UNESCO, The Water Agency, and a wide network of local partners successfully organized the UNESCO Water Resilience Challenge in 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024. These programs engaged young leaders across Southeast Asia in countries including Indonesia, Vietnam, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Timor-Leste. Each year brought new themes, deeper learning experiences, and powerful youth-led initiatives that support water resilience within UNESCO-designated sites. Read inspiring stories from each year’s challenge below!
UNESCO Water Resilience Challenge 2021
The UNESCO Water Resilience Challenge 2021 was a unique capacity-building program where 25 Young Water Leaders were selected and mentored to explore and tackle water-related issues through hands-on learning. Over four weeks, participants were guided through in-depth sessions on watershed management, environmental sustainability, and local conservation.
Sembalun District, located near the Rinjani–Lombok Biosphere Reserve and UNESCO Global Geopark in West Nusa Tenggara, served as the case study area. Participants explored key challenges affecting the area’s water systems and were tasked with developing original, practical, and locally implementable solutions aimed at long-term sustainability. Their proposals balanced innovation with real-world feasibility, contributing to efforts to preserve Sembalun as a vital part of the Lombok–Rinjani Biosphere Reserve. Learn more here.
Joining UWRC is one of the most impressive experience I got. Got a team with great people that I’ve never met in person before, start with strangers turns out into one of the best team that I ever had. We also met a great mentor that gave us a lot of knowledge. I learn a lot about water resilience and team work.
Fathiya Mufidah,
UWRC 2021 Participant
UNESCO Water Resilience Challenge 2022: Groundwater
The 2022 Challenge focused on increasing awareness and knowledge around Groundwater and Biosphere Reserves. Designed as a three-week virtual program followed by a one-week field trip, the experience combined expert-led seminars, leadership training, and site visits to Merapi-Merbabu-Menoreh Biosphere Reserve (Indonesia) and Dong Nai Biosphere Reserve (Vietnam).
Fifty participants from Indonesia and Vietnam formed interdisciplinary teams, each tasked with developing innovative public awareness campaigns about groundwater’s vital role in sustaining life within biosphere reserves. The most outstanding teams from each country were awarded and invited to present their solutions at UNESCO International Conferences. Learn more here.
No more words to say other than thank you very much. Thank you for colouring my life with many new experiences over the past month. I hope my team’s and other teams’ solutions could be of inspiration for my hometown, the Purwosari Village.
Mufti Leriansyah,
UWRC 2022 Participant
UNESCO Water Resilience Challenge 2023: Youth Action for Water
Building on the success of the previous year, the 2023 Challenge invited youth across Southeast Asia to become catalysts for change in the water sector. The online capacity-building program empowered participants to engage with local communities and experts, develop practical solutions, and gain skills in conservation and water sustainability.
This edition created a meaningful bridge between youth-led initiatives and the upcoming 10th World Water Forum (WWF 2024), encouraging young leaders to take active roles in shaping the water future of their regions. Participants not only developed solutions but also gained the tools and confidence to become advocates for water resilience within UNESCO sites. Learn more here.
Being part of the programme provided us with the chance to think beyond our usual perspectives, aiming for a more promising outcome.
Phal Panhanyta,
UWRC 2023 Participant
UNESCO Water Resilience Challenge 2024: Road to Bali
In 2024, the Challenge continued as the “Road to Bali”, with a focus on turning ideas into action. Building on the outcomes of 2023, winning teams were supported to bring their concepts to life at their chosen UNESCO-designated sites. With hands-on guidance from mentors, experts, and community leaders, participants refined and implemented impactful water projects on the ground.
This action-oriented program deepened youth engagement by encouraging local ownership, cross-learning, and direct collaboration with communities. All team projects were featured at the 10th World Water Forum 2024 in Bali, where selected participants presented their work to global delegates and shared their experiences on the international stage. Learn more here.
This has been the most engaging half-a-year I’ve had in a long time. Hundreds of hours were spent, but I’d do it all again if given the chance.
Kueh Tze Shuen,
UWRC 2024 Participant
Inspired by these stories? Your journey could be next. Don’t miss your chance to join the UNESCO Amazon Water Resilience Challenge 2025 – Ecuador edition.
