The Dutch government and public, private and knowledge partners cooperate together to optimise the Netherlands’ contribution to international water-related challenges and the Dutch earning capacity, whilst gaining knowledge from other countries.

‘Increasing water security for over a hundred million people worldwide by 2030’. That is the goal of the Netherlands International Water Ambition which four Dutch ministries – Ministerie van Buitenlandse Zaken, Infrastructuur en Waterstaat, Economische Zaken en Klimaat en Landbouw, Natuur en Voedselkwaliteit-  set in 2019. We are now halfway and this year the NIWA will be assessed. What progress has been made?  What do Dutch internationally operating actors involved with tackling water-related challenges need to succeed and increase earning capacity? On 24 June, the collaborating Dutch ministries and RVO (Partners for Water) are hosting a stakeholder consultation to discuss which sector-specific and societal challenges should be addressed in the upcoming years under the NIWA.

What will be discussed?

In five years, a lot can change. With global and local situations changing faster than ever, it is important to evaluate the ambition now, as well as the approach to achieve it. At the stakeholder consultation, experts and professionals from companies and knowledge institutions with a link to international water challenges are invited to share experiences, review the progress so far, and explore opportunities to sharpen the ambition going forward. We invite you to join the discussion and share your knowledge and ideas.

We know water

The Netherlands has a long tradition in and good global reputation for our water management and water-related engineering. Water opens international doors for the Netherlands. By leveraging our knowledge and expertise, the government and water sector aim to increase and optimize Dutch involvement in water security for people, plants and animals worldwide, while at the same time increasing Dutch earning capacity.

The impacts of climate change are experienced through water and water is the accelerator for adaptation action. The current NIWA therefore places a strong emphasis on this topic.

NIWA Approach

The approach to achieving NIWA is based on three pillars:

1.    Strengthening local ability to achieve results

2.    Applying an integral approach to water security

3.    Putting forward the Netherlands as a Centre of Excellence

Shared contribution

The main purpose of the current NIWA is to achieve SDG goal 6, Clean water and Sanitation, and related SDG goals: ‘Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all’. Improving water security takes a long time. Long-term partnerships are crucial in making a difference. The NIWA aims to create more coherence in water-related international policy instruments, such as programs. It is also an important platform for collaboration with the private sector.

Liliane Geerling – Programme Coordinator, Partners for Water

‘At the WWF, we will present the Netherlands as a “Centre of Excellence with a shared pavilion where we showcase our broad expertise and knowledge related to water security. Partners for Water serves as host, but there are many other organisations involved, such as the Dutch embassy, Dutch companies and several Indonesian organisations. We feel that by attending the WWF we will benefit greatly because it will bring together so many stakeholders including; governments, multilateral institutions, academia and businesses.’

Enhancing cooperation

‘The pavilion will offer a comprehensive programme with lots of opportunities for interaction and in-depth sessions. For example, we are organising some sessions around the theme “Status and trends in global water cooperation”, where we will discuss what makes water cooperation work, how we can enhance bilateral cooperation and which role the international multilateral system should play. Another example is a presentation by the Ecoshape consortium about their research into Nature-based Solutions for increased water resilience in South-East Asia.’

‘At this year’s WWF, there will be many young water enthusiasts attending which is a great idea as after all they’re the future of the water sector. This is why we involved them in the run up to the event and it will continue to engage with them during and afterwards. One of the “youth activities” at the forum is a “pressure cooker challenge” (Raincarft Bali). Young professionals must come up with solutions to specific water challenges on the spot and then present them. I will be part of the jury and am very curious to hear what they come up with.’

Water action agenda

‘For me the WFF will be successful if, through our pavilion, we can spark discussions on how to advance innovative water solutions and how we can make these inclusive to all. Following that, I hope we can share knowledge and approaches towards water security for all. I also hope we can build upon the Water Action Agenda, which was launched at the UN Water Conference in New York in 2023. Since then, we’ve taken the lead on further developing this agenda and we hope to continue this in Bali. There is plenty of overlap between the action agenda and the themes of the WWF so I’m confident we will manage this.’

