Today, numerous NGOs, governmental organisations, and companies work on solving water issues. While collaboration could be beneficial, they often need to meet first. Therefore, on June 27 in The Hague, we organised our first matchmaking event to strengthen collaboration between consortia planning to apply for subsidies for innovative water projects. The event featured presentations and pitches from recently funded projects under the Partners for Water Subsidy Scheme.

In the invitation, participants could specify what they wanted to learn from others and which topics they could assist with. This led to a diverse and specific list of topics, making matching participants challenging. Some participants could pair one-on-one, while others needed group tables for better interaction.

Finding the right partner

On 27 June, at the partnerships table, participants discussed how hard it can be to maintain worthwhile and lasting partnerships while operating abroad. ‘We make sure to physically meet potential partners abroad to figure out if they’re really trustworthy’, one participant said. Another explained: ‘Dutch embassies can play a role in making assessments like these.’

A participant working in Vietnam explained: ‘We benefit from partnering with a university, because the provinces we work with trust the university. Our partnership with them is the result of contacting the coordination office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.’ A participant who is also active in Vietnam explained that hiring a Young Expert Professional (YEP) can also help: ‘This person helps us to understand what the local parties we collaborate with need, she speaks the language and understands the culture.’

Connecting for sustainability: insights from the Nature-based Solutions table

The Nature-based Solutions table was particularly popular, attracting several organisations to the discussion. After brief introductions, it became clear that some participants would benefit from one-on-one conversations. They moved around the table to sit next to each other, exchanging ideas and contacts.

In one of those conversations, a founder of the NGO Feedback Of The Future explained how the organisation uses regenerative practices and collaborative partnerships to foster farming communities in Kenya and East Africa. ‘We rehabilitate landscapes by planting plants, trees, and shrubs to mimic a subtropical food forest. We give farmers technical support, build new soil profiles and look for local solutions. This way we make the farming cycle more sustainable.’

Reflections on a dynamic matchmaking event

With almost 50 participants attending the matchmaking event and chatting animatedly, we hope that everyone can look back on a successful event. We aimed to provide you with more information on the Partners for Water subsidy scheme, as we strive to make the application process easier. Did we succeed or do you have any feedback? Please let us know your thoughts by sending us an email.

Kick off – eight new subsidised projects

The second part of the event was a kick off for eight projects that have recently received financial support through the Partners for Water Subsidy Scheme. A lot of the matchmaking participants stayed to see the presentations of these new projects. It gave them valuable insights into what other organisations are doing and what they aim to achieve with their innovative water project, with the help of a Partners for Water subsidy.

For example, Wouter Lengkeek from BESE Ecosystem Restoration Projects presented his organisation’s project on restoring degraded ecosystems along the coastal zones of the United States. BESE does this by using temporary biodegradable and circular structures crafted from biopolymers, providing a kickstart for restoring organisms in struggling salt marshes, mangroves and shellfish reefs. Erik van der Putte, Project manager at WaterMappers, also gave a presentation about the organisation’s work on mapping underground water resources in India. He explained how WaterMappers helps farmers to increase yields and reduce risks by providing volumetric water budgets through real-time, sensor-based time series modelling. For more information on the projects, check out our website.

Still two remaining subsidy rounds

There are still two remaining subsidy rounds within the Partners for Water programme. If something is still unclear or if you have any questions, please reach out to us by sending us an email. Please schedule a mandatory intake interview  before 15 August. Have you already had your intake interview? Then you’re ready to apply! Apply and find out whether your innovative water pilot of feasibility project will receive a financial boost.

Next matchmaking event!

On 23 January 2025, we will organise another matchmaking event. Stay tuned for more information. We will inform you about this event via our website, newsletter and LinkedIn page.

The Partners for Water subsidy scheme explained

On 1 October 2024, Partners for Water and the International Union for Conservation of Nature in The Netherlands (IUCN) are organising a biodiversity event at Museon in the Hague.

This event will showcase the value of biodiversity, it will give you insights in overcoming obstacles to combat biodiversity decline and increasing water security and how to mainstream biodiversity within international development and water security programmes.

Visit the eventpage and discover who’s invited, why you should attend and how you can registrate.

