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 Purman Cahyani, whose lifelong struggle with water scarcity has fuelled her dedication to water conservation.

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. Coastal cities are also threatened by exacerbated 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 programmes. 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 programme aims to foster cooperation among government entities, the private sector, NGOs, young professionals, and knowledge institutions.

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

Irene Purman Cahyani: A life shaped by water scarcity

Irene Purman Cahyani, Programme Manager at AidEnvironment—a nonprofit organisation dedicated to sustainability research, strategy, and implementation—grew up in Nusa Tenggara Timur (NTT), a province in Indonesia’s Lesser Sunda Islands. Despite being surrounded by water from the Indian Ocean to the Flores Sea, daily access to water was scarce.

“During my childhood, my father and I had to carry water. That’s how I really came to appreciate it. Thanks to the 3R approach, I am confident that we will have water for the next years”.

The 3R approach—Retain, Recharge, Reuse—is a low-cost, sustainable method that can be easily implemented by local communities using local materials. Cahyani, with nearly 20 years of experience, has provided technical assistance to climate resilience projects, collaborating with government departments, including the Indonesian Ministry of Environment & Forestry, National Development Planning Agency, Regional Disaster Management Agency, and the Watershed Forum. She stresses the importance of collaborating closely with other NGOs and various stakeholders. She leads focus group discussions, conducts research, and implements water conservation projects. Discover more about her ‘why’ in the Humans of Partners for Water video below.

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

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

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

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

Integrating road planning

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

Advanced methods

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

Consortium partners

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

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

Digital twins

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

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

Approach and phase

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

Goals

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

Innovation in progress series

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

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

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

Drought and salinisation

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

From concrete to sponge

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

In practice

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

A self-sustaining project

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

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

Successful collaborations

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

What’s next?

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

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

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

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

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

Transforming Ghanaian horticulture

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

Promising harvest

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

Farmers’ scepticism

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

Understanding the farmers’ context

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

Scaling up

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

Innovation in progress series

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

The countries of Central America struggle with so-called red tides, or harmful algal blooms. This not only threatens their rich ecosystems but also local economies. The MAReS project, funded by Partners for Water, addresses this by developing a scalable service for detecting and monitoring harmful algal blooms using satellite data and citizen science, and considering the needs of end users. Consortium partners Dr. Andrea Suárez Serrano and Dr. Alexander Kaune discuss the innovative MAReS project with us.

Meet the team

Andrea, the general coordinator of the Centro de Recursos Hídricos para Centroamérica y el Caribe (HIDROCEC) at the Universidad Nacional (UNA), Costa Rica, has led various research projects on surface water quality, drinking water and coastal zones. In the MAReS project, the university validates the gathered data and provides scientific and technical support.

Alexander, who holds a PhD in Water Resources Management and has extensive experience in international hydrological and water resources projects, is an independent expert for Kaune Engineering and Science. He coordinates projects, co-develops services, and liaises between project partners and stakeholders.

MAReS

Water Insight, the Universidad Nacional (UNA), Costa Rica, and Kaune Engineering and Science are involved in a collaborative project related to water quality monitoring and management. The project aims to create a scalable service that provides near-real-time spatial insights into the location of harmful algal blooms (HABs), also known as ‘red tides.’ This project addresses critical issues affecting local economic sectors such as seafood farms and eco-tourism which depend on a healthy sea environment to be sustainable. Eventually, MAReS will deliver timely alert messages and near-real-time maps indicating the risk levels of red tides occurring in the Costa Rican Pacific, aiding in mitigation efforts.

Efficient data measurements

“We use satellite images as the basis of our tool,” says Alexander. “This results in a service that is affordable and scalable”. Alexander explains how the consortium validates the measurements: “To ensure the satellite data matches reality, we validate the measurements with data from Water Insight Spectrometers (WISPstations) placed in the ocean. These Water Insight Spectrometers determine the bio-physical water quality through high-frequency optical measurements of the surface water.” During the pilot project, Andrea’s team at HIDROCEC-UNA validates the data from satellite and  WISPstation through sea water sampling to obtain the concentration of different types of phytoplankton that can produce red tides. Andrea says: “We also receive daily images of the colour of the surface water through a citizen science approach, where people already working in the sea share images with us through an app. In this way, we have successfully managed to obtain data on red tides in the Costa Rican Pacific from four information sources: satellite images, optical instruments, water sampling and citizen science”.