Ivo van der Linden – Delegated Representative, Indonesia

‘The fact that this year’s World Water Forum (WWF) is taking place in Bali is special for the Netherlands, due to our long-standing relationship with Indonesia. This collaboration was formalised in 2007 through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), but we have been working together for much longer. We do this in an integrated, inclusive, sustainable and equal manner. We want to commend Indonesia for hosting this WWF and applaud their leadership role in addressing global water and climate challenges. We will help them out wherever we can, to ensure this edition is a memorable one.’

‘Indonesia is developing rapidly and we have ambitious goals regarding our collaboration. This includes new ways of working, where we work together to create an agenda and activities. As we’re both delta countries, we face common challenges such as coastal erosion and rising sea levels. We’re not only partners on water issues, but we also collaborate on other topics too, like renewable energy, sustainable cities and agriculture innovation. But water is an important driver for our broader collaboration.’

Shared knowledge agenda

As we knew that this year’s WWF would be hosted in Bali, we’ve been working together with the Indonesian Government to organise several joint activities. One aspect of this is giving young people a greater platform, as Liliane already explained. In addition to that, we also created a shared “knowledge agenda” for the event, which will culminate in two panel sessions that we’re jointly moderating. In one of them we will discuss small islands development and how we can help mitigate the water problems they face, like a lack of fresh water or climate change-related challenges.’

In the coming years, we will continue investing in our relationship with Indonesia through enhanced dialogue and aligning policy agendas. Part of that process includes evaluating our past collaboration and discussing how we can further improve it. During these sessions, we also include other partners such as the Asian Development Bank as they can use their funding programmes to help turn ideas and plans into concrete, actionable projects.

For more information about the Netherlands Pavilion programme, visit the event page.

Or, directly download the programme!

Bali Youth Plan

Through the Bali Youth Plan, David actively participates in discussions and sessions that focus on political, thematic, or regional issues. This involvement aims to engage youth as equal partners in all aspects of the WWF, emphasizing their role as equal stakeholders. The 60-member youth team is essential in bringing the youth perspective into the broader conversation about water management.

Netherlands Pavilion at the Bali World Water Forum

At the Netherlands pavilion, organised by Partners for Water, David will lead a session together with colleagues from the RVO’s ‘Reversing the Flow’ programme. This session will focus on knowledge sharing and best practices on locally-led adaptation. “These sessions are key for passing on knowledge we hold and learning from others at the same time,” David explains. The Netherlands, which has a significant international role in water management, doesn’t have all the answers. A good example of this is the recent funding awarded for a Dutch-Indian knowledge exchange and research project. This funding will help our country learn more about citizen participation in early warning for floods and drought, while India can gain from Dutch expertise in riverine measurements.

Impact is made together

“Impact is only achieved through collaboration,” David says. “This is where MetaMeta excels, and it aligns perfectly with my vision for the forum.” Collaboration is vital, especially in water management where global challenges require solutions that cross borders. It’s about working together on themes and with people. The past few years, I’ve noticed increasing connections between water, nature, and food. For example, I co-organised an event with IAAS and MetaMeta, alongside the Islamic Development Bank, at last year’s United Nations Water Conference. We discussed the complex relation between water, food, energy, and ecosystems in the MENA region. Although this kind of collaboration is essential and makes sense, the complexity can sometimes slow down action. We must all stay alert to ensure that it doesn’t.

Agents of change

David’s approach is practical and aimed at achieving clear results. “I aim to bring back new contacts, ideas, and partnerships that can help us make an impact on a larger scale,” he explains. The youth plan operates under the motto ‘to position young people as agents of change and inspire more youth to take action for water.’ This approach calls for a broad perspective while maintaining a focus on action-oriented behavior. “If we can take even a small, concrete step toward achieving global water goals at Bali, I’ll be very satisfied.”

World Water Forum expectations

With ‘Water for Shared Prosperity’ as its theme, the World Water Forum offers a vital space for important conversations about the future of water. “It’s not only about your own knowledge sharing but also about listening to others and forming connections,” David notes. “I’m excited to discover the range of ideas and approaches that the forum will bring, which will also help me look beyond my own water bubble.”

With the Netherlands pavilion from Partners for Water and youth representation by David, the World Water Forum will have a substantial delegation from the Netherlands. Stay tuned to our website for the latest updates from the WWF.