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to support & weigh in on this crucial cause with us to help shape a sustainable future.

A few weeks ago, we spoke with Sonu Khanal, hydrologist at FutureWater, to follow up on the Roadside Spring Protection to Improve Water Security’ project (RoSPRo). Future Water, a research and consulting organisation that combines scientific research with practical solutions for water management globaly, is leading the technical component in the RoSPro project in two municipalities of Dhankuta and Chhathar Jorpati Rural in the Dhankuta district of Nepal. The project addresses the importance of springs for the livelihoods of mountain communities, while simultaneously improving the road infrastructure, recognising that roads and springs significantly impact each other.

Economic developments and population growth are resulting in more roads for commuters and trade. The expansion of the road network causes the disruption of the original natural springs that become roadside springs, due to the implementation of infrastructure.

Spring water is vital for nearly 100 million people living in the hills and mountains, such as in Nepal and the Himalayas, who rely on these springs for drinking water since river water in these regions is often polluted and undrinkable.

The project, which began last June, is vital for the local communities, says Khanal who supervises the technical aspects of the project. “We aim to address the widespread issue of drying springs and severe water shortages. To do this effectively, we first need to identify their locations and recharge areas, understand how springs function, and monitor their flow patterns and amounts”.

Integrating road planning

Khanal emphasizes the importance of integrating road development with water flow management in hilly and mountainous areas. “In this project, we aim to highlight the crucial role of springs in the water management of the Himalayas. Poorly managed springs are often blamed on climate change, but effective management practices can greatly enhance water availability and sustainability. Once a spring’s flow is disrupted, restoring it is nearly impossible. Therefore, meticulous planning is essential to ensure that road construction does not harm these vital water sources.”

Advanced methods

FutureWater has been using advanced methods and tools to map the behaviour of watersheds and springs and provide advice on managing spring water, considering social and economic factors, especially for mountain areas. “The overall objective is to help stakeholders in Nepal to develop science-informed policies for road and water management to promote ‘water security for all’. To achieve this, we collaborated with local communities, municipalities, and regional and national stakeholders to harness their traditional knowledge and tailor the approach to the local context and needs.”

Consortium partners

Since 2014, MetaMeta has promoted using roads for improved water management and climate resilience, beyond just connectivity. This approach integrates roads into the landscape, reduces water-related damage, and ensures year-round accessibility. In mountainous regions, MetaMeta has explored how roads can protect springs and enhance the landscape, leading to a national guideline by the Department of Local Infrastructures (DOLI).

Partnering with FutureWater and ICIMOD, MetaMeta advanced this project. For over two decades, FutureWater has worked on integrated water resources management, climate change impacts, and disaster risk management in Nepal and Asia, offering expertise in quantitative methods, simulation models, GIS, and satellite observations. FutureWater’s toolkits, tailored to local needs, are publicly available. ICIMOD, with extensive experience in springshed management, brings strong institutional partnerships to the project. Khanal explained: “We’re collaborating with DOLI, responsible for all road activities in Nepal, to address the crucial but overlooked issue of springs, vital for mountain communities’ livelihoods, providing drinking water, education support, and enabling small-scale irrigation.” This collaboration leverages the expertise of multiple organizations to emphasize the critical role of springs in sustaining mountain communities.

Digital twins

Khanal explains that in this project, FutureWater is setting up ‘digital twins’ for the springs and watershed using ground-based and satellite-based information. “A digital twin model helps us to understand the behaviour of specific springs and watersheds mathematically. It will help us to identify the sources of water and recharge zones, and calculate the water amount and flow pattern in the watershed.”
The digital twin, combined with a robust decision support system, will help stakeholders to identify the costs and benefits of various interventions needed to restore springs and manage watersheds effectively. Khanal emphasises that this approach is unique because “these digital toolkits will help stakeholders make informed decisions about water management.”

The project will first be piloted on a small scale, with the involvement of the local community and relevant stakeholders to ensure effective implementation. To this end, four critical springs were identified together with the local community. Several data collection expeditions and field visits have been conducted to collect data and information on these springs. The field data will help tailor the digital twins to the local climate and context.
“To facilitate the data collection, monitoring, surveys, focus group discussions, and project implementation, a satellite office has been set up in the region by the consortium lead. The consortium is also using local knowledge by engaging the community and local consultants.”

