Over a Decade of Building Resilient Cities Together: The Dutch Training & Exposure Programme (DUTEP)

For more than a decade, the Dutch Training and Exposure Programme (DUTEP) has connected Indonesia and the Netherlands through its annual capacity building initiative in the water sector. Empowering a new generation of Indonesian water professionals, this past year demonstrated the programme’s growing momentum, strengthened through expanding partnerships and deepening collaborations across urban and national networks. 

A Public–Private Partnership Driving Impact

DUTEP is implemented through a dynamic public-private consortium of Dutch and Indonesian partners, including the City of Rotterdam, Van Oord, NX Filtration, Delfland Water Board, Deltares, Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences and Nuffic Southeast Asia. In 2025, Boskalis made an in-kind contributed to the programme by hosting a closing ceremony at their training facilities in Papendrecht (The Netherlands), where DUTEP participants pitched their innovative research outcomes. This public-private partnership is made possible through the financial backing of supported RVO-Partners for Water and the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

On the Indonesian side, the Jakarta City Government (DKI Jakarta) and the Nusantara Capital City Authority (OIKN) participated in this year’s programme. OIKN’s involvement aligns with its commitment to the “sponge city” concept, promoting sustainable water resource management in Nusantara, Indonesia’s new capital. The ADB supported this initiative by funding the participation of two young civil servants from OIKN, demonstrating its broader engagement in the development of the new capital. Their specific learning needs were addressed by Deltares, the host organisation, which provided tailored technical expertise in line with their professional development objectives.

DUTEP encourages participants to develop innovative, practical solutions to local water challenges. One example is the Eco Mosque concept winner of the 2019 DUTEP Water Challenge. The initiative focuses on recycling ablution water used before prayer and repurposing it for plant irrigation and cleaning. The project is estimated to save 1,300 litres of water per month.

A more recent example is the development of Taman Gapura Muka Cakung, a new urban park and green public space in Cakung, East Jakarta. Inspired by the ZOHO Rain Letters, a smart rainwater management system in Rotterdam, the park was inaugurated by the Governor of DKI Jakarta in early January 2026.

A Growing Alumni Network

Since its launch in 2014, DUTEP has built a network of over 95 alumni from the Jakarta City Government (DKI Jakarta), the Indonesian Ministry of Public Works (PU) and the Nusantara Capital City Authority (OIKN). Many alumni now hold key positions that strengthen Dutch-Indonesian collaboration in water management. At the same time, the alumni network provides valuable connections for Dutch organisations seeking opportunities in Indonesia.

One example is Cite Aditya, who joined DUTEP in 2015 and conducted research on asset management for the City of Rotterdam. Today, he serves as Head of Development and Environment at the Jakarta City Government.

A year before Cipta joined the programme, Ika Agustin Ningrum began her journey in the first DUTEP cohort with a placement at Delfland Water Board, where she focused on operations and maintenance of flood infrastructure. Today, she leads Jakarta’s Flood Management Department. Discover more about Ika’s DUTEP experience here.

A more recent participant, Mushlih Muharrik from Jakarta’s Development Planning Agency, spent eight weeks in Rotterdam exploring blue-green rooftop farming. This concept demonstrates how Jakarta’s rooftop gardens on school buildings could support healthy canteen programmes and green infrastructure.

A Consortium in Continuous Development

DUTEP’s partners are dedicated to continued knowledge sharing and long-term cooperation. This year, the consortium welcomed NX Filtration, bringing valuable expertise in innovative membrane solutions and advanced treatment technologies. This has enabled DUTEP to delve deeper into the theme of access to piped clean water, a topic of increasing urgency in Indonesia’s urban context.

“We valued the mutual knowledge exchange created by hosting a young civil servant from the Regional Development Planning Agency of DKI Jakarta, whose research internship focused on accelerating alternative water sources to improve access to clean water, closely aligning with our goals.”
— Joris de Grooth, R&D Director at NX Filtration

Despite being at different stages of urban development, Jakarta, Nusantara and Rotterdam share common challenges related to water management and climate change. This commonality creates opportunities for collaboration highlighting DUTEP’s continued importance as a meaningful platform for dialogue and mutual learning between Indonesia and the Netherlands.

Looking Ahead

As DUTEP continues to evolve, the programme is increasingly positioned as a strategic and annual capacity-building initiative within the broader framework of Dutch–Indonesian cooperation in the water sector. Beyond its current scope, the programme has the potential for expansion to other regions in Indonesia, such as Semarang and possibly to other Southeast Asian countries. At the same time, DUTEP offers clear opportunities for strategic scaling across key Indonesia and Dutch partners.

With its adaptable programme design, strong public–private consortium and growing alumni network, DUTEP is well placed to serve as a flagship programme for developing future-ready water professionals and fostering long-term partnerships between Indonesia and the Netherlands. By blending public and private financing streams, DUTEP continues to set a benchmark for collaborative models that deliver innovative and sustainable water solutions for the future.

For more information about DUTEP please contact Charlotte Troost, the Project Development & Support Officer at Nuffic Southeast Asia.