Andrea adds, “The interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary work of the MAReS project is a unique and innovative approach. From an academic perspective, the project is very useful as we work with communities dependent on marine resources. Knowing more about the occurrence and detection of red tides is fundamental in developing early warning mechanisms for these communities as well as for tourism, fishing and the environment.”

Problem-driven innovation

“Initially, we knew we wanted to work on water quality using satellite data, but we were uncertain about our specific focus,” says Alexander. “We decided to consult with individuals who face real challenges in water quality, aiming to respond to a need and develop a solution with direct impact.” From previous research projects, Andrea had two potential beneficiaries: Península Papagayo, a service company coordinating various activities and services for eco-tourism in the North Pacific Region of Costa Rica, and Martec-AquaFoods, a mariculture company producing fish in the ocean. “We met with them to explore how our expertise could meet their needs. They immediately identified a critical need to solve the problem of red tides.”

Designing for the end user

“Our end users want a service that timely alerts and maps potential harmful algal blooms and shows their risk level. They also want to see the variables used to generate this indicator, allowing them to compare with their own observations to better understand these events,” says Alexander. To meet these needs, the consortia have regular meetings and feedback workshops with the end users. Alexander states: “For the tool to be useful, the end users need to understand the information it provides. Only they can tell us if it has added value and what should be changed to improve information delivery.”

“In the beginning, we had to push for a participative approach, employees are busy with their own daily activities. We convinced the management to involve everyone in the process, as those on the ground dealing with harmful algal blooms daily know best what is useful for the tool,” says Alexander. Their effort to include the whole team paid off. “We had successful meetings with the employees who go out on the ocean for tourist tours and daily patrols. They were very critical and provided us with excellent feedback, but also eager to help. From them, we are receiving daily images of the colour of the surface water, that can help us to calibrate and validate our model. That’s exactly what we need to improve our tool.”

Scaling up

“The opportunity to scale up this type of project is vast,” says Andrea. “The Central American isthmus, bordered by the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, requires accurate information for effective decision-making regarding marine resources, which are crucial to the region’s economy. Additionally, our technology could be applied to lakes and rivers that supply water to communities, where monitoring and detecting harmful algae is essential.” Alexander adds, “As long as we can access satellite data, we can monitor the water quality in large areas without needing to take continuous and expensive water samples and provide our affordable service to customers in those areas as well.”

To read a full introduction to the MAReS project, read the first interview here.

Innovation in progress series

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

“I believe that water is the main factor that can affect quality of life and lives within the community.”
In this Humans of Partners for Water series, discover how the FACE Association’s CEO, Hélder Domingos, addresses Mozambique’s water security challenges in partnership with Partners for Water.

Humans of Partners for Water

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 the FACE Association’s CEO, Hélder Domingos, and how he is committed to a water-secure Mozambique.

Dutch – Mozambican water cooperation

Mozambique and the Netherlands will celebrate 50 years of bilateral cooperation in 2025. Throughout this cooperation, the two countries have been working on improving access to WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) services and water management in Mozambique, and plan to continue doing so.

The delta country in southern Africa is vulnerable to extreme climate events, which have manifested in numerous floods, droughts, cyclones, and storm surges over the last decades. To address this, Partners for Water has established a long-term partnership with the municipality of Beira to make the port city more climate resilient. This is done by supporting the development and implementation of the Beira Master Plan (BMP) 2035, initiating and co-financing land development in Beira’s Maraza neighbourhood, facilitating digitalisation and improvement of land registration, donor coordination and strengthening local institutions to enhance cyclone and flood resilience. These activities have been and will continue to be carried out mainly by local institutions, service providers, developers, and NGOs such as the FACE Association. With its capacity-building skills in Water, Sanitation, Solid Waste Management and Environmental Protection and local presence, FACE has contributed to numerous Partners for Water projects in Mozambique.