Approach and phase

“We’re now in the pilot phase, aiming at pre-monsoon interventions,“ Khanal says, confident that the project will be a success. “Protecting springs near roads by constructing Gabion walls and French mattresses is essential to safeguard water outlets. Gabion walls are constructed by assembling wire mesh baskets, filling them with stones, and stacking them to control erosion and retain soil. French mattresses are drainage structures that stabilise soft soils; they are built by excavating the area, laying geotextile fabric, filling it with stones, wrapping the fabric over the stones, and securing the structure. Both methods improve drainage and enhance the stability of water outlets, protecting them from erosion and damage. We’re also building tanks to collect and store spring water, ensuring a consistent supply despite natural fluctuations in water availability.

Goals

Khanal concludes that ideally, “with persistent efforts, we will have built sufficient trust within a year for the community to actively participate in co-designing the process. Immediate benefits, such as a consistent water supply from newly built tanks, are evident. But long-term benefits like increased water availability due to roadside spring protection measures, will take several years to materialise. We are transparent with the community about this timeline, ensuring they understand that while some impacts are immediate, others require patience and time. The project aims for scalability across the Himalayas and similar regions, supported by partnerships with organisations like ICIMOD and potential funding from other entities.

Innovation in progress series

During the Partners for Water 2022 – 2027 programme, several projects that received the Partners for Water subsidy will be followed from start to finish. Over the next few years, they will take you with them on their transformative journey. You’ll be able to gain insights into their promising solutions, innovative processes and collaborations with local partners, as well as their struggles, challenges and valuable lessons learned. RoSPro is part of the innovation in progress series. Click on the button below to find out what was discussed during the first interview.

How can degraded farmland in the Surinamese jungle be regenerated? Johan Tijms from agricultural mechanisation company Tijms Mechanisatie VOF can explain. Together with consortium partner Attro Trading Africa, he is addressing Suriname’s drought and salinisation challenges through an innovative pilot project funded by Partners for Water. Discover how they are bringing soil back to life through an affordable and effective approach.

Johan Tijms, director of Tijms Mechanisatie VOF, has been working in the international field of soil regeneration and sustainable irrigation systems for over 25 years. From his office in Geesbrug, he elaborates on the innovative ‘Precise Irrigation Systems’ project. Together with the business consulting and project development organisation Attro Trading Africa, he aims to provide sustainable solutions for problems in agriculture arising from poor soil conditions. In Suriname, the consortium is tackling these challenges through a pilot project funded by Partners for Water. This pilot is testing a solar-powered, sensor-controlled drip irrigation and desalination system designed to address local drought, salinisation and flooding issues, ultimately rehabilitating degraded agricultural land owned by an indigenous Surinamese community.

Drought and salinisation

“Due to drought and unsustainable farming practices, Surinamese agricultural land is rapidly becoming comparable to concrete,” says Johan. “In some areas, the soil is so degraded that it doesn’t absorb water anymore. This causes water to accumulate, leading to both flooding and unusable farmland.” Suriname suffers not only from drought but also from salinisation. “The salt content of groundwater in Suriname is often too high for irrigation practices, leading to crop failures and threatening livelihoods. For instance, the members of the indigenous community where we are conducting the pilot project cannot sustain themselves with their conventional farming practices and must buy additional food from the market.”

From concrete to sponge

“Our solution creates usable irrigation water and turns soil into a water-absorbing sponge,” says Johan. “We achieve this through a drip irrigation system which applies water slowly and efficiently at the root zone of the plants. By doing so, it reduces the amount of runoff and therefore soil erosion.” In addition, the consortium desalinates ground water by using a desalination machine that utilises calcium carbonate. Johan explains: “This method is more cost-effective than others, such as reverse osmosis, due to its lower energy consumption and cheaper materials.” Both the drip and desalination machines are powered by solar panels. “All together, this makes the solution affordable for the relatively poor local community.”

