Water, climate, and biodiversity are the foundations of life on Earth. Despite their vital functions, these elements face severe pressures, threatening food, health, safety and economies. To address this, Partners for Water and the IUCN hosted “Shaping a Biodiversity-Proof Future” on 1 October 2024 at Omniversum Museon, in The Hague. This event united the international water, food and nature sectors to develop actionable solutions. Explore the next steps for a biodiversity proof future below.

“Biodiversity and ecosystem services form a strong foundation that underpins all the sectors present today. It’s not a ‘nice to have’; it’s at the core,” explained Heleen van den Hombergh from the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature). Together with co-organizer Liliane Geerling from Partners for Water and moderator Caroline van Leenders from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature, she opened the Biodiversity event. Amid the museum’s captivating photos of wild cats, eagles and rhinos, 90 dedicated water, food and biodiversity professionals listened attentively as van Leenders explained that the event is designed not just to inspire but to catalyse action to integrate biodiversity in their work and mainstream it internationally.

Working towards a biodiversity proof future

The majority of the day was dedicated to collaborative workshops in small groups. Participants discussed challenges, identified action points, and equipped each other with the new insights needed to work towards a biodiversity-proof future. Geerling added, “The insights resulting from today’s discussions we will bring to the Sixteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP 16) in Cali, Colombia this October.”

Five themes that impact biodiversity were explored during the day: regenerative agriculture, water related infrastructure, greening finance, transformative change, and biocultural landscapes, including ancestral knowledge in landscape-based approaches. The main takeaways are presented below.

Main takeaways for mainstreaming biodiversity

An overarching insight from the sessions was the interconnectedness of biodiversity and climate change. Destroying and degrading ecosystems releases more CO2 emissions than burning fossil fuels. Conversely, the consequences of burning fossil fuels—such as rising global temperatures, increased wildfires, and ocean acidification—threaten habitats and wildlife.

Each session resulted in various outcomes, with two insights recurring across all sessions:

• Collective action: A biodiversity-friendly future requires unified efforts from all stakeholders, including businesses, NGOs, knowledge institutions and governments.
• Localized approach: Working with local people and partners is crucial. Incorporating not only their needs but also their knowledge is essential for achieving positive biodiversity impact.

These recurring outcomes underscore the complexity of biodiversity challenges and the need for integrated, collaborative solutions. To learn more about these subject-specific insights, please continue reading below.

Regenerative agriculture and biodiversity

A sustainable food system should provide sufficient, affordable, and healthy food for everyone, fairly produced and within the Earth’s ecological limits. The current system is far from achieving this goal, but regenerative agriculture can play a crucial role in making food systems more sustainable.

During this session, a collective brainstorm was held. It resulted in acknowledging various challenges and identifying many potential solutions to address these challenges which you can find in illustration 1.

“How we produce our food is probably one of the biggest challenges of the decade and will determine the biodiversity status for the future.” – Marieke Harteveld, Lead agri-food transition at the Netherlands Enterprise Agency

Additionally, useful practices for implementing regenerative agroforestry in a landscape setting were discussed.

Takeaways

• Agroforestry practices, such as implementing edible hedges, can benefit both nature and farmers by addressing soil erosion, water scarcity, reduced biodiversity, climate change and economic vulnerability.
• Understanding community needs and adopting a bottom-up approach is crucial for the successful implementation and adoption of agroforestry practices.
• Patience and long-term thinking are required, as income and returns from agroforestry may come later. De-risking smallholder investments through conservation agreements, collateral, and spreading risk across farmers can help attract investment partners.

Water infrastructure, climate resilience & biodiversity

People often claim that biodiversity is too complex to integrate into water-related infrastructures, like dikes, dams, sluices, and storm-surge barriers, but, ensure that biodiversity is prioritized from the starting point and monitored at the start as well as after implementation, it is achievable. This session encouraged participants to exchange ideas on how to integrate biodiversity into infrastructure projects and explored the key challenges and innovations when monitoring biodiversity in these types of infrastructures.

