Abu Dhabi:The Arab Youth Center (AYC) has launched the eighth edition of Youth Pitches, expanding its reach beyond the Arab world to include young innovators from across the globe. This initiative aims to empower youth to contribute to international efforts on water security by supporting 30 projects and startups from 26 countries with training, mentorship, and acceleration support.
According to Wam, the initiative will culminate at the 2026 UN Water Conference in Abu Dhabi, co-hosted by the UAE and Senegal. Six projects will be selected to showcase their innovations at the Youth Pavilion, providing participants a platform to engage with government entities, industry experts, investors, and potential partners.
The global expansion of Youth Pitches is part of AYC's mission to enhance young people's capabilities and their contributions to development priorities. By including innovators from different countries, the program encourages knowledge exchange and empowers youth to tackle water challenges affecting food production, public health, and community safety worldwide.
Fatima Al Hallami, Executive Director of AYC, emphasized the importance of global participation in addressing water challenges and the opportunity for qualifying projects to present their solutions at the UN Water Conference. She highlighted the impact of water challenges on agriculture, water quality, and community safety, and the program's role in helping young innovators develop feasible solutions.
The participating projects address diverse water issues, including agricultural efficiency and extreme weather preparedness. Notable projects include the UAE's AI-powered irrigation technology by Shouq Mirza Al Blooshi, Jordan's PETtrace for monitoring plastic pollution, Ghana's solar-powered flood early-warning system, and the Netherlands' Algaenius technology for desalination and carbon capture.
The program begins with a virtual fellowship from November 2-13, followed by intensive training and mentorship for shortlisted teams. The finalists will present their innovations in Abu Dhabi in December, showcasing their work at the Youth Pavilion and engaging with stakeholders to explore partnerships. The theme of this year's Youth Pitches is 'Solve What Matters Water and Beyond,' highlighting AYC's commitment to youth empowerment and the global water agenda.