A comprehensive analysis and years of collaboration with utility companies have revealed a concerning issue – the near absence of young employees' engagement. This gap, particularly evident in professional associations UPKP and UVRS, limits the water sector’s ability to initiate and implement innovative activities. To bridge this gap, the second phase of the Municipal Environmental Governance Project (MEG2) launched an initiative to organize young professionals from water utility companies in 30 partner local communities.

The initiative began by identifying young talents within utility companies who, through project activities, were encouraged to continuously enhance their knowledge and skills. So far, four workshops have been held, covering more than 20 topics related to water supply, wastewater drainage, and treatment. Over 40 young professionals have been brought together in a joint network, laying the groundwork for further professional development and knowledge exchange.

The results of these efforts became visible at the beginning of 2025, when, with the support of the MEG2 project, subcommittees of young professionals were established within both entity-level professional associations – in the Federation of BiH and Republika Srpska. These subcommittees bring together motivated young professionals committed to improving utility and water services, collaborating with technical universities, and engaging actively with the public.

Petar Topić, head of the young professionals’ subcommittee within UPKP in the Federation of BiH, emphasizes:
"The establishment of the young professionals' subcommittee within UPKP in the Federation of BiH marks a significant step toward a sustainable future for utility and water companies. Through the MEG project, we easily identified intelligent and ambitious young colleagues who generously share their experiences, and behind these experiences are outstanding results. Our goal is to retain young professionals in BiH because, without them, there is no future."

A similar enthusiasm is shared by Nikolina Majdanac, head of the young professionals’ subcommittee within the Republika Srpska Water Utility Association:

"Organizing an association of young professionals in water utilities across Republika Srpska is crucial for strengthening our sector and empowering new generations of engineers. Through this platform, young professionals have the opportunity to exchange knowledge and experiences and work together on innovative solutions. This collaboration, especially with experienced managers, is key to the further development and modernization of our sector."

Building on this successful momentum, the MEG2 project—jointly funded by the Government of Switzerland, Sweden, the Government of the Czech Republic, and the European Union—plans to launch the Water Academy. This platform will provide continuous training and development of key competencies for young professionals in the water services sector. The academy will offer new opportunities for professional growth and innovation in the utility industry, ensuring the sector’s long-term stability and progress under challenging conditions. This enthusiastic movement of young professionals represents a new generation poised to take the lead in the utility and water sector, bringing fresh ideas and the energy needed for modernization and sustainable service development across the region.