About us Knowledge development

Knowledge development

Partners for Water facilitates and promotes sustainable approaches to solving global water challenges.

During the Partners for Water 2022 – 2027 Programme, we do so by concentrating on two themes: Nature-based Solutions (NBS) and Water-Biodiversity-Food. By actively promoting NBS and the conservation and restoration of biodiversity within the approach, methodology and strategy of water projects, we aim to enhance the quality and sustainability of water infrastructure and management worldwide. Discover below how to get involved.

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Greening finance

Asset Management

In the Partners for Water 2022 – 2027 Programme, we concentrate on several themes within the thematic approach, Social Inclusion is one of them.

This page details our approach towards social inclusion and how we actively take steps toward a more inclusive water world. Discover how to get involved through our tenders, subsidy scheme, the events we organise, and more.

Locally led

Within the Partners for Water 2022 – 2027 Programme, we focus on addressing the growing issue of salinisation in delta regions by supporting the development and scaling of innovative approaches.

By actively supporting efforts to combat salinisation, we aim to contribute to systemic changes that enhance global water security. This page details our approach. Discover what we do and how to get involved below.

Salinisation

Failing Forward?

The Partners for Water 2022 – 2027 Programme seeks to understand the root causes of the dominant Build-Neglect-Repair (BNR) cycle in the global water sector and to collectively explore ways to break this cycle and improve the longevity of water infrastructure.

This article outlines our approach to the BNR cycle. Discover our strategy and current activities, access various resources on the BNR cycle and find out how to get involved.

Build-Neglect-Repair

Read more about Landscape-based solutions for biocultural diversity

Knowledge Development

Landscape-based solutions for biocultural diversity

Nature-based solutions (NBS)

Nature-based Solutions (NBS) are sustainable alternatives to traditional infrastructure that make use of the natural landscape to improve flood risk management and water security. For example, maintaining sand nourishment to protect a coast from flooding, or using mangroves or other types of natural vegetation to stop erosion.

In the Netherlands, we have been working with NBS for some time. They are an effective way to improve water security and the natural values of an area. However, outside the Netherlands, many governments and companies use traditional solutions, such as dams and other structures. Internationally, this ‘grey infrastructure’ is still the standard. Partners for Water is promoting the adoption of NBS at scale by concentrating on early-stage infrastructure projects.

Read about NBS

Water-Biodiversity-Food (WBF)

Due to the traditional focus on food production and other uses of water, Partners for Water works to advance the position of biodiversity in water distribution issues. When it comes to water use, biodiversity is suffering almost everywhere causing animal and plant species to disappear from their natural habitats.

Our approach focuses on improving the water balance and water management in an area in order to increase biodiversity.

This theme is directed towards system changes where stakeholders consider biodiversity as an integral factor in decision-making around water use, water balance, and water management in an area. This is done through various means, such as conducting research into the water use of avocado cultivation. The goal is to regulate water use in a way that makes both food cultivation and natural ecosystems more resilient to climate risks.

Read about Water-Biodiversity-Food

Nature-based Solutions and Water-Biodiversity & Food

Discover where Partners for water is actively working on thematic approaches such as Nature-based Solutions and Water-Biodiversity & Food.

Approach

Partners for Water focuses on the following interventions:

Preparatory studies and advice. Think of model studies, (pre-)feasibility studies, scoping, design workshops and capacity building.
Evaluation through required pilots (proof of concept).
Accompanying advice for implementation at scale.

The interventions are intended to stimulate new or improved processes to achieve water-related sustainability goals. Partners for Water supports projects from local or international partners. As a result, it is never a stand-alone project. It is vital that we have strong local embedding and insight into the implementation of recommendations.

Results

This approach should lead to more sustainable solutions for complex water issues abroad. And that in turn contributes to the goal of improving water security in the partner countries.

Contributing to water issues

Does your organisation want to contribute to water security abroad?

Messages about new assignments (tenders) appear regularly on the website, the LinkedIn page and in the newsletter. In addition, Partners for Water frequently organises country meetings with local partners and the Dutch water sector and shares messages online about the results of ongoing or completed projects.

Discover our events

All news

Event

Interview

Partners for Water in ASEAN and beyond: turning adaptation plans into climate resilience

Full article

Event

Interview

Beyond the risks: ASEAN cross-learning event on climate adaptation in Malolos City

Full article

Interview

“We’re not there yet”: Navigating colonial structures of knowledge production

Full article

Partners for Water is a Dutch government programme enhancing water security internationally in long-term cooperation with local partners and the Dutch water sector. By facilitating strategic planning and support in the early stages of innovation, the programme aims to contribute to systemic change for sustainable water management and infrastructure. This is how we initiate impactful changes for a better living environment.