Description
In recent years, the role of youth and youth-led initiatives has garnered significant attention in transboundary water diplomacy discourses. Both international and national discourses have increasingly acknowledged youth as critical agents in establishing dialogue in sectors demanding multi-stakeholder engagement. In South Asia, where shared waters have increasingly become a source of contention rather than cooperation, youth-led forums have emerged as an effective platform in visibilising agency and building dialogue in areas otherwise characterised by conflict. Taking a cue from recent literature on relational water diplomacy, this study situates youth as critical agents of change in this transition and asks how meaningful changes in water diplomacy can be fostered through youth leadership. Drawing on some emerging youth-led initiatives, it demonstrates a range of sectors where youth participation can bridge local and diplomatic narratives and build cross border dialogue. The study also highlights some of the challenges youth forums face within the existing framework and provides a way forward.