With passion and enthusiasm, the results of bilateral collaborations between Indonesia and the Netherlands where shared with 52 participants from the Dutch and Indonesian water sector on Wednesday 14 December. Partners for Water, EcoShape, Invest International and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Jakarta elaborated about successful projects of 2022 and gave a sneak preview of what is to come in 2023. One thing was clear, all the parties are looking forward to increasing their impact in Indonesia.

Nature Based Solutions in Sidoarjo

The Indonesian government has requested support from the Government of the Netherlands for the improvement of the regional aquaculture sector in Sidoarjo in East Java, whilst strengthening coastal sediment management and the conservation of the mangrove system. The Partners for Water programme has assigned a scoping project to Ecoshape, and in the beginning of December, a team of experts in Building with Nature visited Sidoarjo.

The past 7 years, EcoShape has been actively working on restoring the eroding mangrove coast in Demak with Nature Based Solutions. This has been co-funded by Fund Sustainable Water (RVO). Now EcoShape can translate the lessons learned in Demak to Sidoarjo and potentially integrate solutions to improve the aquaculture and environmental issues in the region. One of the aims of the scoping assignment is to share the knowledge and results with the Dutch and international water sector. A dissemination webinar will be planned in Q1 of 2023.

Asia Water

Robin van Boxtel, First Secretary at the Dutch Embassy in Jakarta, elaborated about the trade mission ‘ASIAWATER 2022’ in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, which was organised by the Dutch Embassies of the ASEAN countries, the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) and the Netherlands Water Partnership (NWP). The Dutch Embassy presented the current water cooperation between the Netherlands and Indonesia and 10 Dutch companies from the water sector where part of the expo. Van Boxtel ended with the announcement of more events to be held in the coming years and the representation of the ASEAN countries at Aquatech Amsterdam in 2023.

Semarang Urban Flood Resilience

Jeroen Bakker from Invest International talked about the Semarang Urban Flood Resilience project. To support the City of Semarang in becoming more flood resilience, Invest International has provided 1 million Euro coming from the Develop2Build Dutch Government to Government grant. This money will be used to conduct studies and design and select infrastructure measures to improve Semarang’s climate resilience by reducing the incidence and frequency of floods. Once the research is conducted and the interventions are selected, the project will be handed over to Indonesian project owners who will finance and procure the interventions. The kick-off of this exciting project will be in January 2023!

Finally, Partners for Water gave a warm goodbye to Rien Dam, who has been the Delegated Representative Water in Jakarta and an appreciated contributor to the bilateral collaborations between the Indonesian and Dutch water sector.

The different water parties are looking forward to continuing sharing their knowledge and expertise in the coming year. As Rien Dam said: “The Indonesian – Dutch relationship of the water sector has been long and will be continued for a long time. “

Joint Working Groups

Three JWGs have been tasked with formulating a joint vision and ambition on which the Netherlands and Indonesia will collaborate in the coming years, and to make this ambition tangible in concrete initiatives. Started in October 2024, the JWGs consist of Dutch and Indonesian counterparts who each explored one of the three aspects of the cooperation:

• JWG 1: Integrated Water Resilience, from North Java to enlighten other priority developments.
• JWG 2: Lowland Development and Irrigation.
• JWG 3: Capacity development, Knowledge exchange and Youth engagement.

You are invited!

The JWGs prove to be an effective instrument to exchange ideas with the Indonesian counterparts and to define priority initiatives for the coming years. To share and discuss the initial results and gain further insights from the water sector on these themes, we’d like to invite you to participate in our online exchange session.

Through this online exchange session, you will be informed on the progress and intermittent outcomes, and have the chance to share your knowlegde and inform us on relevant tools available within the sector that can contribute to the regarded themes. Additionally, you will be invited to join us on a regular basis in dedicated brainstorm sessions for each working group.

The online exchange session

The online session will be held on 8 May, 10.00 AM – 11.30 AM (CET). During the session, there will be a plenary introduction to the working group process, followed by breakout groups where you will take a deep dive into the specific outcomes of the working group of your choice.

Want to join? Apply for the event through this form and subscribe to a specific deep dive session. We are looking forward to meeting you on 8 May.