Hélder

Hélder is co-founder of the FACE Water and Sanitation Association which is a Mozambican non-profit organization located in Beira that contributes to the country’s development by improving living conditions in communities by working with communities.

“In 2000, I had my first encounter with a flood situation. We had one month without electricity and water. This memory has stayed alive in my mind since that day. I believe that water is the main factor that can affect living conditions and lives within the community.”

With his passion for community development and sustainable and integrated solutions with a special focus on vulnerable groups and gender, he has contributed to Mozambique’s water security through advocacy, consultancy, training, and implementing programmes and projects in ​​water, sanitation, hygiene and environmental protection. Discover more about his ‘why’ in the Humans of Partners for Water video below.

The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is considered the most water-scarce region globally. The region is grappling with complex water problems such as limited freshwater sources and climate change, all while facing a continuously growing population. Egypt finds itself at the heart of this water dynamic. For all water experts, this is a region where you can immerse yourself in water-related challenges. So it’s not surprising that the Wetskills Young Experts Knowledge Exchange Programme found its home base in bustling Cairo this past February-March.

Dedicated working to a single task

Wetskills brings together young professionals and students to tackle real-life water challenges in a unique setting. The programme isn’t just training; it’s an experience. Johan Oost, Managing Director of the Wetskills Foundation, emphasises, “In two weeks, intercultural water teams work together on a case from local and international sector partners. They are encouraged to think outside the box and come up with innovative solutions. The programme provides the teams with an outline of some training and activities, giving them freedom and responsibilities. This approach leads to creative solutions and fresh perspectives emerging, while friendships are also built. Where else do you have the luxury of dedicating two weeks to one task with other enthusiastic peers?”

Funding through Partners for Water

Egypt is one of the seven countries in the delta country approach of the Partners for Water (PfW) programme 2022–2027. The Partners for Water bilateral water cooperation involves various representatives from the Dutch and Egyptian governments. The idea for a Wetskills event in Egypt was proposed two years ago by a Wetskills alumni, Dr Alia Amer. At that time, two other events were planned in the MENA region, in Jordan and Palestine. After some consideration, Egypt was chosen as the February-March 2024 destination for Wetskills. The programme was also primarily funded by PfW and co-organised by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Cairo.

The power of influencing

For the first time in Wetskills’ history, the organisation experienced the power of influencer marketing when an Egyptian influencer with an extensive reach promoted the programme. The number of applications for Wetskills in the MENA region skyrocketed as a result. “Unfortunately, we couldn’t accommodate all interested parties in this Wetskills event, but it demonstrates how we can leverage social media for our programme,” Johan Oost said.

The grand finale at the Dutch Embassy

Over two weeks, four teams delved into four cases with various case owners.

1. Better Irrigation Practices for the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation (MWRI) involved developing a 4-in-1 intelligent irrigation IoT system and application to address water shortage problems.
2. Flash Flood Risk Reduction for the Water Resources Research Institute focused on a holistic approach, including enhanced monitoring, strategic land-use planning, flood preparedness, ecosystem conservation, and inter-authority collaboration.
3. Water Footprint Compensation for the Water Footprint Implementation explored how Egypt could benefit from the concept of increasing water availability or quality.
4. Increasing water availability for World Waternet proposed a solution for rainwater harvesting by capturing humid air for households in arid regions.

The teams presented their cases in a special workshop at the Embassy of the Kingdom of The Netherlands. Around 70 people from the field, embassies, local partners, and the Wetskills programme attended. Case 4 was declared the winning case at this grand finale.

Ripple effect

Wetskills impacts participants and the local community not only directly but also through the creation of a ripple effect that extends beyond the programme’s duration. “Strong friendships and networks are built in two weeks, which persist after the programme ends. In addition to this natural effect, we also stimulate and monitor the follow-up of some of the ideas via an initiative called ‘WetsNext’. Plans are underway to return to Cairo to share results and set up new events.” Johan explains.

Partners for Water reflects on a successful event in a challenging Delta country!

This week, Holland House Colombia, the Netherlands Enterprise agency (RVO) and the Netherlands Water Partnership (NWP), joined forces at the 67th ACODAL Water, Waste and Energy Congress took place in Cartagena, Colombia.