In practice

“The piece of agricultural land we are regenerating covers an area of about five hectares and is located in the middle of the Surinamese jungle. It belongs to an indigenous community of about 300 people.” Johan explains that the land had been declared unusable. “In practice, an unusable piece of farmland means new land will be cleared by cutting down trees. When that land also becomes unusable, the same cycle is repeated. Now that the local community is receiving tools and training to keep the land farmable, not only are their livelihoods improving, but consistent deforestation is also prevented.”

A self-sustaining project

Tijms installed the machines together with Attro. “We train the users to maintain the machines themselves and we’re ready to assist whenever necessary. For instance, a water pump broke down initially because it had pumped up too much sand. We decided to get on a plane with new parts to repair the pump ourselves,” says Johan. He continues: “The success of such a project depends on the commitment and effort from both you and the users. If both parties are dedicated to its success, then you ensure it happens.”

“We also provided financial and business training to prepare the community for maintenance costs,” notes Johan. “Essentially, the installation should facilitate enough harvest to not only sustain livelihoods but also sell crops at the market. This enables the community to save money to replace certain installation components when they near the end of their life cycle. This way, the project becomes self-sustaining.”

Successful collaborations

“So far, the project has been a great success, and we owe much of that to some fantastic collaborations,” notes Johan. “For instance, the Dutch Embassy and the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries in Suriname have actively helped us with their network and by connecting us with the participating community. Additionally, the community leader was incredibly motivated. Thanks to her dedication and involvement, the project has been embraced by the whole community.” Johan continues, “our collaboration with Partners for Water has also been incredibly valuable. The Partners for Water team has provided significant support, always responded quickly, and demonstrated their commitment to the successful completion of this project in every way.”

What’s next?

“In November, we will complete the project. So far, it seems to be very successful! Based on soil samples, we see that desalination is working and the soil is becoming nutrient-rich and porous again. Additionally, the local community is already selling products at the market.” The solution has significant potential for scaling up both within Suriname and internationally. Johan notes that they already plan to implement parts of this concept in another region of Suriname. “Through the drip irrigation system in combination with a bio enzyme, we plan to clean the soil of Fusarium, a common fungus in banana plants, in certain banana plantations in Suriname.”

An Indian water delegation is visiting the Netherlands from July 14-17, 2024, as part of the strategic partnership on water between India and the Netherlands, implemented under the Partners for Water Programme. Alongside Dutch counterparts from the ministry of Infrastructure & Water Management and Partners for Water, they will visit innovative Dutch water works, Nature-based Solutions and network events, strengthening the long-lasting water relationship between the two countries.

The delegation comprises Government officials who are responsible for strategic policy planning, decision making and implementation at central and state level.  The Ministry of Jal Shakti, Central Government of India, are representing the National Mission for Clean Ganga, Central Ground Water Board and Central Water Commission. From the Government of West Bengal, the Irrigation and Waterways Department are present. And finally, from the Government of Kerala, the Water Resources Department and irrigation department are represented.

During their visit, the delegation will be accompanied by Luit-Jan Dijkhuis, delta coordinator India at the Ministry of Infrastructure & Water Management and Liliane Geerling, programme coordinator of the Partners for Water programme from the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO).

Sharing water expertise

The delegation will visit various Dutch waterworks, such as the Zandmotor (Sand Motor), a nature-based coastal protection project; the Harnaschpolder wastewater treatment plant, known for its sustainable and efficient water treatment processes; the Eastern Scheldt storm surge barrier, a remarkable example of Dutch delta management; the Keersluis, a historic flood control structure; and the Afsluitdijk, the iconic dike that also serves as a causeway and separates the Waddenzee from the IJsselmeer lake. Additionally, they will delve into Dutch water history with a visit to the Watersnoodmuseum (Flood Museum) and gain inspiration from presentations and talks during visits to various Dutch water organizations. Moreover, ideas, innovations, and potential collaborations will be explored during networking events, where the Dutch water sector, active or planning to be active in India, has been invited to meet the delegation.

