Dr. Shaneica Lester has been selected, alongside 70 other delegates from over 50 countries, to participate in the 6th General Assembly of the World Youth Parliament for Water, themed "Water and Youth: Levers for Cooperation and Peace," as well as the 10th World Water Forum, which will be hosted from May 16-25, 2024, in Bali, Indonesia.

The World Youth Parliament for Water's goal is to ensure the meaningful participation of youth in addressing rising water risks in a changing climate, strengthening community action through trans-sectoral, transboundary, and intergenerational cooperation approaches (such as Blue Peace), and creating a society where barriers to youth engagement and contributions in the water arena have been overcome. This forum also provides an opportunity to develop advocacy messages, concrete initiatives, and synergies with other members, work with experts, discover different cultures, and foster new friendships. The World Youth Parliament for Water has historically played a key role in ensuring meaningful youth representation at the World Water Forums by holding General Assemblies alongside the forum and bringing substantial delegations of young participants to the forum itself.

Dr. Lester’s participation is led by the International Secretariat for Water and its main supporters, such as the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, the Artois-Picardie Water Agency, and many other partners (Wateraid, IISD, GWH). Her primary involvement in the 10th World Water Forum includes:

1. Moderating the “Cross-Cutting Session 3 on Climate-Water-Energy-Food-Ecology System of Systems”: “Water, energy, and food security, underpinned by healthy ecosystems, are crucial for sustainable long-term economic growth and human well-being. This session will explore successful planning and financial and governance models that will be shared through case studies across scales and regions.” This session aligns with her research specialization on issues of water security, environmental governance, freshwater ecosystem services, and nexus approaches to sustainable development, emphasizing the food-water-energy interlinkages in the Caribbean.

2. Presenting youth perspectives and priorities during several sessions and side events of the forum.

3. Co-moderating the synthesis session for sub-theme 1, "Water and Prosperity," at the end of the World Water Forum.

Dr. Shanecia Lester is a Geography Lecturer in the Department of Geography and Geology, Faculty of Science and Technology at The University of the West Indies, Mona. She has several years of experience exploring climate change impacts and water and food security issues across the Caribbean.

Photo Caption: Dr. Shanecia Lester. 

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