Deltacountry Narrative Indonesia
25 Years of Dutch-Indonesian Water Cooperation
In 2001, four high-level government officials from Indonesia and the Netherlands gathered to sign the first bilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Water. At that pivotal moment, Indonesia was facing pressing water-related challenges: widespread pollution, limited access to clean drinking water, frequent flooding and drought, and outdated infrastructure.
These issues threatened not only local water security but also the country’s food sovereignty and economic resilience. Through the MoU, both governments committed to work together on Indonesia’s water priorities and generate knowledge relevant to Dutch and Indonesian water challenges. More than a technical agreement, this MoU signified a shift towards equal diplomatic relations and mutual knowledge exchange. It laid the foundation for a decades-long partnership between the two nations.
The Dutch Water Sector in Indonesia
The current MoU on Water (2022 – 2027) serves as an umbrella for all Dutch co-funded bilateral water-related activities. It enables the Dutch water sector to contribute to Indonesia’s development priorities by applying its internationally recognised expertise and decades of experience in water infrastructure and management. Within this framework, the Partners for Water programme facilitates coordination, fosters collaboration, and connects actors in the Dutch water sector with relevant Indonesian counterparts. A high-level Joint Steering Committee (JSC) provides strategic guidance and meets annually. The JSC is co-chaired by the Indonesian Secretary-General of Public Works and the Dutch Director-General for Water and Soil at the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management. Dutch participation is facilitated via tenders, sector meetings and expert contributions to the JSC. Central to this engagement is building long-term relationships through knowledge exchange, capacity development and youth engagement.
Three Priorities
Within the bilateral cooperation, a strategic and programme-based approach is adopted to maximise effectiveness and impact. This approach centres on three priority themes, each supported by a dedicated working group and overseen by the JSC. The three themes are:
- Integrated Water Resilience in North Java
- Lowland Development for Irrigation
- Sharing Knowledge, Building Capacity, and Involving Youth
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Looking ahead
After over 25 years of fruitful collaboration – marked by diverse and impactful initiatives, strong partnerships, and lifelong professional friendships – the bilateral water cooperation between Indonesia and the Netherlands is in full swing. Looking two decades ahead, Indonesia aspires to become a resilient, high-income society and the world’s fifth-largest economy by 2045. Achieving this ambition will require addressing its urgent water challenges, opening up new opportunities to exchange innovative, inclusive and sustainable solutions with the Dutch water sector.
The joint ambition is to strengthen mutual trust, secure future cooperation and ensure the Dutch water sector remains a relevant and valued partner for Indonesia. In the coming years, the bilateral cooperation will continue to focus on the current three key areas. Actors in the broader Dutch water sector – like knowledge institutions, NGOs and companies – are invited to engage in this cooperation. They can do so by applying for tenders or joining one of the many webinars, information sessions and networking events hosted by Partners for Water.
How you can get involved
Are you currently working on water projects in Indonesia or exploring how to do so? Or just curious about participating in the Partners for Water initiatives? Here are ways for you to get involved:
- Apply for our tenders focused on innovative solutions in delta countries like Indonesia. Find more information on our news page.
- Join our annual Indonesia platform meeting or one of the other Partners for Water events. Check out our events page for upcoming events.
- Follow us on LinkedIn and subscribe to our newsletter to stay updated on our tenders, activities, events and projects.
- Get in touch with our Project Advisor for Indonesia: Simon van Meijeren
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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.