Deep dive sessions

As JWG 3 primarily seeks to contribute in the field of Integrated Water Resilience (JWG 1) and Lowland Development and Irrigation (JWG 2), you are invited to participate in one of the following two deep dive sessions:

Integrated Water Resilience
Urban centers across North Java inhabit a complex interplay of economic development, population increase and resulting natural resource pressures, like high groundwater abstraction, high land subsidence rates, frequent floods and coastal erosion, among others. This deep dive explores the JWGs efforts to identify and further concretize the areas of mutual interest between the Netherlands and Indonesia, among which Nature-based Solutions, urban water resilience, water governance and social inclusion. The deep dive explores what a more holistic approach on regional water management could bring to this complex interplay, and how to build upon existing cooperation and knowledge in North Java.

Lowland development and Irrigation
Lowland areas play a central role in the efforts of Indonesia to reach food independence. Facing major production gaps in the near future, the demand for improving productivity of existing lowlands is high. In reaching these efforts, Indonesia aims for a food system transformation towards an ‘eco-region’ that is sustainable, healthy and resilient, and based on local resources. For years, the Dutch – Indonesian collaboration has provided strategic guidance on lowland areas through programmes like EMRP (2007-2008), WACLIMAD (2010-2012) and QANS (2012-2014). This deep dive will highlight potential areas to continue the collaboration on lowland areas and asks for your participation in defining the unique Dutch selling points in this field.

The Bangladesh platform meeting held in The Hague on 2 April 2024 brought together 36 water experts from various sectors to discuss breaking the Build-Neglect-Rebuild (BNR) cycle in Bangladesh. The meeting explored the root causes of the cycle, including issues such as insufficient operation and maintenance (O&M) funding, delayed emergency responses, lack of asset management systems, and inadequate sediment management. Participants emphasized the need for a systemic and holistic approach, involving both top-down and bottom-up strategies, to address these challenges. The meeting also highlighted the importance of private sector engagement, social inclusion, and sustainable financing in infrastructure projects.

Key Takeaways:

• Holistic Approaches: Participants stressed the need for a systemic approach that integrates O&M with long-term strategies to break the BNR cycle effectively.
• Community Involvement: Ownership and involvement of local communities were highlighted as crucial for successful water management projects.
• Sustainable Financing: Sustainable financing models, including public-private partnerships and performance-based contracting, were emphasised to ensure long-term maintenance of infrastructure.
• Social Inclusion: In order to break the BNR cycle and ensure sustainable and effective water management, it’s imperative to create local ownership by building on local knowledge and practices, facilitating inclusive decision-making processes, and engaging with communities in the long run.
• Collective Efforts/Agenda: Tackling the BNR cycle requires collaboration among governments, civil society, and the private sector, with a focus on consensus-building and long-term planning

Participants in the meeting concluded that there is no ‘magic bullet’ solution and advocated for an agenda-driven dialogue and a long-term process involving all stakeholders to effectively tackle the challenges and move towards adaptive and inclusive asset management in Bangladesh.

If you are interested in finding out more about the dialogues and insights in this meeting, download the more detailed report through the link below.

Transboundary river management of nine international rivers, frequent cyclones, a 2,650 km shoreline, the dichotomy of water scarcity and abundance, salinisation of groundwater aquifers, and a lack of proper sanitation delineate the intricate water management challenges in Mozambique

These are compounded by the limited operational capacity and broad mandate of water institutes, financial mismanagement, 70% of the population residing in informal settlements, national conflicts, and reliance on funding and subsidies.

In The Hague, over 40 individuals from public and private organisations, knowledge institutions, and NGOs gathered to discuss the bilateral delta collaboration between the Netherlands and Mozambique, forging new connections and uncovering business opportunities in Mozambique’s water and climate sector.

Jaap Kroon from RVO, a project advisor for the Partners for Water programme remarked, “It’s been a while since our last water sector meeting, and given the turnout, it was time to organise another. I’m happy to see everyone here.”

