2027–2028 IWA & Grundfos Youth Action for SDG 6 Fellowship

<p>Young water professionals who are developing innovative solutions to water challenges have an opportunity to strengthen their work through the <strong>2027–2028 IWA &amp; Grundfos Youth Action for SDG 6 Fellowship</strong>. The programme is designed to support young professionals who are working to improve water management and address challenges connected to Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6), which focuses on ensuring the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.</p> <p>Applications are now open for the fellowship’s third cohort. The programme will bring together young water professionals aged 18–35 who are developing an innovation, solution, or new approach to a water-related challenge. Through capacity development, peer learning, engagement with experts, professional networks, and international events, selected Fellows will have opportunities to develop their ideas and strengthen their ability to contribute to progress in the water sector.</p> <p>The fellowship places particular emphasis on increasing the uptake of technology and innovation in the water sector. This makes it relevant to emerging professionals who are not only identifying water-related problems but are also working on practical approaches that could help solve them.</p> <p><strong>Application deadline: 5 November 2026.</strong></p> <h2>About the IWA &amp; Grundfos Youth Action for SDG 6 Fellowship</h2> <p>The IWA &amp; Grundfos Youth Action for SDG 6 Fellowship is a development programme intended to help young water professionals advance innovative approaches to water challenges. It connects emerging professionals with opportunities to learn, exchange ideas, build relationships, and engage with people and organisations working across the water sector.</p> <p>The programme is associated with the International Water Association (IWA) and Grundfos. Its focus on youth action reflects the importance of involving the next generation of water professionals in developing and implementing solutions that support sustainable water management.</p> <p>Water challenges vary widely across communities and regions. They can involve access to safe water, sanitation, efficient water use, water quality, infrastructure, service delivery, resource management, and the effects of climate change. Addressing these issues requires a combination of technical knowledge, practical experience, innovation, collaboration, and an understanding of local needs.</p> <p>By supporting young professionals who are already developing solutions, the fellowship aims to help promising ideas progress through learning, professional engagement, and connections with the wider water community.</p> <h2>What Is the Purpose of the Fellowship?</h2> <p>The central purpose of the fellowship is to support young water professionals who are working on innovations or new approaches to water challenges, with a particular emphasis on increasing the adoption of technology and innovation.</p> <p>Developing a promising idea is only one part of addressing a water challenge. For a solution to have a meaningful effect, it may also need to be tested, adapted to local circumstances, understood by the people who will use it, and adopted by institutions, service providers, communities, or other stakeholders.</p> <p>The fellowship&#8217;s focus on uptake is therefore important. It encourages attention not only to what a technology or innovation can do, but also to how it can be introduced, accepted, and used in practice.</p> <p>For example, a young professional might be developing a digital approach to monitoring water systems, a method for improving water-use efficiency, a practical tool for water-quality management, or a new approach to delivering water services. These are illustrative examples rather than a confirmed list of eligible project types. Applicants should use the official guidelines to determine whether their particular innovation meets the programme&#8217;s requirements.</p> <p>The fellowship&#8217;s two-year structure offers selected participants time to learn, engage with peers and experts, and develop their professional capabilities while advancing their work.</p> <h2>Who Is the Fellowship Designed to Support?</h2> <p>The 2027–2028 fellowship is intended for <strong>young water professionals aged 18–35</strong> who are developing an innovation, solution, or new approach to a water challenge.</p> <p>The announcement&#8217;s focus on people who are actively developing solutions suggests that applicants should be ready to explain the challenge they are addressing and the idea or approach they want to advance. Applicants may wish to prepare a clear description of their work, its intended users or beneficiaries, and how it could contribute to better outcomes in the water sector.</p> <p>Potential applicants should consider the following questions when assessing whether their work aligns with the fellowship&#8217;s focus:</p> <ul> <li>What water-related challenge is the innovation or solution intended to address?</li> <li>Who experiences the challenge, and why does it matter?