The Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have formalized a strategic partnership aimed at strengthening capacity-building for inclusive and sustainable urban water and sanitation services. This milestone was marked by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) at the Asia Water and Urban Forum (AWUF) 2025 on May 30 in Manila, witnessed by over 300 delegates from across Asia and the Pacific. The MOU was signed by Dr. Pai-Chi Li, President of AIT, and Mr. Norio Saito, ADB’s Senior Director for Water and Urban Development, reflecting a shared commitment to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation for All). This new collaboration underscores the critical role that academic institutions can play in solving real-world development challenges.
The ADB Water and Urban Development Forum 2025 (AWUF2025) is a flagship knowledge sharing event of the ADB taking place in-person from 26-30 May 2025 at the ADB Headquarters in Manila, Philippines. Held under the theme “Building Better Futures: Harnessing Innovation for Efficiency, Equity, and Inclusivity,” AWUF 2025 provided the ideal backdrop for launching this initiative. The AIT–ADB collaboration is designed to unlock academic expertise in areas such as applied research, technology innovation, and professional training, directly contributing to water and sanitation improvements in ADB’s member countries. This partnership will focus on: (1) Capacity-building programs for urban water and sanitation, (2) Applied research and innovation to support policy and operational improvements, (3) Knowledge exchange between academia, development practitioners, and government stakeholders.
In a show of collective commitment, we extended special gratitude to Dr. Roshan Raj Shrestha of the Gates Foundation, as well as to Mr. Norio Saito, Mr. Satoshi Ishii, and Mr. Jitendra Kumar Singh from the ADB for their unwavering support of this initiative. The leadership of Professor Pai-Chi Li, Professor Sangam Shrestha, and Professor Thammarat Koottatep from AIT drived the force behind this academia-development bank collaboration. This partnership is poised to create a powerful synergy, accelerating progress towards a future where safe and accessible water and sanitation are a reality for all in the Asia-Pacific.
At the Global Water and Sanitation Center (GWSC), we are proud to be part of this transformative journey. By bridging knowledge and practice, we aim to support ADB and their member countries in delivering solutions that are not only effective but equitable and sustainable.