Strengthening partnerships

Partners for Water is delighted to welcome the Indian water delegation to the Netherlands and looks forward to fostering collaboration and partnerships between our two nations. This visit presents an excellent opportunity to exchange knowledge, share best practices, and explore innovative solutions to address water-related challenges. We anticipate that this visit will lead to fruitful collaborations and further strengthen the already strong water relationship between the Indian and Dutch water sector.

India Water Impact Summit

Are you also active or planning to be active in India? The India Water Impact Summit (IWIS) will be held in New Delhi from 17 – 21 September. If you are interested, please click here to read more about it.

The Partners for Water programme 2022-2027 still has two remaining subsidy rounds, in September 2024 and February 2025. Don’t miss this opportunity to give your innovative pilot project or feasibility study a boost.

Who is it for?

Partners for Water grants subsidies to Dutch companies, knowledge institutions, and NGOs for conducting feasibility studies and pilot projects for innovative solutions related to water security in deltas, delta cities, and river basins abroad.

Apply for a subsidy by scheduling an intake interview

An intake interview is compulsory before applying for a Partners for Water subsidy to assess whether your application matches the subsidy criteria. You can schedule the mandatory intake interview at any time via the E-loket. During the intake interview, you can discuss the terms of the scheme with one of our advisors. Would you like to apply for the subsidy round in September 2024? Make sure to schedule the intake interview no later than 15 August 2024. View the specific eligibility criteria for a subsidy on the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) website.

Have you already had an intake interview with one of our advisors? Then you’re ready to apply for the subsidy via our application page. Visit the RVO website for further practical information and the required forms to include with your application.

Partners for Water subsidy scheme explained

Watch this video to discover more about the Partners for Water subsidy scheme, in which we showcase several projects that have received funding.

Curious about previously funded projects?

During the Partners for Water programme, we have granted subsidies to various inspiring projects located in different countries, tackling a wide range of water challenges. Discover the most all the Parnters for Water projects.

The Government of Indonesia, in partnership with the East Java Province and the Government of the Netherlands, continues to collaborate on addressing water challenges in the Welang Watershed works in East Java, Indonesia. The project began in 2020, and is currently midway through its second phase.

By engaging in a co-creation process with communities, regional experts, and provincial and local governments, the project further details priority interventions for key water challenges in the catchment area. Here are some updates on the progress.

A multi-stakeholder approach

Rapid urban and economic development in the Welang Watershed has led to numerous water-related challenges. These include erosion on slopes, sedimentation in rivers, urban flooding, and water distribution issues. Given the involvement of many stakeholders in both the problems and their solutions, the project adopts a multi-stakeholder approach, guided by three key principles:

1. Achieving Practical Co-Creation Results: Ensuring solutions are compatible with the Indonesian water framework.
2. Creating Replicable Solutions: Developing solutions that can be implemented without substantial external support.
3. Mobilizing Local Resources: Fostering an environment where local resources are utilized for joint solutions.

These guiding principles are applied across both the upstream and mid-/downstream areas of the Welang River, allowing the project to tackle challenges from multiple perspectives and involve various sets of stakeholders.

Integrated focus across the catchment

Wonosari and Surorowo
In the upstream areas of the Welang River, the focus is on water resource conservation. This is achieved by introducing low-cost and low-tech soil and water conservation measures, such as gully plugs. These measures are designed to reduce runoff and soil erosion, and increase water infiltration. Project activities in the upstream areas center around the Wonosari tea plantation and the Surorowo sub-village.

At Wonosari, coordination with the tea plantation administration ensured strong support throughout the implementation phase. This collaboration resulted in the successful installation of 140 gully plugs. A month later, feedback from the tea plantation administrator confirmed that the plugs effectively mitigated runoff onto the streets after heavy rainfall.

To begin implementation in Surorowo, a collaboration agreement was needed between Perhutani, the concession permit holder, and the East Java Province, the project partner. Thanks to the strong commitment from both parties, the administrative process was completed much faster than usual. This efficiency allowed ground implementation to start in parallel, resulting in the completion of 18 gully plugs by April, with plans for more.

Community

The active involvement of the community in the construction process sparked enthusiasm among local people. Many expressed interest in replicating similar infrastructure on their own, empowered by the realization that these initiatives can be achieved with locally available materials. Pak Imam, the manager of the tea plantation, explained: “Yes, it works. Before we implemented these gully plugs, there was usually runoff after it rained, and we couldn’t pass the small roads in the plantation.”

