Spotlight on CDIA’s New Fund Manager, Edkarl Galing

October 30, 2025

Karl at Cyber Hub, Gurugram—where India’s urban pulse beats with innovation and transformation.

Karl grew up watching his father, a lawyer and engineer, serve in the Public Action Center within the Office of the President at Malacañang Palace in the Philippines. Those after-school moments offered an early glimpse into public service and helped shape his path in development.

Now serving as ADB’s Urban Development Specialist and CDIA’s new Fund Manager, Karl draws on those formative experiences to lead initiatives that transform city strategies and development plans into high-impact infrastructure projects.

He brings over 20 years of experience in water resources management, water supply and sanitation, solid waste management, engineering geology and hydrogeology, and environmental assessments. Before joining ADB in 2021, he was a water specialist with the World Bank Group and worked with several bilateral donor agencies to implement infrastructure investment programs, deliver technical advisory services, and provide analytical support for development and poverty alleviation initiatives.

At ADB, Karl leads the preparation of urban investment programs and the implementation of infrastructure projects focused on water and urban development across South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific. He has a strong interest in developing holistic solutions with governments and local communities to transform cities to be more resilient and prosperous. He understands that infrastructure development and improving urban services don’t happen overnight.

“We try to introduce reforms. But those reforms are not one-track solutions, and they take time to be fully realized,” said Karl. “We need to get all the players dancing to the same tune to ensure continuity and ownership,” he added.

Leveraging CDIA’s core value of providing project preparation studies for nearly two decades, Karl is committed to further strengthening the quality of technical assistance and strategic support to make urban development projects more robust, inclusive, and sustainable.

ADB’s urban transformation mission will mobilize programmatic and cross-sectoral expertise and collaboration through internal and external alliances and partnerships—including with project preparation facilities—to foster more city-to-city partnerships that enable the free flow of knowledge and learning exchange.

Join us in welcoming Karl to the CDIA Team!