</li> <li>What is new or different about the proposed approach?</li> <li>How could technology or innovation help improve the situation?</li> <li>What would encourage relevant stakeholders to adopt or use the solution?</li> <li>What knowledge, professional connections, or capacity development would help advance the work?</li> </ul> <p>These questions are preparation prompts, not a substitute for the fellowship&#8217;s official eligibility criteria. Applicants should confirm the complete requirements, application materials, and selection process through the official application page.</p> <h2>Key Benefits of the IWA &amp; Grundfos Youth Action for SDG 6 Fellowship</h2> <p>Selected Fellows will participate in a two-year programme featuring capacity development, peer learning, engagement with water-sector experts and networks, and international events. These opportunities are intended to strengthen participants&#8217; professional development and support their contribution to water-related innovation.</p> <h3>1. Capacity Development</h3> <p>Capacity development is an important part of the fellowship. It can help participants strengthen the knowledge and capabilities needed to develop and advance solutions to water challenges.</p> <p>For young professionals, developing an innovation often involves more than technical work. It may require stronger project planning, communication, collaboration, problem-solving, and stakeholder engagement. Capacity development can help participants identify gaps in their knowledge and build skills that support their work.</p> <p>Fellows should be prepared to engage actively with the programme and consider how they can apply what they learn to their own projects or professional activities.</p> <h3>2. Peer Learning and Knowledge Exchange</h3> <p>The fellowship will provide opportunities for peer learning, allowing participants to exchange experiences and ideas with other young water professionals.</p> <p>Peer learning is particularly valuable in a sector where challenges are often connected but differ across locations. Professionals working on water access, water quality, sanitation, resource efficiency, and infrastructure may encounter different barriers, yet their experiences can offer useful lessons for one another.</p> <p>Through knowledge exchange, Fellows can discuss approaches to problem-solving, reflect on implementation challenges, and learn from the experiences of people working in different contexts. These exchanges may also help participants identify opportunities for collaboration.</p> <h3>3. Engagement with Water-Sector Experts</h3> <p>Selected Fellows will have opportunities to engage with experts working in the water sector. This can help young professionals learn from people with relevant technical knowledge and practical experience.</p> <p>Expert engagement may be particularly useful when a project requires guidance on implementation, technology adoption, partnerships, or the broader conditions needed to make a solution useful and sustainable.</p> <p>Applicants should view this as an opportunity to strengthen their thinking, ask informed questions, and learn how their ideas might be developed further. The announcement confirms engagement with water-sector experts but does not specify a guaranteed individual mentor or a particular mentoring arrangement.</p> <h3>4. Access to Professional Networks</h3> <p>The programme will also connect Fellows with water-sector networks. Professional connections can help emerging practitioners exchange information, discover different approaches to shared problems, and build relationships with people working across the industry.</p> <p>For young professionals, building a strong network can be an important part of long-term career development. Connections with fellow innovators and established water-sector practitioners may also help participants better understand the sector, identify potential areas of collaboration, and learn about emerging priorities.</p> <p>Applicants should consider how they would use the fellowship&#8217;s networking opportunities to advance their work and contribute to the wider water community.</p> <h3>5. Participation in International Events</h3> <p>The fellowship includes engagement in international events, giving selected participants opportunities to take part in broader discussions about water-related challenges and solutions.</p> <p>International events can bring together professionals from different disciplines and regions, creating opportunities to exchange knowledge and learn about approaches being developed elsewhere. For Fellows, such engagement can help place their own work within wider conversations about sustainable water management and innovation.</p> <p>The announcement identifies participation in international events as part of the programme, although it does not provide a complete list of events or specify travel funding and other logistical arrangements. Applicants should check the official fellowship details for further information.</p> <h3>6. Participation in the 2028 IWA World Water Congress &amp; Exhibition in Malaysia</h3> <p>A key milestone of the fellowship is participation in the <strong>2028 IWA World Water Congress &amp; Exhibition in Malaysia</strong>.