Additionally, in collaboration with the University of Malang, the implemented measures are being monitored to collect baseline data on runoff volume, existing gullies, sedimentation, and infiltration rates.

Sidogiri / Welang Lama

In the downstream and midstream areas of the Welang River catchment, specifically in Sidogiri and Welang Lama, significant progress is being made to address frequent flooding issues affecting local communities. A key part of this effort involved workshops with local schools to raise awareness and encourage community participation in waste management, recognizing that waste blockages are a major cause of flooding. These initiatives emerged from the initial co-creation session where stakeholders identified waste management as crucial for flood mitigation.

Collaborations with Universitas Negeri Malang, Universitas Brawijaya, and ITS Surabaya have driven progress. Students conducted detailed field surveys to understand the dynamics of flooding. This data, combined with a hydraulic assessment by the project team, formed the foundation for a co-creation workshop where stakeholders reviewed and provided feedback on proposed flood mitigation measures. This inclusive approach ensures that solutions have community support and incorporate local knowledge, paving the way for lasting impact in managing the river basin’s challenges.

Strategic alignment with ongoing NL-funded projects

One of the goals of the Welang project is to integrate and align its activities with other initiatives in the East Java region to enhance capacity-building and promote local ownership. The Welang project has partnered with the OKP tailor-made training program, designed to equip civil servants in East Java Province with essential skills for cross-sectoral collaboration and addressing water management challenges.

Additionally, the project is exploring collaboration opportunities with the Brantas River basin project, which aims to improve wastewater management. In February and March, site visits to the Brantas River were conducted to gain insights from the Brantasae application, with the aim of integrating its features into the Welang project. Brantasae is a map-based application that collects public-uploaded data on water quality, waste generation, and overall river basin issues or initiatives. It serves as a data inventory platform to support river assessment and monitoring.

Background Information:
The Dutch-Indonesian Consortium embodies a collaborative and sustainable approach to addressing Indonesia’s water challenges.
The project is facilitated by the consortium comprising three key organizations: Witteveen + Bos, Nuffic Southeast Asia, and AidEnvironment.

• Witteveen + Bos: Leads overall project management and provides expertise in hydraulic modeling, alongside coordinating community waste management activities.
• Nuffic Southeast Asia: Ensures the integration of co-created solutions within institutions, engaging regional experts and students in the process.
• AidEnvironment: Facilitates community involvement and implements agricultural solutions focused on water conservation and erosion control.

Funded by Partners for Water

This project has been receiving funding by Partners for Water because we underpin the longstanding cooperation between the governments of Indonesia and the Netherlands on water management (MoU Water) and are dedicated to enhancing water security globally through enduring partnerships between local stakeholders and the Dutch water sector. By fostering knowledge exchange, promoting innovations, and advocating an integrated approach, we aim to contribute positively to water security for people, plants, and animals.

For further inquiries, please contact: Simon van Meijeren, Programme Advisor Partners for Water Indonesia.

How can we revolutionise Ghanaian horticulture? SOSIA+ aims to do so by providing farmers with a new perspective on growing vegetables through game-changing technologies.

Amid the bustling atmosphere of Cafe de Huiskamer at The Hague central station, we sit down with SOSIA+ project members Lindsey Schwidder, Benny Ampong, Samuel Kwame Darbah, and Prince Baffour to discuss their collaborative efforts on this innovative pilot project.

Lindsey is the Project Manager at the Innovation & Impact Centre at Delft University of Technology and the project leader of the SOSIA+ project. As the Technical Manager at Holland Greentech, Benny serves as the SOSIA+ pilot irrigation expert in Ghana. Both Samuel and Prince are SOSIA+ training facilitators at the Kwadaso Agricultural College in Ghana, with Samuel also being the national coordinator of the ACHI Programme. This programme is part of the Dutch Combi Track approach, an initiative by the Dutch government where the government and businesses collaborate on projects in emerging markets. In Ghana, it supports better skills development for the younger generation of farmers.