Takeaways

• Both time constraints and climate change must be considered when planning for water related infrastructures. Infrastructure projects often have short timelines, while restoring or preferably enhancing biodiversity requires long-term thinking.
• Data-driven design is crucial for monitoring biodiversity and creating biodiverse oceans and climate-resilient coastlines and infrastructure, and incorporating data from indigenous communities and historical environmental information should be standard practice.
• Interdisciplinary collaboration is necessary to create and maintain impactful, climate resilient water related infrastructures, with an emphasis on including ecologists in decision-making processes.

Greening finance & biodiversity

Ecosystem services are becoming increasingly relevant in the investment world. Of the three types—regulating, provisioning, and cultural ecosystem services —provisioning services are often assigned a higher monetary value, while regulating services are often undervalued despite their importance to human wellbeing. This session explored how recognizing the true value of ecosystem services leads to better investment decisions, what financing nature-positive initiatives means, and why it is needed.

“It is not just about funding restoration projects; we need to fundamentally change business and finance.” –  Nicolas Poolen, Green Finance Adviser, WWF

Takeaways

• Provisioning ecosystem services are often easier to invest in than regulating ecosystem services due to their direct market value, but if we want to conserve nature, we need to recognize the true value of regulating ecosystem services.
• Nature’s value appreciates over decades and the localized nature of ecosystem services necessitates targeted investment strategies at the landscape level. That’s why investment strategies for nature require alignment with ecological timescales and local contexts.
• There is a shortage of transition plans rather than a shortage of capital for nature positive investments. This presents a clear opportunity to integrate nature into strategies, aiming to deliver both net zero and nature-positive outcomes for the corporate and financial sectors.

Did you know that the Ecosystem Services Valuation Database (ESVD) can be used as a tool for valuing ecosystem services? Discover more about ESVD.

Transformative change and biodiversity

Our food systems undeniably require change, but how can we ensure this change is transformative? This session encouraged participants to explore both general and specific transformative practices in food value chains, alongside strategies for overcoming barriers. The key insights from this discussion provided substantial food for thought and action.

Takeaways

• An important aspect for transformative change is to understand that worldviews and knowledge systems underpin what we value in nature and biodiversity and that there are multiple value perspectives, like nature for nature, nature as culture, and nature for society.
• There should be a fundamental shift in value chain strategy: competition should no longer be solely based on price, quality and availability, but should also incorporate water usage and biodiversity considerations.
• Transition management is complex due to the number of stakeholders involved and their potentially conflicting interests. Every stakeholder group, from government, businesses and NGOs to financial institutions, has a role in the transition process, emphasizing the importance of coordination and timing.

Indigenous knowledge & biocultural landscapes

Did everything used to be better? We all know that’s not always true. However, many ancient practices that we’ve set aside did a better job of respecting nature and biodiversity. A wealth of this knowledge, both ancient and contemporary, is still preserved and practiced by indigenous cultures all around the world. This session on biocultural landscapes discussed how we can incorporate this wisdom, focusing on ancestral knowledge and landscape-based approaches for sustainable development.

Takeaways:

• Reviving biocultural landscapes requires considering the inherent logic of the landscape as a foundation and landscape values.  This includes leveraging ethnobotanical knowledge and ecological wisdom and practices from local indigenous cultures.
• Landscape-based approaches are context-specific; scaling up requires being alert to opportunities and cultivating local partnerships.
• Although funding is often siloed, landscape-based approaches demand a holistic perspective, emphasizing co-creation and regeneration.

Nature will bounce back

It is clear that biodiversity extends far beyond environmental benefits and ecosystem health. It forms the foundation of our lives and the resources we depend on. Addressing its decline is of the essence. Wouter Ubbink, former UN Youth Representative on Biodiversity and Food, ended the day with a pledge that left participants with food for thought.

“Water and nature should not be tamed but should be given space instead. Space is where the battle for nature will be fought,” said Ubbink compellingly. In his view, green growth is a myth. So, we need to halt over-exploitation, overproduction and overconsumption. Nature should be embraced and harnessed, not controlled and oppressed. Ubbink: “If we leave it alone nature will bounce back.”

Uniting for biodiversity: a call for collective action

This event marks just one step towards a more sustainable and resilient future for both humanity and nature. The insights from these workshops will be carried forward, as we will bring them to the Biodiversity COP16 in Cali, Colombia in October and continue today’s efforts during sessions hosted at the Netherlands pavilion. You can find more details in our full programme here.

