 Countries, Seek Greater Role in Policy Decisions

What the report says

An African youth-led research effort is documenting water insecurity across the continent and pressing for a larger role for young people in climate and water policy. The project, the African Youth Water and Climate Engagement Initiative, is being led by the Green Africa Youth Organisation (GAYO) with support from the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF), according to Premium Times reporting published through AllAfrica. It has reached 51 African countries, with more than 1,200 young people surveyed and more than 900 others consulted across five regions.

GAYO said the work is intended to capture how water shortages and unreliable supply affect communities, especially young people, and to highlight solutions already being developed locally. The organization plans to present its findings at the UN Water Conference in Abu Dhabi in December, and it is also using the timing of the 31st UN Climate Change Conference, or COP31, in Antalya, Türkiye, to push for policy attention.

The article places the initiative against broader water-access gaps across Africa. It cites a 2025 WHO/UNICEF report saying safely managed drinking water remained limited in sub-Saharan Africa, with wider rural-urban disparities. For Nigeria, the story references the 2024 Demographic and Health Survey, which found that 71% of people had at least basic drinking water services, but only 38% of households had water on their premises.

CIFF said it wants young people’s experiences and solutions reflected in policymaking, while a Lagos state official described ongoing rehabilitation of water infrastructure and partnerships to improve supply. The reporting suggests the initiative’s impact will depend on whether the gathered evidence leads to funding and practical implementation.