In anticipation of the Dutch presence at the congress, Jan Willem van Bokhoven – director of Holland House in Colombia – gives his perspective on the long-term ongoing partnership of 50 years between the two countries that are committed to addressing environmental challenges.

A receptive market for European expertise
As Colombia is lacking a strong industrial base for advanced technologies, it often relies on foreign expertise. Traditionally dominated by the United States, nowadays European companies are finding a much more receptive market in Colombia. Of course there are still challenges. Last year Dutch expertise was showcased in capacity building, water management and sustainable water purification. The emphasis now lies on the Water as Leverage programme and coastal protection, especially in the face of climate change, rapid urbanisation, and environmental degradation.

Success stories and economic growth
Van Bokhoven has significantly contributed to the success of Dutch entrepreneurs in Colombia. The number of companies with branches in Colombia increased from 35 to 300 over the past seven years, and over 800 Dutch entrepreneurs began exporting to Colombia, the third-largest economy in Latin America, during the same period. Since he set up Holland House ten years ago, Bokhoven has fallen in love with the Latin American country that has hosted him. ‘A beautiful country with beautiful people and also a typical emerging market.’ The aftereffects of the financial crisis leading to budget cuts abroad pushed Dutch entrepreneurs to look beyond Europe for growth opportunities. Bokhovens’ goal was to support not only existing businesses but also guide entrepreneurs taking their first steps in new markets such as Colombia. Today, that number has grown to nearly 400 member companies.

Colombia’s agricultural potential
Colombia offers a lot of potential as a major global food producer. The country has 26 million hectares of agricultural land, with only 6 million currently in use, indicating a vast potential for growth. This growth is further supported by the peace process, which is gradually making more land accessible. ‘We do a lot with agro-logistics and the use of water in the agricultural sector. Due to the El Niño and La Niña weather phenomena, we have periods of extreme drought and periods of huge rainfall. Both drought and excessive rain require the efficient use of water.

Even in regions traditionally abundant in water, the drought leading to historic lows in reservoir levels demanded immediate action. In Bogotá, a major city with millions of residents, authorities have implemented a one-day water outage every ten days.

Importance of effective water management
In Colombia, effective water management is becoming increasingly critical across all sectors, highlighted by the ongoing drought and heightened sense of urgency. This issue is key at the ACODAL Congress. This year marks the largest delegation of Dutch companies ever, with familiar names like Nijhuis and Paques reflecting a growing interest in the Colombian market, Van Bokhoven points out. Dutch companies operate in Columbia via the Blue Deal InspirAgua initiative; a holistic approach to problem-solving that integrates public, private, academic, and community sectors where 21 water boards work together with the Dutch ministries of Foreign Affairs and Infrastructure and Water Management. The goal: to give 20 million people around the world access to sufficient, clean and safe water.

Focus on filtration technology
A significant focus is on filtration technology, essential for transforming wastewater and various water sources into potable water. This technology is crucial for treating groundwater and mountain water to ensure safe drinking water supplies. The Dutch delegation’s mix of expertise and cutting-edge technology aims to address Colombia’s pressing water management needs effectively.

The expanding group of participants includes firms specialising in water use for agriculture and decentralised water supply systems for rural and remote areas, such as the Amazon. These companies bring advanced technologies for water purification and drinking water provision and try to find solutions for Colombia’s vast and diverse geography. ‘Trade and development are not two opposites in this country,’ says Van Bokhoven, ‘they reinforce each other.’

Integrating water, energy, and waste solutions
Additionally, there’s a notable trend of integrating water management with energy and waste solutions, leveraging Dutch expertise to create comprehensive and sustainable approaches. The collaboration at ACODAL underscores the importance of innovative, cross-sector solutions to Colombia’s water challenges. ‘But’, says Van Bokhoven, ‘significant strides are being made by providing comprehensive, turnkey water management solutions. Bluecon, for instance, offers complete plug-and-play systems tailored for small municipalities, covering everything from filtration technology to infrastructure. Similarly, LIC provides fully integrated water technology solutions.’