Building on this momentum, our new podcast series, Waterproof, will launch on 21 November. It will explore biodiversity and other crucial water themes, including salinisation, the Build-Neglect-Rebuild cycle, locally led development, greening finance and Water-Biodiversity-Food. The series kicks off with one of the crucial elements in creating positive biodiversity impact: Nature-based Solutions. Click here to stay tuned and be notified when the series launches.

Partners for Water and IUCN urge participants and other water professionals to start mainstreaming biodiversity in all their processes and projects and to work together towards a world where biodiversity thrives.

How to make aquaculture more sustainable and efficient?  In Vietnam’s Mekong Delta efforts towards establishing a nature-based filtration system to make aquaculture more sustainable and efficient are progressing. Two Dutch companies and one Vietnamese company have joined forces to use mangroves to address issues around groundwater extraction, water contamination and coastal protection in relation to shrimp farming.

This article elaborates on a feasibility study financed by Partners for Water and the consortium partners: Larive, Van Oord and RYNAN Smart Aquaculture.

The need for change in shrimp farming practices

Rogier Becker, an emerging market advisor at Larive International, is part of an initiative alongside Nienke Oostenbrink from Ocean Health, a programme by the Dutch marine contractor Van Oord, and Minh Anh Tran Ng from RYNAN Smart Aquaculture, a Vietnamese company focused on innovation in shrimp farming. Together, these three organisations have developed a model to transform the traditional shrimp farming practices in the Mekong Delta, which have been passed down through generations.

From left to right: Rogier Becker, Nienke Oostenbrink and Minh Anh Tran Ng.

Coastal protection and mangrove destruction

Becker begins by explaining the need for change. “The coastal regions of Vietnam, particularly the Mekong Delta, are characterised by vast rice fields further inland and extensive aquaculture, primarily shrimp farming, nearer  the coast where the water is brackish. A natural belt of mangroves along the shoreline has played a vital role in preventing coastal erosion by trapping sediment and safeguarding the land.”

Water travels through various mangrove plots when flowing from aquaculture facilities to the river. These mangroves absorb nutrients from shrimp farming, using them for their own growth, creating a natural purification system. Over the years, many shrimp farmers have cleared parts of the mangrove belt to expand their operations. This deforestation has led to increased coastal erosion, shrinking the once-protective mangrove belt to a fraction of its former size.

Water pollution

“Another significant problem is water pollution”, Becker continues. “Upstream farmers use pesticides and other chemicals on their crops, which contaminates the Mekong River as runoff flows downstream. As the water continues its journey, it picks up additional pollutants from each subsequent farm, exacerbating the contamination. This is cumulative, creating a domino effect,” he explains, “leaving the farmers furthest downstream with severely degraded water quality, posing a serious challenge to the quality of the shrimp and the overall ecosystem.”

The TOMGOXY model

Becker, together with the other consortium partners, have been at the forefront of innovative technology.  Now known as the TOMGOXY model, this digital system for operating shrimp farms in a sustainable manner has resulted in more efficient use of resources and less negative impacts on the environment. This approach is supported by replanting mangroves and integrating them into farming systems.

Becker explains, “We’re exploring a combined approach of aquaculture and mangrove restoration, involving local farmers. While mangrove replanting is welcome, many restoration projects fail due to poor location selection and monoculture planting. Our process involves transplanting seedlings from nurseries to carefully chosen sites where suitable conditions for mangroves are generated, with the goal of creating a diverse ecosystem.” By carefully selecting and nurturing mangrove seedlings in nurseries before planting them pitfalls are avoided, ensuring a better chance of survival

Testing and preliminary results

Becker adds, “We’re in a testing phase, exploring opportunities and preparing to report on the results at the beginning of next year. Tests to assess mangrove growth and water purification will start soon. While the business model exists due to shrimp profitability, we’re still determining the optimal ratio of mangrove blocks to shrimp ponds for economic efficiency. Previous tests have confirmed mangroves’ purifying capabilities, but we’re now focusing on creating a circular system for water reuse. The difference between these methods lies mainly in the density of shrimp in the ponds and the amount of oxygen they need.”