</p> <p>The event will provide a major international setting for Fellows to engage with the wider water community. It can offer an opportunity to learn about water-sector developments, exchange perspectives, and connect their work with broader discussions on innovation and sustainable water management.</p> <p>For young professionals developing solutions, participation in an international water-sector event can help expand their understanding of current challenges and emerging approaches. It may also provide opportunities to communicate their experiences and learn from the work of others.</p> <p>The announcement identifies participation in the 2028 event as the programme&#8217;s culmination. Applicants should consult the official fellowship page for details on the form of participation and any associated arrangements.</p> <h2>Why the Fellowship&#8217;s Focus on Technology and Innovation Matters</h2> <p>Water challenges require solutions that are technically appropriate, practical to implement, and capable of being adopted by the people and organisations that need them. Technology can support this work, but an innovation&#8217;s impact depends partly on whether it can be used effectively in real-world conditions.</p> <p>The fellowship&#8217;s focus on increasing the uptake of technology and innovation highlights the importance of moving beyond the development of an idea to considering how it can be put into practice.</p> <p>For example, a water-related innovation may offer a promising technical approach but still face barriers such as limited resources, a lack of awareness, operational difficulties, infrastructure constraints, or challenges in gaining the trust of potential users. Understanding these barriers can be as important as developing the innovation itself.</p> <p>Young professionals can contribute by combining technical skills with an understanding of the communities, institutions, and systems involved in water management. They can also help identify where existing methods could be improved and how new approaches might respond to unmet needs.</p> <p>The fellowship&#8217;s emphasis on professional learning and engagement with water-sector networks is relevant to this wider challenge. Developing effective solutions often benefits from collaboration among technical specialists, service providers, researchers, decision-makers, community representatives, and other stakeholders.</p> <h2>How to Prepare a Strong Application</h2> <p>Young water professionals interested in applying should read the official application guidance carefully and prepare their materials before the deadline. Although the supplied announcement does not provide a detailed application checklist, the following steps can help applicants organise their thinking.</p> <h3>Step 1: Clearly Explain the Water Challenge</h3> <p>Begin by identifying the specific problem your innovation or solution is intended to address. Explain the context in which the challenge occurs, who is affected, and why the issue deserves attention.</p> <p>A focused explanation can help reviewers understand the purpose of the work and its relevance to the water sector.</p> <h3>Step 2: Describe Your Innovation or Proposed Approach</h3> <p>Explain what you are developing, how it is intended to work, and what makes it different from existing approaches. If your idea is still in development, be clear about its current stage and what you are trying to achieve.</p> <p>Do not exaggerate the progress or impact of a project. Instead, provide an accurate account of the work completed so far and the next steps you hope to take.</p> <h3>Step 3: Explain the Potential for Practical Adoption</h3> <p>Because the fellowship specifically emphasises increasing the uptake of technology and innovation, applicants should consider how their solution could be used in practice.</p> <p>Where relevant, describe who might use the solution, what barriers to adoption may exist, and what could help make it more accessible or effective. If you have already tested the approach or received feedback from potential users, explain this accurately and provide evidence where appropriate.</p> <h3>Step 4: Identify the Value of the Fellowship</h3> <p>Think about the skills, knowledge, expert engagement, and professional connections that could help advance your work. Explain why participating in a two-year programme would be useful at this stage of your professional development.</p> <p>Applicants should connect their objectives to the fellowship&#8217;s stated activities rather than relying on general statements about wanting international exposure.</p> <h3>Step 5: Follow the Official Application Instructions</h3> <p>Use the official application page to confirm all eligibility conditions, required documents, submission procedures, and selection criteria. The announcement supplied here does not specify the complete list of required materials, so applicants should not assume that a particular document or qualification is mandatory unless the official guidance confirms it.