Beyond turnkey projects: Dutch expertise in larger systems
However, the Dutch role in Colombia extends beyond turnkey projects. Often, Dutch expertise and technology are integrated into larger systems managed by other international firms. While Colombia has strong educational institutions, the country lacks a robust industrial base, making it unlikely for advanced technologies like pumps or nanofilters to be manufactured locally. Instead, local installation work remains prevalent.

Overall, while Dutch firms contribute significantly to Colombia’s water sector and create job opportunities, most high-tech production remains abroad. The mutual benefit is clear, emphasises Van Bokhoven: Colombia gains access to advanced water technologies, and Dutch companies find a receptive market for their solutions.

If you are also interested in doing business in Colombia, for example by participating in the activities mentioned above, or you want to consult someone, please contact RVO. There are various ways to support you, and we can also put you in contact with the Dutch embassy in Bogota.

See below for an impression of the Netherlands Pavilion at Acodal, Cartagena Colombia, 2024.

International Biodiversity Day: A call to action from Partners for Water

Today, 22 May 2024, marks International Biodiversity Day, highlighting the crucial role of biodiversity in sustaining life on Earth. At Partners for Water, we use this day to emphasize the importance of conserving biodiversity and our commitment to its protection.
We believe collective action from all sectors is essential to address biodiversity loss. To underscore this, we interviewed experts like Claudia Schutte from RVO, Maxime Eiselin from IUCN NL, and Dr. James Byng from TU Delft for their insights on preserving biodiversity.

Dedicated to biodiversity

“Biodiversity means life!” exclaims Claudia Schutte of the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO). At RVO, Claudia and her team are dedicated to mainstreaming biodiversity in development efforts. They aim to implement nature-inclusive programs and projects that avoid harming biodiversity and actively promote a nature-positive impact. “We are not there yet, but we are dedicated to that mission,” Claudia adds.

Today, humanity faces two major crises: climate and biodiversity crises. Dr. James Byng, the Director at the technical Hortus Botanicus of TU Delft, is most worried that we still know so little about this planet’s biodiversity. Without comprehensive knowledge, conservation efforts are hindered. “Imagine what we can do if we can get botanists, horticulturists, engineers, architects, and designers all working together!” he envisions.

Political will is needed

Maxime Eiselin, Senior Expert in Nature-based Solutions at IUCN NL, stresses the necessity of political will to integrate biodiversity into policies, regulations, planning, and development processes. “To structurally reduce biodiversity loss, political will is needed at all levels of government to ensure the integration of biodiversity in decision-making,” he explains. Claudia Schutte agrees, noting that short-term ambitions often overshadow long-term ecological goals, posing a significant challenge to achieving the targets for 2030 and goals for 2050 set by the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (K-M GBF).

Challenges and successes

Biodiversity-positive interventions require time to yield results, as nature takes time to restore. Despite these challenges, successes like species recovery documented in the IUCN Green Status of Species and practical conservation efforts in the IUCN Green List of Protected and Conserved Areas offer optimism. When discussing biodiversity, many forget that genetic diversity is just as crucial as ecosystem diversity. Adding greenery to cities is beneficial, but climate change is vital to ensuring genetic diversity in urban trees. Municipalities and communities must utilise this growing knowledge.

Ambitious goals at COP16

At the UN’s Convention on Biological Diversity COP16 in October and November in 2024, countries will submit their updated plans for contributing to the K-M GBF using their National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plans (NBSAPs). “The proof of the pudding is in the eating. We’ll see at COP17 2025 if combining all these NBSAPs will be enough to reach our agreed goals at the global level,” says Claudia. Maxime highlights the upcoming negotiations on financial mechanisms, digital sequence information, and the monitoring framework, which are crucial to reaching the ambitious targets of the K-M GBF.

Act now

“Transformative action is essential because we cannot simply halt this mass extinction,” stresses Maxime. Solving the biodiversity issue requires collective action from stakeholders, including companies, NGOs, governments, and knowledge institutions. “Surround yourself with ambitious partners to drive broader mainstreaming in society,” he advises.