Mangrove integration in other regions

In some Vietnamese regions, like Cà Mau, intensive shrimp farming is naturally integrated into mangrove forests. Shrimp are grown in nets within the mangroves, benefiting from the natural environment. However, the model under development now involves a more controlled method where shrimp are raised in tanks. The wastewater from these tanks, which contains nutrients like nitrate, is not immediately released into rivers. Instead, it is first filtered through plots of mangroves, which use the nutrients for their growth, helping to purify the water before it is released back into the environment.

Van Oord’s role: designing and testing

Nienke Oostenbrink, from Van Oord’s Ocean Health initiative, oversees the restoration initiative in Vietnam. “We collaborate closely with RYNAN, to strengthen their ‘TOMGOXY solution’, by adding the mangrove component to it. During testing at the demonstration site in Vietnam, we aim to gather valuable insights into the filtering capacity of mangroves in different set ups.”

While RYNAN implements the broader concept, Van Oord’s expertise lies in designing and testing how mangroves can naturally filter wastewater. According to Oostenbrink, the TOMGOXY concept allows for hyper intensive farming, producing high outputs per square meter. This reduces the need for land and makes space available for restoration of mangrove areas.

Studying mangrove filtration capacity

“We study the capacity of mangroves to absorb nutrients by pumping wastewater from the shrimp ponds into three different mangrove plots. The three plots have unique experimental conditions, allowing us to identify the most favourable conditions for nutrient uptake and mangrove growth. In order to obtain this information, the nutrients in the water and soil and health of the mangroves are closely measured. After the experimental phase, we have acquired the necessary knowledge of the filtration capacity of mangroves in combination with shrimp farming using TOMGOXY.”

The project is complex and will require about nine months of testing before definitive conclusions can be drawn. Even then, the scalability of this solution depends heavily on local conditions. Oostenbrink acknowledges that mangroves require specific environmental conditions to thrive, such as tide-induced flooding of and salinity levels. The design of the mangrove area and site conditions need to be tailored to the selected location.

Scalability and future goals

Ultimately, the success of this project depends on demonstrating that the mangrove filtration system is both effective and economically viable. “If so,” Oostenbrink states, “we will upscale from the current demonstration project to a larger pilot project, where a site needs to be selected and prepared for large scale filtration of aquaculture effluent by mangroves.” This will entail ongoing collaboration with local partners, insights from continued experimental testing and the development of a sustainable financial model. Partners for Water helped finance the initial feasibility study and Oostenbrink highlights how crucial this support was in getting the project off the ground.

RYNAN’s optimism

Minh Anh (RYNAN) embarked on this ambitious project in early 2024. She explains that the collaboration with Van Oord represents a significant development in the net-zero shrimp farming paradigm, lays out a strong foundation for maximising the effect of mangroves in reducing  the amount of gas emissions released from shrimp farming activity and also “seeks to overcome the limitations of relying solely on NGO and government funding for such initiatives.”

While RYNAN has been working on shrimp farms issues, the mangrove integration aspect is relatively new for them. Based on Van Oord’s specifications, RYNAN is preparing to collect data using advanced digital tools, including drones and a network of IoT devices that automate operations and assist in real-time measurement. The testing will involve monthly data collection to assess the effectiveness of the mangrove-shrimp farming system in terms of:

• Treating waste water from shrimp farming activities;
• Reduce the gas emissions amount from shrimp farming;
• Potential scale up to apply to wider range of shrimp farming/mangrove rehabilitation.

Challenges and concerns

In order to ensure the accuracy of the measurements, Van Oord also helped in surveying and conducting comparison experiments with natural mangrove sites. The project promises to not only resolve the environmental issues of the area, but also the social and economic problems faced by local farmers and agricultural funding.

While the team is optimistic about the project’s potential, they have identified some concerns. Minh Anh notes, “The project duration might be extended if turbulent weather conditions occur”. She also questioned the next step of scaling up the project amongst the local shrimp farming community, which farmers are not technically prepared for.

Conclusion

In summary, the model represents a significant departure from traditional shrimp farming methods, paving the way for a more responsible and productive shrimp farming industry.