</p> <h3>Step 6: Submit Before the Deadline</h3> <p>The application deadline is <strong>5 November 2026</strong>. Applicants should aim to complete their submissions early enough to review their information, check for missing materials, and resolve any technical difficulties.</p> <p>The official application page should be treated as the authoritative source for the closing time, time zone, and any changes to the application process.</p> <h2>Programme Duration and Key Dates</h2> <p>The fellowship is structured around a two-year period for the 2027–2028 cohort.</p> <table> <tbody> <tr> <th>Programme detail</th> <th>Information</th> </tr> <tr> <td>Fellowship</td> <td>IWA &amp; Grundfos Youth Action for SDG 6 Fellowship</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Cohort</td> <td>Third cohort</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Target age group</td> <td>Young water professionals aged 18–35</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Programme duration</td> <td>Two years</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Main focus</td> <td>Developing solutions to water challenges and increasing the uptake of technology and innovation</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Programme activities</td> <td>Capacity development, peer learning, engagement with experts and networks, and international events</td> </tr> <tr> <td>International milestone</td> <td>2028 IWA World Water Congress &amp; Exhibition in Malaysia</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Application deadline</td> <td>5 November 2026</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Application information</td> <td><a href="https://www.iwa-network.org/iwa-grundfos-youth-fellowship" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://lnkd.in/etC8i3-y</a></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <h2>Frequently Asked Questions</h2> <h3>What is the IWA &amp; Grundfos Youth Action for SDG 6 Fellowship?</h3> <p>It is a fellowship programme for young water professionals who are developing innovations, solutions, or new approaches to water challenges. The programme supports their development through capacity building, peer learning, engagement with experts and networks, and international events.</p> <h3>Who can apply?</h3> <p>The announcement identifies young water professionals aged 18–35 who are developing a solution, innovation, or new approach to a water challenge as the intended participants. Applicants must check the official guidelines for the complete eligibility criteria.</p> <h3>What is the fellowship&#8217;s main area of focus?</h3> <p>The programme focuses on water challenges, with particular attention to increasing the uptake of technology and innovation in the water sector.</p> <h3>How long does the fellowship last?</h3> <p>The programme runs over two years for the 2027–2028 cohort.</p> <h3>What activities will selected Fellows take part in?</h3> <p>Fellows will participate in capacity development, peer learning, engagement with water-sector experts and networks, and international events. The programme culminates in participation at the 2028 IWA World Water Congress &amp; Exhibition in Malaysia.</p> <h3>When is the application deadline?</h3> <p>Applications close on <strong>5 November 2026</strong>. Applicants should confirm the exact closing time and time zone on the official application page.</p> <h3>Where can interested applicants find more information and apply?</h3> <p>Applicants can access further information and the application process through the following link:</p> <p><a href="https://www.iwa-network.org/iwa-grundfos-youth-fellowship" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://lnkd.in/etC8i3-y</a></p> <p>For more fellowship programs visit OFY website; <a href="https://opportunitiesforyouth.org/category/fellowship/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://opportunitiesforyouth.org/category/fellowship/</a></p> <h2>Conclusion</h2> <p>The 2027–2028 IWA &amp; Grundfos Youth Action for SDG 6 Fellowship offers young water professionals an opportunity to develop their capabilities while advancing innovative responses to water challenges. Through two years of capacity development, peer learning, engagement with experts and professional networks, and participation in international events, the programme aims to support emerging professionals working to improve the uptake of technology and innovation in the water sector.</p> <p>For professionals aged 18–35 who are developing a water-related solution, the fellowship may provide a valuable setting in which to strengthen their ideas, learn from others, and connect their work with the wider water community. Those interested should review the official requirements carefully, prepare an accurate account of their innovation and goals, and submit their applications before <strong>5 November 2026</strong>.</p> <p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://opportunitiesforyouth.org/2026/10/13/call-for-applications-fellowship-in-the-water-sector/">2027–2028 IWA &#038; Grundfos Youth Action for SDG 6 Fellowship</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://opportunitiesforyouth.org">Opportunities for Youth</a>.</p>