Legislation and financial structures are pushing companies towards sustainable business models. A report from DNB (De Nederlandse Bank) and PBL (Plan Bureau Leefomgeving, “Indebted to Nature” (2020), highlights the risks financial institutions face when funding companies with negative biodiversity impacts. Companies must adapt their operations to government policy and changing consumer preferences to reduce the damage to biodiversity.

Nature’s Pride for biodiversity conservation

Nature’s Pride has been working on an efficient, fair, and sustainable food chain since 2001. Natures Pride: “We’re strongly committed to people’s well-being, responsible water management, and climate change mitigation and resilience. As part of our new ambitions for the care of people and nature, we’ve included biodiversity conservation into our cultivation areas. Last year, we were the first to successfully pilot GLOBALG.A.P.’s BioDiversity add-on outside of Europe together with two of our dedicated partner growers in South Africa”. For over two decades ZZ2, avocado grower in South Africa, has been farming according to the ‘Natuurboerdery’ concept. “We have implemented a wide array of practices that protect and enhance biodiversity in and around our farms. The pilot we did with Nature’s Pride helped us to strengthen on-farm biodiversity practices and to independently verify and formally document these best practices. We are now expanding the use of biodiversity assessments and action plans as a standard practice to all our farms”, says Clive Garrett, Marketing Manager at ZZ2.

Knowledge is key

“We all have a part to play, both individually and collectively, whether here in The Netherlands or abroad,” says Maxime Eiselin. However, knowledge is often fragmented and undervalued. Indigenous knowledge, in particular, plays a vital role in identifying and preserving local flora and fauna. Programs like “Reversing the Flow” integrate scientific and indigenous knowledge, highlighting the importance of valuing diverse perspectives. “By working together and appreciating different types of knowledge, we can strengthen and accelerate implementation efforts,” says Claudia.

Biodiversity as a starting point

“Humanity depends on biodiversity for its survival,” stresses James. “From medicines to food to construction materials, it all starts with biodiversity.” If we can sustainably document, conserve, and utilise biodiversity, humanity can reach a turning point. With the increase in global population and greater demand for ecosystem services, the current generation may be the last to have the chance to make a significant impact. Botanical gardens like TU Delft Hortus Botanicus are crucial in preserving biodiversity and advancing plant research, contributing to sustainable practices like coastal mangrove conservation. The TU Delft Hortus Botanicus, under James Byng’s leadership, exemplifies this by collecting global plant species for study and conservation.

Local action for greater good

An inspiring example is the mountainous Atewa forest in Ghana, which IUCN NL and its local partners aim to preserve. Fifty-three communities living on the forest’s forest’s fringes rely on it for their livelihoods, and it serves as a vital water source for over five million people. However, the forest is at risk due to plans for large-scale bauxite mining. Through sharing knowledge and raising awareness among policymakers in Ghana, strides have been made to change the mining plans. “The Atewa forest demonstrates how local advocacy can secure biodiversity and water resources for millions,” says Maxime.

Biodiversity is up to you

As citizens, engaging with this global issue might seem challenging. Take small steps in your immediate environment: green your garden, remove tiles, set up insect hotels, and plant native organic plants to attract and support insects. Also, become a more responsible consumer: cut back on animal-based products, avoid unnecessary purchases, and opt for second-hand items or sustainable alternatives when possible. Claudia:  “Remember, we’re all in this together—businesses, governments, NGOs, knowledge institutes, and each of us as individuals.”

The way forward

Looking ahead to the COP16 in Cali, there is optimism for progress in biodiversity conservation. However, tangible results require collective effort and political will. Despite the complexities of biodiversity conservation, one thing is clear: collective action is imperative. Governments, businesses, NGOs, and individuals must unite to sustainably use, conserve, and restore our planet’s biodiversity. By embracing collaboration, valuing diverse perspectives, and prioritizing long-term sustainability, we can be part of the plan to safeguard biodiversity for future generations. Together, we can actively work towards a healthier, more resilient planet.

Mark your calender for a Biodiversity event!

On 1 October 2024, Partners for Water will organise an event focused on biodiversity. More information will follow soon, so keep an eye on our event page.