Partners for Water in Vietnam

Are you currently working on water projects in Vietnam or exploring how to do so? Or just curious about participating in the Partners for Water initiatives?
Visit the Vietnam Delta Page to discover ways in which you can get involved.

Partners for Water recently sat down with Fauzy Nasruddin, the Secretary at the Water Resources Agency of East Java Province (Indonesia) and spoke about the collaboration with the Netherlands on managing the floods in the Welang river basin in East Java.

Fauzy Nasruddin has significant expertise and experience in water management, and visited Delft in September to accompany his staff members on a short course at the Institute for Water Education (IHE) which also allowed him to join his wife’s graduation. Just like him, she studied at the Institute for Water Education (IHE).

Long-standing collaboration

For the last decades, Fauzy Nasruddin has been deeply involved in collaborative water management projects, including those funded by Partners for Water, predominantly addressing issues like flooding, drought, and water pollution in East Java. The challenges of having too much, too little, or too polluted water should eventually be replaced by the 3 Rs of sustainable water management: Recharge, Retention, and Reuse.

The partnership with the Dutch government formally began in 2020, but its roots date back to 2015. That year, the former Dutch minister Stef Blok came to East Java to visit the grave of his grandfather, an engineer who built a dam in the region during the colonial period. This dam still functions today, symbolizing the historical connection and shared expertise between the two countries.

Early dialogue and exploration

In 2018, a delegation from East Java, including Fauzy Nasruddin himself, visited the Netherlands. They travelled to Zeeland and were invited to the University of Applied Sciences to explore potential areas of collaboration and discuss cases of mutual interest, including flood and water quality issues in East Java. In 2020, the collaboration was strengthened during a royal visit to Indonesia.

The Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management visited Surabaya, where Nasruddin’s office is located. She decided that the Welang River could be a pilot project for further cooperation in water management. The river basin is experiencing great problems with flooding and has been the subject of various water management and flood control projects, including collaborative efforts between Indonesia and the Netherlands.

The Welang river’s challenges

The Welang River floods between eight and ten times a year during the rainy season, which lasts from December to March. These floods have significant impacts on local communities, especially the poorer populations who are more vulnerable to natural disasters. While past infrastructure projects, such as building levees and reinforcing riverbanks with stones and concrete (grey infrastructure), have been undertaken, these solutions proved temporary. The floods returned, indicating a need for more sustainable and integrated approaches.

A new approach: the Welang River Master Plan

As part of the collaboration with the Netherlands, a Master Plan for the Welang River has been developed, followed by several pilot projects that focus on integrated and participatory water management, design and implementation. The goal is to manage floods by slowing down and absorbing water in the watershed rather than simply diverting it as quickly as possible. In upstream areas, solutions that use local materials and labour are being found, so they are not only cost-effective but also sustainable and scalable, as local communities can maintain and replicate them, Nasruddin says.

“Early results indicate that these methods are effective at a pilot scale, but scaling them up across more locations, midstream and downstream, is still work in progress,” he adds. The collaboration in Welang is a showcase of integrated planning and implementation, involving a diverse set of local stakeholders. In the midstream and downstream locations, the collaboration is taking a participatory design approach to jointly identify and agree upon interventions that improve water management in critical flooding areas.

A concrete example of such a pilot project is the construction of simple water barriers in the upstream part of the Welang River. These structures, made of bamboo, wood, and local stones, retain water and reduce sedimentation. While some early attempts were unsuccessful – some bamboo structures collapsed during heavy floods – the project has provided valuable insights. It underscores the importance of designing structures that are strong enough to withstand extreme weather conditions while fitting the local context and capabilities.

Challenges

One of the biggest challenges Nasruddin mentions is the complexity of the administrative and political landscape in Indonesia. Political changes can lead to shifts in priorities and budgets, hindering the continuity of long-term projects. He compares this to the situation in the Netherlands, where a Delta Act and a fixed Delta Budget ensure consistent funding and planning, regardless of political changes. He sees the lack of a similar legal framework in Indonesia as an obstacle to sustainable water management initiatives.

