UNESCO-designated sites in Southeast Asia, home to ancient temples, pristine forests, historical cities, and unique natural ecosystems, are threatened by water-related issues that endanger their existence and future. Challenges like water scarcity, increased droughts and floods are straining these delicate environments and the communities that depend on them. Historical cities and ancient structures often face structural damage and erosion, while natural ecosystems may suffer from the destruction of habitats and loss of biodiversity.
Adding to these pressures, uncontrolled urbanisation, unsustainable food production, tourism and rapid population growth strain water availability and quality. Hence, balancing the preservation of UNESCO-designated sites with the demand for water resources requires innovative solutions and (cross-border) cooperation between communities, governments, universities and other stakeholders.
Youth Action for World Water Forum 2024
UNESCO Water Resilience Challenge 2023: Youth Action for Water is an online youth capacity-building program that invites youth in Southeast Asia to be the drivers of transformational change. Together with UNESCO, The Water Agency (TWA) is organising a program that guides youth to learn from experienced professionals and on-site practitioners and local communities, challenges them to contribute their ideas, test their solutions to promote conservation and sustainability, and eventually equip them to be the voices of future water leaders.
The program also aims to bridge between the youth activities and the World Water Forum 2024, empowering young leaders to contribute their innovative solutions and perspectives to become advocates and agents of change for water resilience within UNESCO-designated sites. We believe youth are able to demonstrate that they can make a concrete and tangible contribution to sustainable water management, i.e. to demonstrate that their original ideas and solutions have potential for actual implementation and deliver real impact on the ground.
Program Pillars
UNESCO Water Resilience Challenge 2023: Youth Action for Water program is built based on these three pillars:
- Designing for Implementation – The program equips the participants to implement their ideas and solutions in practice and how innovative concepts and solutions can be implemented on the ground. The program supports participants to move good ideas ‘from the desk to the field’.
- Regional Collaboration – Youth have a unique opportunity in Southeast Asia to show leadership through regional collaboration. In the program, we aim to maximize the opportunity for teams – across countries – to share knowledge, learn from each other and contribute to each other’s ideas.
- Harnessing Digital – If there is anything unique Youth offers to drive transformational change, it is their digital skills. The program encourages participants to incorporate ‘digital’ throughout the solution development, design and implementation process.
Main Activities
Trainings
Workshops
Expert Mentoring
Checkpoints
Solution Pitching
Trainings
Workshops
Expert Mentoring
Checkpoints
Solution Pitching
How to apply?
To participate in this program, please check the criteria and registration form in the link below. Application is open until 13 January 2024.
Collaborating Partners
Collaborating for Success: Our Trusted Project Partners
Lead Partners
Project Partners
Collaborating for Success: Our Trusted Project Partners
