APYS5/AWUF Pre-Work:
Capacity Building Offer for Young People
21–30 April | Virtual and in-person
Capacity Development Sessions for Youth Consultants
Youth consultants and rapporteurs will participate in targeted workshops on communications, event management, and safeguarding. These sessions will equip them with essential skills to lead confidently and collaboratively throughout APYS5 and AWUF2025.
13–15 May | Virtual
Capacity Development Sessions for Youth Consultants
APYS5 youth participants will engage in a curated learning journey prior to attending ADB HQ in person for APYS5/AWUF. This will be delivered through three virtual sessions:
a. Water literacy (PYWP led)
b. Engaging with development Banks and the ADB project cycle (ADB led) Green skills in the water sector (Plan led)
APYS5/AWUF Pre-Work:
Capacity Building Offer for Young People
27 May | 10:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m. | In-person
Youth Perspectives: Innovating ADB Water Solutions
Through a reverse Shark Tank format, APYS5 youth participants will be invited to respond to ADB water projects presented by ADB project officers. This dynamic exchange will enable youth to propose strategies for embedding meaningful youth engagement within project lifecycles—fostering a shared space for innovation, accountability, and knowledge transfer.
27 May | 12:00–1:00 p.m. | In-person
Mentoring Session
APYS5 youth participants will join sector professionals for a networking lunch, providing space to explore career trajectories in urban and water development. This session aims to cultivate mentorship connections and illuminate diverse pathways for youth to lead in water governance and sustainability.
27 May | 1:00–3:00 p.m. | In-person
Development of the ADB Action Agenda on Water and Youth
A youth-led process will drive the creation of a forward-looking agenda that outlines how young people envision their roles in the design, implementation, and promotion of water-related initiatives. The agenda will be sharpened through collaboration with decision-makers from ADB and DMCs to ensure the recommendations are actionable, grounded, and aligned with real-world development frameworks.
27 May | 1:00–3:00 p.m. | In-person
AWDO 2025 Unveiled: Youth Perspectives and Engagement in Water Security
In this forward-looking dialogue, youth participants will gain an exclusive preview of the Asian Water Development Outlook (AWDO) 2025—ADB’s flagship publication on water security in the Asia and the Pacific region. This session offers a platform for young leaders to critically engage with emerging findings and trends, and to contribute their perspectives on inclusive, resilient, and equitable water futures. By elevating youth voices within the AWDO framework, the session will explore how young people can co-create policy recommendations, shape knowledge products, and drive action at local and regional levels. This milestone event reinforces the role of youth as key partners in research, monitoring, and advocacy efforts linked to water security.
Youth Sessions at the ADB Water and Urban Development Forum, 27–30 May 2025
28–29 May | 12:30–1:30 p.m.
Drip & Dine: A lunch session featuring youth innovations in water
A lunch-hour session in the AWUF2025 Innovation Space featuring youth-led solutions in the water sector—spotlighting advocacy, creativity, and local impact.
29 May | 10:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
The Great Water Debate: Water Wars or Water Wins?
AWUF2025 participants will engage in a high-energy, thought-provoking debate that dives deep into the complexities of water management across rural and urban contexts. Through this interactive session, they will critically examine systemic issues—from aging infrastructure and climate impacts to clean water access and rising costs—while spotlighting the human right to water as a cornerstone of social equity. The session will challenge participants to explore the accountability of public institutions, private entities, and local communities in stewarding water resources responsibly. Designed to spark cross-cutting dialogue, this debate will amplify youth-driven insights and propose forward-thinking solutions.
29 May | 1:30–3:00 p.m.
Youth On the Front Line: Pitching Digital Innovations for a Livable Future
In this dynamic shark tank-style session, young innovators will pitch digital solutions tackling urban challenges—from mobility and housing to climate resilience and service delivery. The session will spotlight scalable innovations and highlight the role of youth in shaping livable, inclusive cities. A panel of experts will provide feedback, explore scale-up opportunities, and connect promising ideas to mentorship and support networks.
29 May | 5:45–8:00 p.m.
Wizz Quiz: A Trivia Night
A youth-led trivia night in partnership with ADB Sectors Group-Water and
Urban Development Team that wraps up the evening with fun, fast-paced learning
on water, urban development, and sustainability.
27 May–28 August
Fair Water? Exhibit at the Ayala Museum
An art-based exhibition unpacking global water security challenges through youth-centered visual storytelling—inviting reflection, dialogue, and advocacy.