Another issue is the involvement of multiple stakeholders with different interests. In the upstream area of the Welang River, for example, forestry agencies, water companies, environmental organizations, and local communities are all active. Each of these parties has its own priorities, making it difficult to arrive at a joint action plan. Nasruddin stresses the importance of stakeholder engagement and co-creation, where all involved parties are included in the process from the start. This not only promotes collaboration but also ensures that solutions better fit the needs and context of the local community.

The economic aspects are also a challenge. Investments in water infrastructure, especially in flood control and upstream conservation, are often seen as less profitable compared to projects like toll roads or commercial developments. This makes it harder to secure funding for crucial water management projects that may not provide immediate financial returns but are essential for the sustainability and safety of communities.

Personal motivation

Nasruddin’s personal motivation stems from his passion for water management and the realization that well-managed water can improve lives and make communities more resilient. He sees water as a common good that, when effectively managed, can have tremendous positive effects on society. His experience in the Netherlands has broadened his perspective, particularly in understanding the importance of process management and stakeholder involvement alongside technical solutions

Future hopes

In the future, he hopes that Indonesia can develop a legal framework similar to the Dutch Delta Act, enabling long-term and stable investments in water management. However, he acknowledges that this is a complex process, given the political dynamics and the diverse interests of stakeholders. Nonetheless, he remains committed to improvement and innovation in water management, with the ultimate goal of improving the quality of life for the people of East Java and making the region more resilient to the challenges of climate change and population growth.​

Satellite-based solutions

Satellite-based solutions for monitoring agriculture and water usage are not groundbreaking, but the new user-friendly dashboard addresses current challenges and will be up and running in just two years. Corné van der Sande details the enhancements this project will eventually bring.

In collaboration with the Tensift Hydraulic Basin Agency and the Regional Office for Agricultural Development of Haouz, the Water Consumption Dashboard can pinpoint excessive agricultural water usage and promote equitable water access. “Managers can use the dashboard to optimise the complex task of integrated water resources management,” explains Van der Sande. “We accurately quantify water consumption, often exceeding the allocation from dams that capture meltwater from the Atlas Mountains.”

Challenges

In Morocco, due to low rainfall (around 300 mm annually), water is also extracted from groundwater, which is often from unauthorised boreholes. “It is by no means the intention of eLEAF to regulate this,” Van der Sande is quick to explain, “but now we can monitor where and when water is extracted, using innovative technology, every five days. The regional water authorities have limited resources, with only two vehicles to patrol a vast area of 26,000 square kilometres, much of which is non-agricultural.”

“Groundwater,” he continues, “is decreasing by several metres each year, indicating serious depletion.” In response to this alarming situation, the government mandated that all water sources in the region must be equipped with metres. Remote sensing data helps authorities register water sources and boreholes, measure water extraction, and model groundwater levels more accurately.

With the application of a simple dashboard, complex time series data on crop biomass development and water usage can be visualised. With a few clicks on a map, even someone with no expertise in the field can see the data for a particular area or a particular agricultural plot, and how much water may have been used. In recent years, drinking water in Marrakech prevailed, and farmers were left without their share of water, because of the severe drought. They could only use rainwater or dig boreholes. And that’s where the dashboard comes in.

Partners

The data used in this project, funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, operates on both basin and field scales. Together with regional irrigation offices ORMVAH and ABHT and the local engineering firm RESING, technology is adapted to local needs, providing support, and conducting training. Last year Corné van der Sande from eLEAF and Mohamed Aboufirass from RESING officially signed a Partner Agreement between the two companies, providing high-quality satellite data services to Moroccan clients, promoting water sustainability, increasing food production, and protecting the environment.

Despite being scientifically validated by Moroccan universities, remote sensing products remain underused by the government due to limited capacity and a lack of understanding. The Dutch-Moroccan team provides technology and data while empowering local partners to manage implementation and support. This approach leverages local expertise to navigate cultural nuances and practical applications effectively.

Next steps

Morocco is a significant exporter of citrus fruit, olives, dates, and almonds to the Netherlands. Water shortages may have severe consequences for both countries. eLEAF aims to improve the dashboard prototype to such a level that it offers a deep understanding of what is happening at the earth’s surface and can be used globally to make a fair allocation of water and a climate-resilient agricultural sector possible.

