Key takeaways from the second successful matchmaking event

On 16 January, the second matchmaking event took place at the Social Impact Factory in Utrecht. The name of the location is undoubtedly fitting, as the event brought together a diverse and enthusiastic audience of government employees, NGOs, companies, lobbyists, and even a few journalists, all eager to explore how they could support one another and collaborate more effectively to achieve a shared goal: improving water security globally. The main objective of the afternoon was to generate new subsidy applications for innovative water projects under the Partners for Water Subsidy Scheme.

Bram van der Wielen from Partners for Water kicked off the event by providing an overview of the projects currently supported by the organisation. At present, there are 57 projects in 28 countries, most notably in Vietnam, with six specific projects there. Van der Wielen explained that there are both feasibility and pilot projects running. Feasibility projects focus on research and analysis to assess whether an idea is viable, while pilot projects are focused on testing solutions in the field to confirm their practical application before scaling up.

Knowledge transfer and global water challenges

The attendees were then divided into two rounds across five tables, each focused on a specific theme. At Table 4, where Infrastructure and sustainable waterways were discussed, one participant emphasised the importance of avoiding repeated investments in the same infrastructure. This can be achieved by making locations financially, institutionally, and knowledge-wise independent. Throughout the discussions at the various tables, the focus was strongly on knowledge transfer and self-reliance, rather than dependency.

At Table 3, Water-Biodiversity-Food, one participant expressed the ambitious desire to clean “all the water in the Netherlands and beyond,” while another highlighted the urgent need for assistance in Spain, where significant social issues and rising saltwater levels have a large impact. “This is a huge problem in the Mediterranean,” was emphasised during the discussion.

Water availability, climate adaptation, and local solutions

Table 1, which was dedicated to Water Quality and Availability, was particularly crowded during the second round. Everyone took turns introducing themselves, after which Gábor Szántó from Partners for Water asked follow-up questions to explore the potential for collaboration. For example, journalist Vincent Kuypers spoke about the situation in the Nile Delta, where 2 million people have been relocated in the past two years. The local authorities had asked him: “Can you go to Holland and see how we can collaborate?” “Despite my long experience in the field, I have never seen anything like this before,” said Kuypers. The aim was for the people of Egypt —not just the wealthy—to be able to protect themselves and secure their future.

At the Climate Adaptation table, number 2, a participant from Ghana focused on giving ownership to vulnerable groups and emphasised the need to explore which crops and foodstuffs would be most economically viable in the local environment. “Does anyone have a solution for me?” he asked his tablemates directly. Cards, phone numbers, and social media accounts were exchanged in abundance.

Reflections on another dynamic matchmaking event

Given the numerous conversations between different parties in various languages—during which not only a great deal of information was exchanged but also much laughter shared—the event can be considered a success. We hope that many valuable connections were made, leading to fruitful collaborations and exciting projects in the future. We aimed to provide more information on the Partners for Water subsidy scheme, making the application process easier for everyone. Did we succeed? Or do you have any feedback? Please let us know your thoughts by sending us an email: partnersforwater@congresbureau.nl