The SOSIA+ project, funded by Partners for Water, is a collaborative effort conducted in Ghana by a consortium consisting of TU Delft, FutureWater, Holland Greentech and TAHMO. This pilot project aims to make the use of local weather data and climate-smart irrigation systems accessible for small-scale commercial farmers. By doing so, it seeks to improve water efficiency and crop yields, offering a renewed perspective on agriculture to the Ghanaian youth and farmers. Read our SOSIA+ introduction article to learn more about the project.

Transforming Ghanaian horticulture

“New technologies like SOSIA+’s irrigation systems are a game changer for the Ghanaian agricultural sector,” says Samuel. He explains: “Many farmers are unaware that they don’t need to carry buckets of water or use inefficient sprinklers to irrigate their crops. By teaching the application of SOSIA+’s technology at our college and introducing students to role models like young agronomists from Holland Greentech, young farmers are becoming aware that farming can be an economically viable practice; its popularity is increasing.” Prince adds: “This has huge implications for the current unemployment challenges Ghana is facing and for improving our self-sufficiency in food production.”

Promising harvest

“It’s almost time for the second harvest,” says Benny, “and most farmers are very hopeful because they already see more fruit on their plants compared to when they were not using the system.” Lindsey mentions: “During the first harvest, the farmers encountered a lot of unexpected rain, which resulted in not having to use the irrigation system as much as anticipated. This will be the first comparable harvest data.” “That season was still very useful, though,” adds Benny, “because the farmers got the chance to develop their skills in using the irrigation system.”

Farmers’ scepticism

“It took a while for the farmers to have faith in the drip irrigation system,” says Prince. “Generally speaking, Ghanaians can be quite sceptical when it comes to adopting new practices, and they like to see ‘proof’ first, instead of pioneering new technologies.” Samuel explains how they anticipated this: “Only farmers who already had a serious interest in improving their farming practices to become economically more viable were chosen for the pilot project. Additionally, both Holland Greentech and Kwadaso Agricultural College provide sufficient support to the participating farmers. We built a trustworthy relationship with them and truly take into account their worries, needs, and wishes.”

Understanding the farmers’ context

“To include the farmers’ needs, you need to have boots on the ground and be open to adapting according to their feedback,” says Benny. “One unexpected feedback outcome was the farmers’ liking of the water meter, which we initially added to collect water usage data. It turns out that the farmers also use it to monitor their farm managers’ practices remotely. Now, Holland Greentech provides the water meter as an additional irrigation tool.” Lindsey adds: “To make a project like this work, it is important to adjust to the local norms and needs. As a Dutch person, I’m unable to truly comprehend what exactly that means for the Ghanaian context. That is why it is not only valuable but also essential to work with local partners.”

Scaling up

A year and a half in, the SOSIA+ irrigation tool is becoming more widely known throughout Ghana. “People from all over the country apply to do the agriculture course at our college because we teach about this efficient technology and its practical application. There is more demand than we can meet at the moment,” says Samuel. Lindsey adds: “The collaboration with Kwadaso Agricultural College helps to widen the scope of the SOSIA+ project. Soon, we will expand to other colleges as well to teach new agriculturists to apply technologies that support farming to become a sustainable and economically viable business.”

Innovation in progress series

During the Partners for Water 2022 – 2027 programme, several projects that received the Partners for Water subsidy will be followed from start to finish. Over the next few years, they will take you with them on their transformative journey. You’ll be able to gain insights into their promising solutions, innovative processes and collaborations with local partners, as well as their struggles, challenges and valuable lessons learned. Stay tuned and follow their journey through the Partners for Water website and our LinkedIn page!

Partners for Water has granted subsidies to 10 Dutch entrepreneurs and research institutions. This is the result of the first round of subsidies under the Partners for Water 5 (2022-2027) programme.

On January 25, the parties met in The Hague and presented the projects for which they received subsidies. In close cooperation with local partners, they will use their innovation power to make a positive contribution to water security in different countries in the coming years. For these feasibility studies and pilot projects, the organisations will work in Eswatini, Ghana (2), Nepal, Suriname, Ecuador, Malawi, Colombia, Kenya, and Mexico. Both returning and new organisations have applied for funding.