Innovation in progress series

Throughout the Partners for Water 2022–2027 programme, we’ll be following several subsidised projects from start to finish. Over the coming years, these projects will share their transformative journeys with you, offering insights into their innovative solutions, collaborative efforts with local partners, and the challenges they face along the way. You’ll discover not only their successes but also the valuable lessons learned through their struggles and setbacks.

Stay tuned and follow their journey through the Partners for Water website. You can search for: ‘Innovation in Progress’ to find the latest updates. You can also visit our LinkedIn page or subscribe to our newsletter to stay updated.

With the Human series, we showcase the people who are involved in and benefit from the Partners for Water projects. The Human series sheds light on the stories of the people with whom and for whom Partners for Water works, and on how water affects their lives. Discover below how water influences the life of Irene Novita Andriani, whose lifelong struggle with frequent flooding has fueled a deep commitment to addressing the region’s water challenges,

In her current role, Novita is spearheading efforts to conserve water resources in areas where this is particularly challenging, such as the Welang river in Java. Her work focuses on ensuring that water quantity, quality, and continuity meet both current and future demands, reflecting a broader commitment to sustainable development in one of Indonesia’s most vital regions.

Dutch-Indonesian Water Cooperation

For over fifty years, the Netherlands has been a crucial partner to Indonesia in water management, solidified by a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) since June 2007. The latest MoU, covering 2022-2026, aims to elevate cooperation to a more strategic level, involving government authorities, public and private sectors, and NGOs from both nations.

Indonesia is one of the seven delta countries engaged in the Partners for Water programme for 2022-2027. Urban water security in parts of Indonesia is compromised by low access to piped water and pollution. Agriculture and poor sanitation further degrade water quality. Java, housing over half the population, faces severe water scarcity, projected to worsen by 2040. Over-exploitation of aquifers leads to subsidence and increased flood risks, especially in Jakarta. Costal cities are also threatened by exacerbate droughts, fires, and sea level rise caused by climate change.

The collaboration with Partners for Water advocates for sustainable and integrated water management through long-term partnerships, utilizing experiences from previous programs. Partners for Water leverages its extensive network, knowledge, and funding to address water security challenges in partner countries. By integrating Dutch and local expertise in sustainable, inclusive, and innovative water management from the early planning stages, the program aims to foster cooperation among government entities, the private sector, NGOs, young professionals, and knowledge institutions.

The program’s priorities include lowland development and irrigation, integrated water management, and the development of capacity, knowledge exchange, and youth engagement.

Exploring opportunities in Indonesia?

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.
• 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.
• Apply for the Partners for Water subsidy. Explore whether you are eligible.
• Get in touch with our Project Advisor for Indonesia: Simon van Meijeren

On 10 July 2024, we organised a deep dive meeting in The Hague focused on issues concerning the Build Neglect Rebuild (BNR) cycle and its impact on water infrastructure sustainability. The event brought together 30 diverse participants from government institutions, academia, private stakeholders, financiers, and NGOs. Key activities during the meeting included:

Three experiences shared by representatives of the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO), highlighting the importance of long-term thinking, local engagement, and adaptive approaches in water infrastructure projects.

A “fishbowl” discussion to explore root causes of the BNR cycle, featuring insights from Maarten Gischler (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) and Mathijs van Ledden (the World Bank).

The meeting concluded with a call for continued advocacy for international collaboration in the water sector, in light of potential budget cuts in the Netherlands.

Want to know everything that was discussed? Please read the full report.

With the Human series, we showcase the people who are involved in and benefit from the Partners for Water projects. The Human series sheds light on the stories of the people with whom and for whom Partners for Water works, and on how water affects their lives. Below, discover how water shapes the life of Liria Francisco and her neighbours in Beira, a city deeply affected by frequent flooding.

“I tell them that when the dyke is built, we’ll still be here, but we’ll feel safe”.