As the world evolves, so do the challenges

The Netherlands’ enduring cooperation with Mozambique started nearly 50 years ago after the independence of the country. Water has been a main topic of the cooperation. The delta cooperation focuses on the coastal city of Beira and aims to make Beira a climate-resilient city and enhance the well-being of its inhabitants. As the world evolves, so do the challenges. Ivo van Haren from the Dutch Embassy in Maputo shared, “Our current policy, ‘doing what we know best,’ focuses on a smaller area for greater efficiency. We’re targeting water and food security programmes, seeking synergies and collaborating across sectors and with donors to address Mozambique’s complex issues.”

Challenges in Mozambique encompass frequent policy shifts, economic fluctuations, climate change impacts like cyclones and floods, financial mismanagement, and water resource management issues, including transboundary water coordination and infrastructure capacity. Coastal protection and institutional capacity are also significant concerns, alongside the financial sustainability of water and sanitation systems.

Delta cooperation since 2011

Since 2011, the Netherlands has engaged in various projects through the delta cooperation, focusing on water governance, drainage systems, coastal protection, and social inclusion. The impact of climate change, particularly the increased risk of cyclones and the aftermath of cyclone Idai in 2019, has catalysed significant developments.

Real-world impact and co-creation

Maarten Gischler, delta coordinator and senior water advisor at BZ, reflected on the cooperation journey, highlighting the shift from isolated projects to a more integrated approach in Beira, focusing on real-world impacts and co-creation with the local government institutions and communities.

“In the Netherlands, we live in a world of master plans, feasibility studies and projects. People in Beira, especially the poorer people that are inexistent on any map or registered in any administration, live in the real world. A world in which they sleep on the table during territorial rains. During the past thirteen years of the partnership with Mozambique, and specifically with Beira, we have made progress in ensuring that 250,000 individuals will sleep safely during severe weather events. But assembling the puzzle piece by piece with governments, businesses, NGOs, and the local community has refined our approach to working with and for the people of Beira. It’s about co-creating with and for people. Ultimately, our work is about people. And that is something we should remind ourselves of every day.”

It’s about usage, not about quality

The Beira Masterplan, criticised for being more of a “shopping list” than a strategic guide, underscores the need for a coherent strategy that aligns various initiatives. “The shopping list has been on the table for the last 13 years. So it’s not in the quality of the plan, but in the use of the plan that makes it relevant.”

200 million dollars of new water infrastructure

The city of Beira, comparable in size to Rotterdam, faces the challenge of operating and maintaining new water infrastructure worth 200 million dollars in the coming 3 years, with a municipal annual budget of 0.3% of Rotterdam’s annual budget. Community involvement in climate change awareness, maintaining drainage systems, and financial sustainability through improved local revenue generation are crucial in sustainable development of these infrastructures.

Focus points Delta cooperation in Beira

Summarising, the main focus points of the Netherlands-Mozambique cooperation in Beira have been:

• Climate resilience: Enhancing the city’s resilience to climate change, particularly in preparing for and responding to cyclones and flooding.
• Water governance: Improving water management systems, including drainage, to prevent flooding and ensure sustainable water use.
• Social inclusion: Engaging local communities in the maintenance and decision-making processes related to urban infrastructure, ensuring that interventions are inclusive and beneficial to all, especially the marginalised informal sector.
• Nature-based Solutions (NBS): Implementing NBS for coastal protection and urban water management, favouring ecological solutions over traditional concrete barriers.
• Capacity building: Strengthening local institutions and building the capacity of local actors to manage and sustain the implemented projects.
  Financial sustainability: Enhancing local revenue generation mechanisms to ensure the sustainability of infrastructure investments and maintenance.

Promising opportunities for future cooperation

Some promising opportunities for future cooperation and business can be found in:

• Integrated planning: Ensuring that all interventions are part of an integrated master plan that is realistic, strategic, and adaptable to changing circumstances. This plan should bridge the gap between formal and informal sectors and consider the city’s overall ecological and socio-economic context.
• Community engagement: Deepening community involvement not just in implementation but also in planning and decision-making processes. This can enhance the sense of ownership and ensure that projects are more attuned to the needs of the residents.
• Monitoring and evaluation: Establishing robust mechanisms for monitoring and evaluating the impact of various projects. This can provide valuable feedback, allow for course corrections, and ensure that the initiatives deliver the intended benefits.
• Financial models: Developing innovative financial models that can support the sustainability of infrastructure projects, including exploring public-private partnerships, microfinancing, and other funding mechanisms.
• Knowledge sharing: Facilitating the exchange of knowledge and best practices not only within Mozambique but also with other countries facing similar challenges. This can foster innovation and provide new insights into effective climate resilience strategies.
• Scalability and replication: Ensuring that successful projects are scalable and replicable in other parts of Mozambique and similar contexts, thereby maximising the impact of the cooperation

