Objective and Purpose of the Assignment
 | The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is advancing Water and Youth activities under the Water and Urban Development Sector Office (SD2-WUD) and the Agriculture, Food, Nature, and Rural Development Sector Office (SD2-AFNR) to strengthen meaningful youth engagement in water-related development and across ADB operations. To support this effort, ADB is engaging a Water and Youth Anchor to explore how to approach on-demand technical support to staff integrating Meaningful Youth Engagement (MYE) into project concept preparation, project preparation and design, implementation, and knowledge work. The objective of this consultancy is to operationalize the peer review function for MYE in water operations of SD2-WUD and SD2-AFNR, by preparing a plan and to provide flexible, responsive technical support to ADB staff seeking to embed youth engagement into country partnership strategies, loans, grants, technical assistance, and knowledge products. |
Scope of Work
| This role is central to operationalizing MYE within ADB’s water sector by identifying opportunities for youth engagement across the project cycle, advising on inclusive approaches, and contributing to the development of practical guidance and tools. The consultant will also act as an informal peer reviewer, collaborate with internal ADB Youth champions and technical teams, and help document institutional barriers and pathways for reform. By connecting with Civil Society organization (CSO) Anchors and other internal stakeholders, the Water and Youth Anchor will help build alignment and capacity for MYE across departments and contribute to a more inclusive and innovative operational culture. |
Detailed Tasks and/or Expected Output
| The consultant will be responsible for the following tasks: (i) To prevent duplication of work or interviews, align with ongoing consultancy activities on MYE by ADB, be inspired by the NGO and Civil Society Center (NGOC)’s Water and CSO Tipsheet and other recent developed MYE documents. (ii) Read ADB water sector operations documents, and i) extract activities related to integrating MYE across the project cycle (project completion reports) ii) identify opportunities and define recommendations to integrated MYE (e.g. active preparations such as project concept notes). Document these activities, opportunities and recommendations in a memo. (iii) Explore creative digital AI options to assess ADBs Project Completion Reports in SD2-WUD and SD2- AFNR on youth-related activities, indicators and other relevant information for the youth anchor role. (iv) Create awareness of this study in ADB SD2 departments, for example by an expression of interest for interview meetings and/or a short information call, to identify ADB staff interested in further discussions. (v) Meet with the ADB’s CSO Anchors in SD2-WUD and SD2-AFNR to understand their full role and responsibilities and define together the most relevant angle/focus areas and ways of filling in a Youth Anchor role and prepare a memo with collected insights and a plan on possible approaches for a water and youth anchor or beyond after this assignment. Stay closely aligned with the CSO Anchors in the water- related sectors during the assignment. (vi) Connect with PTLs that are not familiar with Meaningful Youth Engagement yet for brief discussions. Consider a group session if that seems more appropriate. (vii) Based on the discussions/session, formulate a memo on the PTLs specific MYE activities if any, role, responsibilities, challenges, needs to support Meaningful Youth Engagement in water-related projects, lessons learned in ways of working and options for alignment and collaboration. (viii) Provide on-demand technical advice to SD2-WUD and SD2-AFNR staff on MYE approaches, tools, and resources. (ix) Collect existing MYE guidance materials and contribute to the development of sample ToRs for MYE experts, explainer guides, and toolkits to facilitate project team leaders and CSO Anchors in SD2-WUD and SD2-AFNR (x) Explore possible MYE operations pilot countries and projects, discuss options with the water and youth taskforce (xi) Explore a high potential pilot option in Asia and the Pacific (xii) Collaborate with the Water and Youth taskforce on progress, tracking recommendations and lessons learned and internal communication. Key deliverables: 1. Review inputs for at least 3 water sector operations documents such as project concept notes (relevant to loans, grants, TA, or knowledge products) 2. Memo based on reviews with MYE activities, opportunities and recommendations from reviewing concept notes and project completion reports. Short memo with ideas for digital AI assessments of project completion reports on MYE 3. Technical advice provided to SD2-WUD and SD2-AFNR staff on MYE integration approaches, documented through meeting notes and a memo with combined advice provided 4. Identify and formulate at least 1 proposal of a possible pilot for MYE 5. MYE guidance materials for project team leaders (2 ToRs, 1 explainer guide or 1 toolkit) 6. Reporting of at least 1 internal knowledge-sharing session and/or discussions and/or meetings with 8 new PTLs and CSO Anchors on MYE in Water Operations in SD2-WUD and SD2-AFNR 7. Summary report peer review activities, recommendations for improving MYE integration and ADB staff / PTLs and a plan for 2026 Reporting and Coordination: The consultant will report to the Water and Youth Strategy Coordinator and work closely with the Water and Youth Knowledge Expert as well as SD2-WUD and SD2-AFNR CSO Anchors. Coordination with CCSD-CCFE and NGOC and their consultants may be required to prevent work duplication and for business process reform and cross-departmental alignment. |
Minimum Qualification Requirements
| – Minimum relevant experience of 4 years in meaningful youth engagement – Proven experience in strategic communications, in development, water, or youth sectors – Strong analytical and advisory skills, with the ability to provide practical recommendations – Innovative mindset, creativity and out-of-the-box thinking skills – Experience in peer review, technical assistance, or knowledge product development is desirable – Familiarity with multi-lateral development banks operations and project cycles – Strong interpersonal and collaborative skills – Fluent in English is required |