One of the key initiatives in Beira targets Maraza, a 350-hectare undeveloped swamp area. This pilot project seeks to show that through organized residential expansion, land that is currently uninhabitable due to frequent flooding can be transformed and made available at affordable prices. For the success of the project, it’s crucial that residents recognise how the plans will enhance their lives and health. Advocates like Francisco are pivotal in communicating these benefits to the community

Dutch-Mozambique Water Cooperation

In 2025, Mozambique and the Netherlands will celebrate 50 years of bilateral cooperation, a partnership that has focused on water management since Mozambique’s independence in 1975. Over time, this collaboration has expanded to include food security, rule of law, health (including HIV/AIDS and sexual and reproductive health), and social protection. Dutch interests in Mozambique also extend to maritime, transport, food and beverage, and extractive industries.

The partnership is structured through four-year strategies, with the current Multi-Annual Country Strategy (MACS 2023-2026) emphasizing water as a top priority. The focus is on Cabo Delgado in the north and the Beira corridor in the central region, areas highly vulnerable to extreme climate events such as floods, droughts, cyclones, and storm surges. Mozambique is among the top 10 countries most at risk from these natural disasters, highlighting the critical need for this long-term water management partnership. Recent cyclones, including Idai (2019), Eloise (2021), and Freddy (2023), have caused severe damage.

Since the 1970s, many of Mozambique’s water leaders have trained in the Netherlands or through Dutch-funded programmes. Prominent Dutch scholars have also conducted essential research in Mozambique. Dutch water companies have partnered with Mozambique’s national water utility, FIPAG, for over 20 years, helping to professionalize its operations. Additionally, the Netherlands Water Boards have supported their Mozambican counterparts for over a decade.

The Netherlands-Mozambique delta collaboration is a key part of the MACS strategy, guided by two Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with Beira. The first MoU, signed in 2015, focuses on implementing the Beira Master Plan 2035, mainly in water and land management. The second, signed in 2018, commits both parties to co-invest in land development in Beira’s Maraza neighbourhood and to strengthen local institutions for cyclone and flood resilience.

Urban Resilience in Beira

The partnership between the Netherlands and Mozambique, which began in 2011 with the Beira Master Plan 2035 (BMP2035), has concentrated on building urban resilience in Beira, as priorities have evolved over the years. The plan aims to strengthen Beira’s defences against the growing threats of climate change, including heavy rainfall, storm surges, and cyclones.

Cyclone Idai’s catastrophic landfall in Beira in 2019, which resulted in USD 357 million in damages and destroyed 70% of the city’s buildings, highlighted the urgent need for these efforts. The Netherlands played a crucial role in coordinating a recovery package that secured USD 250 million for public infrastructure. However, despite these efforts, Beira’s economy remains fragile, with most damage to housing and businesses uninsured.

Dutch involvement in Beira has significantly increased, with funding rising from EUR 300,000 in 2011 to over EUR 3 million by 2021. This support has financed a range of urban development projects, including coastal protection, drainage improvements, and land management

Hondsbossche Dunes

In the water sector, the Hondsbossche Dunes in the Netherlands provide a good example of an area with high biodiversity. This project was initiated to offer protection against rising sea levels but also included nature development, such as dune formation and creating habitats for plants and animals. This kind of nature-based solution combines infrastructure with nature restoration and has been exported to other countries, such as those in West Africa, to protect coasts against erosion and flooding. Developing ‘robust nature’ is essential in this context; it means an ecosystem that can sustain itself over time and has high biodiversity, including plants, birds, and grasses that are resilient and can survive under changing conditions.

On 30 August 2024, Dutch and Indonesian water experts came together for an important webinar discussing the Pantura Java Integrated Coastal Development (PJICD) project. This initiative focuses on safeguarding Jakarta and the northern coast of Java from severe flooding, an increasingly urgent issue due to rising sea levels.

At the start of the webinar, Victor Coenen explained the evolution of the project’s terminology, highlighting why the term “Giant Seawall” has been replaced with “outer seadike.” And also why this new term doesn’t fully encompass the 850 km-long coastal development project, which aims to provide comprehensive protection for the entire northern coastline of Java.

Thought-provoking questions

Over 30 professionals attended this interesting webinar. Were you unable to join? You can now watch the recap of the webinar online. Here a some thought-provoking questions raised by the attendees:

• Is it possible to join forces with the Koreans and come up with a combined plan?
• Will a Strategic Environmental (and Social) Assessment (SEA) be part of the planning process?
• Can we afford to shift away from traditional seawalls?