In the last session ‘round table discussion on opportunities for the Dutch water sector’, many of the participants shared their experiences on several of the issues that were discussed at the Mozambique water sector meeting, mainly on working with local communities and private sector. During lunch many of the discussions continued and information on each other’s activities in Mozambique were shared and opportunities for collaboration were explored.

‘Integrating biodiversity into water solutions can both strengthen water management and address biodiversity challenges,’ states Nico Tillie from TU Delft. During the Waterproof 2024 event organised by Partners for Water, Nico co-hosted a deep dive session into biodiversity and water issues. We spoke with him and discussed the importance of biodiversity in water projects, how to integrate it, and what he achieved during the deep dive session.

As a landscape architect, researcher and lecturer at the Urban Ecology & Ecocities Lab at TU Delft, Nico works daily on integrating biodiversity into landscape and water solutions. During Waterproof 2024, he and his colleague Rosa de Wolf held a deep dive session on incorporating biodiversity in addressing water challenges. Below, he explains how the water sector can embrace this important component for water solutions.

Nico Tillie – Photo by Peter Venema.

The Importance of biodiversity

Our water quality, coastal defences and groundwater levels, among other things, depend on ecosystems, which can only provide their services if there is sufficient biodiversity,’ explains Nico. Yet, when solving water problems, vegetation and biodiversity are often overlooked in the water cycle. Nico: ‘It is crucial that biodiversity forms a clear part of the approach when addressing water-related challenges; both for civil engineering and Nature-based Solutions.’

‘The water-biodiversity nexus has implications not only for water issues but also for food, CO2, and other climate-related issues,’ Nico adds. ‘By approaching water challenges more broadly and integrating biodiversity into the water cycle, the benefits become of all these interfaces become more apparent.’

Understanding the local system

‘Biodiversity is not only about the richness of species but also about habitat variety and genetic diversity. Together, they form a complex system.’ Nico explains that in order to develop biodiversity-focused water solutions, it is important to understand the local system as a whole and adapt solutions as much as possible to the local climate and water conditions. But how exactly do you do that as a water engineer, for example?

Nico: ‘Understanding the local system can be done by initially mapping the water system and its associated vegetation, and then the surrounding habitat and local species. From that starting point, you can search for relevant solutions.’ He indicates that it is very valuable to make use of local knowledge, ecologists, and multidisciplinary teams in the process.

Pattern language

‘What will further promote biodiversity-focused water solutions is using  clear and unambiguous ‘language’ when talking about these themes”, says Nico. ‘At Delft University of Technology, we have developed a MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) that helps water professionals better understand local ecosystems and biodiversity-related processes. In this course, professionals not only learn substantively about this theme, but they also become acquainted with the so-called ‘pattern language’. This is a common, easy-to-understand language used for designing solutions. As a result, people from various backgrounds can work together effectively on biodiversity and water issues.’

From April, you can find the developed MOOC on the TU Delft website.

Deep dive session at Waterproof

‘Pattern language acts as a bridge between ecological and hydrological knowledge,’ explains Nico. He demonstrated this during the Biodiversity Deep Dive Session that he led with his colleague Rosa Wolf at Waterproof 2024. They presented a case study to the participating ecologists, water engineers, and other water professionals about an arid city in Mexico with water problems. The participants were challenged to find a solution using biodiversity as the starting point. ‘After mapping the water system together, the participants were able to jointly identify relevant applications,’ he adds explains.

Nico also showed the participants a case in which he used so-called ‘solution cards’. He says: ‘When we have similar design sessions with stakeholders, we support them with solution cards that present possible applications in a way that is understandable to everyone. This enables stakeholders from diverse backgrounds to jointly comprehend the water system and determine which applications are necessary to ensure biodiversity plays a central role in solving the problem.’ After the deep-dive session, he received a lot of positive feedback from the participants. ‘The people seemed to really understand and get a better grasp on ecosystems and biodiversity!’

