The future of Asia and the Pacific region is in the hands of its youngpeople. University students across the vast region are learning aboutthe development challenges their countries face, includingunemployment, illiteracy, disease, lack of adequate health care, andenvironmental degradation. Many students are acting to address thesechallenges in their communities. They have formulated ideas, oftenbased on their own experiences in the places where they live, on howto overcome the problems holding the region back from achieving itsfull potential.

ADB and ROAD, with support of the Japan Special Fund, financed by theGovernment of Japan, invite university students to participate in theAsia and Pacific Student Essay Competition on Sustainable Development.The rules are simple: just submit an essay on one of the designatedthemes via this website no later than 31 October 2006.

To be eligible, you must be a student at a university, between theages of 18 and 29, and a citizen of one of ADB’s developing membercountries (DMCs). Since the essay competition and Youth Forum are partof the formal lead up to the Annual Meeting, which is being hosted in2007 by Japan, Japanese citizens studying in Japan are also eligible.

Essays must be submitted in English (only) and no longer than 2,000words in length. Students without easy access to the Internet maydeliver their essays in hard copy to the nearest ADB field office,which will then submit them on the students’ behalf.

The overarching theme of the essay contest is “Promoting SustainableDevelopment in Asia and the Pacific.” Those entering the competitionshould choose one of three topics, which may be addressed from acountry or regional perspective. The essays can address the issuesrelated to the regional public good based on the following 3 topics:

Topic 1: Do Economic Growth and Environmental Conservation go Together?

Essays written on this topic can explore issues related to energy,water resources, forest management, and/or desertification.

Topic 2: How Should we Develop Human Resources and Institutions?

Essays written on this topic can explore issues related to educationaland vocational human resource development, governance,decentralization, civil society participation, globalization, andtraditional societies.

Topic 3: What are the Priorities for Industry and Infrastructure?

Essays written on this topic can explore issues related toglobalization of economic structures, regional financial stability,agriculture and food security, urban and rural development, andcross-border infrastructure development.

A jury of distinguished individuals with a strong developmentbackground will judge the essays. Fifteen winners will be selectedfrom across the five regions covered by ADB’s regional departments -Central and West Asia, East Asia, the Pacific, South Asia, andSoutheast Asia (see list of eligible countries here). An additional 10winners will be selected from young adults studying at Japaneseuniversities, including three Japanese students and seven nationals ofADB developing member countries.

The 25 winners will be awarded a certificate and be expected to joinand participate actively in the Asian and Pacific Youth Forum onSustainable Development. The costs of the winning essayists’participation in the Youth Forum will be covered by ADB.

Essays can be submitted via the website.