The 10 projects

Below you can read about the 10 participating organisations and their innovative pilot projects and feasibility studies on water safety and water security.

Water availability forecaster (Eswatini)
The consortium HydroLogic (the Netherlands), Emanti Management (South Africa), and FutureWater (the Netherlands) will launch a pilot project for the GLOW water availability forecaster. This service will provide water managers with information, warnings, and advice on current and expected water availability and demand. This will support water managers in Eswatini, Mozambique, and South Africa in taking mitigating actions on water availability.

Climate-smart irrigation system (Ghana)
The Technical University of Delft aims to further develop its innovative climate-smart irrigation system through a pilot project. This system provides farmers in Ghana with smart irrigation techniques that are provided with information from local weather stations. Farmers who have used the system so far experience 25% less usage and 15% more harvest.

Precision irrigation systems (Suriname)
Tijms B.V. and Attro Trading Africa aim to provide sustainable solutions for the problems that arise with unhealthy soil conditions. By improving the soil, they want to reduce flooding, drought, and salinization problems, increase crop yields and make the farmland more resilient. To achieve this, they will install solar-powered drip irrigation systems, use integrated farming practices, and transfer knowledge.

Powerful water pump (Nepal)
Together with Himalaya Agro-ecology Research and Development and Agro-Eco Advisors, aQysta B.V. is starting a study on the use of an energy-efficient and powerful water pump to irrigate higher-altitude lands and improve soil quality of Nepalese farmland. Combined with increasing the organic materials on the farmlands, it is expected that participating farmers will use 25% less water and increase their income by 200% within two years.

Flood prediction service (Malawi)
In Malawi, HaskoningDHV is launching a feasibility study on the use of their flood prediction service. This service is designed to be used by governments, aid agencies, and individuals. It allows users to monitor and predict floods in real-time and to receive warnings up to 12 hours in advance. This information will give people more time to evacuate in the event of a flood.

The use of natural groundwater buffers (Colombia)
The Colombian agricultural region Bananera experiences a severe water shortage during the dry season. To improve water security, the option to use underground water wells for storage is being studied by Deltares. During the rainy season, excess fresh water is infiltrated and stored through the wells to be used when a water shortage occurs. The research aims to assess the conditions and risks for storing and recovering fresh water in the subsurface, and to pre-design an Aquifer Storage and Recovery system for one of the local banana farms.

Affordable recirculating aquaculture systems (Kenya)
In Kenya, a consortium of the Wageningen Research, AquaFarmingConsult, EKAS Technologies, FOSPA-Africa, Laikipia University, KMFRI and Nyeri Fish Farmers Cooperative S. (LTD) will conduct a feasibility study for the use of affordable, solar-powered recirculating aquaculture systems (A-RAS) for small-scale fish farmers. This is aimed at reducing the water usage of the fish farmers by up to 90% and increasing their production capacity by 40 times. Not only will this improve the business model of the fish farmers, but it will also improve the food security of the community.

Circular water systems in cities (Mexico)
In Oaxaca de Juarez, the architecture firm Beccan Davila is partnering with Field Factors and the Mexican research institute Centro to conduct a feasibility study for the implementation of BlueBlogs in the city. Combining this innovation with proper urban planning, makes it possible to create a circular water system and add green spaces in the city. Excess rainwater can be stored and filtered in green spaces and used during times of drought.

Monitoring and combating algae (Ecuador)
In Ecuador, LG Sonic B.V. has started a pilot project to tackle the growth of algae in shrimp ponds. To counteract the algae bloom, the water quality will be constantly monitored. The resulting data will be used to predict the algae bloom and to combat the growth of the algae with specific ultrasonic sound waves.

Smart reuse of wastewater (Ghana)
Bureau M2 B.V. is conducting a feasibility study to explore the conversion of wastewater into irrigation water. The wastewater will be filtered through either sand or carbon, and the plant ‘Helofyt’. The resulting organic material will be converted into compost, while the remaining filtered water will be used for irrigation.

Do you want to participate in the next funding round?

There are still two subsidy rounds. Pleaes visit the subsidy scheme webpage for more information.