Nico Tillie presenting at Waterproof – Photo by Peter Venema.

Fundamentally integrating Biodiversity

“For me, biodiversity is an essential part of the water cycle because it can both strengthen water management and address biodiversity challenges. Looking ahead, I hope that this cyclical and systemic approach to biodiversity will become a fundamental part of technical solutions,” Nico says. Reflecting on the positive responses he and his colleague received during Waterproof 2024, he is already taking crucial steps towards that integrated future.

‘Deep listening, system approaches and embracing biodiversity.’ Are these the key elements to taking the next steps to improve global water security? This question and many more were discussed by almost 400 international water professionals during the Waterproof 2024 event, organised by Partners for Water on 6 February in Utrecht. The event facilitated a dialogue to fast-track sustainable water management. “It’s time to shift from talking to action.”

“Today is about action and matchmaking” said Liliane Geerling, programme coordinator of Partners for Water. Together with Water Envoy Meike van Ginneken and moderator Tracy Metz, she kicked off the long awaited Waterproof 2024 event. Through panel discussions, networking and deep dive sessions, water professionals with a wide range of backgrounds, from the public and private sectors, NGOs and knowledge institutions would outline the next steps for improving global water security. Liliane: “Let’s focus on collaboration and dare to zoom out and look at the whole system, in order to realise a net gain rather than make things less bad.”

Liliane Geerling, Tracy Metz & Meike van Ginneken – Photo by Peter Venema.

Biodiversity, Water Technology and Social Inclusion

Biodiversity

“Biodiversity must be integrated from the start when generating new ideas,” Nico Tillie (TU Delft) explained, initiating the first of three panel discussions at the event. The panels consisted of various experts from the water sector who touched on the themes of water technology, biodiversity and social inclusion. Tillie and his fellow panellists Harro Wieringa (Witteveen+Bos) and Ivo Walsmit (RVO) came to a consensus that biodiversity should always be considered when developing water solutions. Walsmit: “When we view separate water initiatives as interconnected elements of a larger system, we enhance our collective capacity to influence these projects in ways that bolster biodiversity.”

“When it comes to biodiversity, it’s not just about minimising harm; it’s about achieving positive gains.” – Nico Tillie, TU Delft

Nico Tillie, Harro Wieringa & Ivo Walsmit – Photo by Peter Venema.

Water Technology

“The Netherlands is renowned for its innovative water technology and collaborative work ethos. Yet there is a need to accelerate the application of these innovations in our own country,” explained Hein Molenkamp (Water Alliance). In the discussion with Michiel Staatsen (NX Filtration) on the ambitions of Dutch water technology, Michiel noted that his company faces more challenges to apply their innovations in The Netherlands than abroad, and that our country is lagging behind looking at the low water quality of surface water in the Netherlands. Both panellists highlighted the global significance of Dutch innovations and underscored the necessity of confronting domestic water-related challenges. Staatsen concluded: “Numerous Dutch companies possess great water solutions. Now it’s time to shift from talking to action.”

Heijn Molenkamp – Photo by Peter Venema.

Social Inclusion

“For centuries, the Dutch have used a participatory approach in addressing water challenges, and we aim to bring that mindset when collaborating with foreign partners,” says Rob Steijn. He, along with Shahnoor Hasan (Deltares) and Melvin van der Veen (Both Ends) discussed the importance of social inclusion in sustainable water management. Hasan challenges this view: “I don’t think it should be about what Dutch experts believe is a good approach. We need to rethink our understanding of social inclusion and avoid oversimplifying it.” Van der Veen adds: “My invitation for the water sector is to reach out to the local people and civil organisations when developing water solutions, because otherwise, you might end up building solutions that the locals did not ask for or are unable to sustain.”

“We need to rethink our understanding of social inclusion and avoid oversimplifying it.”- Shahnoor Hasan, Deltares

Shahnoor Hasan – Photo by Peter Venema.

Deep dive sessions: key outcomes

After the networking lunch all participants split into groups to join one of the thirteen deep-dive sessions in which they delved into important water themes and discussed them collectively. Below are the key outcomes of these breakout sessions, categorised into overarching themes.

Nature-based Solutions (NBS)

• When it comes to NBS, don’t just talk and write but try ideas out to provide convincing proof of concepts. Keep it simple and start doing.
• In a cost-benefit analysis of NBS, don’t just look for the benefits of NBS over traditional solutions, but also highlight the disadvantages traditional solutions may have in the long term.
• Local ambassadors are key in order to take NBS forward.
• Marginalized and vulnerable communities often encounter high risks but might benefit most from NBS. Look into the equitable distribution of the benefits of NBS vs the risks encountered.

“Essentially, it is all about deep listening. That is something we, as the water sector, are learning and we should keep on improving that.” –  Dennis van Peppen

Dennis van Peppen – Photo by Peter Venema.

Social Inclusion

• When aiming for locally-led development, we need to unlearn old practices, learn to deeply listen and, instead of making decisions ourselves, facilitate local stakeholders in the development process.
• Serious board gaming (using games as simulation tools to model real-life scenarios, strategies or systems for educational, training or decision-making purposes) shows how easy it is to fall into the trap of exclusion. Creating moments to reflect without judgement on what has happened – both after serious gaming and in real-life – creates space to become aware and ‘unlearn’ unwanted practices.
• To enhance socially inclusive processes, listening to a representative group of local stakeholders and letting go of egos is key.
• Socially inclusive processes require time. It is crucial to allow local stakeholders sufficient time to understand the issues and to avoid making any hasty decisions.

“It really struck me that all the people playing ‘locals’ in the Delta Planning board game didn’t say a word throughout the game.” -Stephanie Janssen, Deltares

Stephanie Janssen – Photo by Peter Venema.

Business & technology

• With aid alone we will not reach the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). To progress in global sustainable water management, the private sector needs to step in with sustainable, profitable business models.
• Key principles for successful sustainable, profitable business models include being driven by local demand, ensuring fair and achievable risk sharing and fostering local ownership.
• Bridging the gap between space technology and water management requires effective communication to educate water professionals about the value and interpretation of space-derived data.
• Developing practical use cases can demonstrate the application and benefits of space technology within the water sector.

“Prioritising the development of water solutions should begin with understanding the society, culture, and identity of the people for whom we are building, before delving into the technical aspects.” – Riaz Hamidullah, Ambassador of Bangladesh in the Netherlands.

Riaz Hamidullah – Photo by Peter Venema.

Operation and Maintenance

• The unwanted Build-Neglect-Rebuild (BNR) cycle is complex and requires a systems approach in which we take time with relevant stakeholders to understand root causes.
• There will never be enough budget for Operations & Maintenance (O&M). A pre-condition is to raise awareness among local stakeholders and use the local capacity.

“No one has the complete picture of BNR. Instead of starting with solutions, map the root causes and establish an agenda.” – Frank van Steenbergen, MetaMeta

Communication

• Many countries and individuals face similar but different challenges. Images and storytelling can be powerful means to show these interlinkages.
• Through images and storytelling, knowledge can be democratized, moving beyond large reports and exclusive spaces to reach a broader audience.

“Visuals can be effective to attract people’s attention and can tremendously help written reports to have more impact.” – Kadir van lohuizen, photographer

Partners for Water Award

More than 300 people cast their votes to acknowledge the impact of one of the three projects that were nominated for the public Partners for Water Award. The three innovative projects by FieldFactors, Nelen & Schuurmans and Royal HaskoningDHV, were funded by the PVW-IVWW subsidy scheme and significantly contributed to global water security. After a day filled with suspense, the award was presented to FieldFactors who won with nearly half of the votes.

Hugo de Vries & Kieran Dartée – Photo by Peter Venema.

Time for action

It was a day filled with critical reflections, valuable insights and the initiation of new collaborations. However, the journey towards improving global water security doesn’t end at Waterproof 2024. As Meike Van Ginneken said, “Now it’s time to act. Carry forward the conversations held today with your partner countries, stakeholders and beyond the water sector. Let’s bring this movement forward.”