Partners for Water recently supported the development of a Serious Game in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta, a region under severe water pressure. Led by Deltares, The Water Agency, and Can Tho University, the project used interactive gaming to help farmers, students, and policymakers understand the real-life consequences of groundwater use. The game has since evolved into an educational and policy tool across Vietnam.

In the fertile plains of Vietnam’s Mekong Delta, where rice paddies stretch to the horizon and millions depend on agriculture for their livelihoods, an environmental crisis is unfolding beneath the surface. Groundwater depletion, saltwater intrusion, and land subsidence threaten the very foundation of the region’s agricultural economy.

To address the problems, in 2018 the Vietnamese government implemented new national legislation prohibiting all groundwater extraction, even for domestic use, to maximize aquifer protection in vulnerable areas.

“But you can’t prohibit something essential to farmers like groundwater and not come up with an alternative” explains Niels Mulder, a hydrogeologist specialising in groundwater and subsurface systems at Deltares.

Rather than relying on conventional approaches to environmental education and awareness, this sparked a groundbreaking collaboration between the Dutch research institute Deltares, The Water Agency, and Can Tho University. Together they developed an innovative solution: a serious game that transforms complex environmental science into engaging, hands-on learning experiences.

From research to reality

The project originated in an unconventional request from the RVO (Netherlands Enterprise Agency) via local Vietnamese partners who recognized that traditional policy communication wasn’t working. A game could provide an easy, accessible way to invite farmers to a session or meeting, and give them insight into the problem.

“We brought board games with us to a cafe and played them for a few hours. We were particularly inspired by ‘Terraforming Mars’, a game about making Mars habitable”. The team deliberately avoided digital solutions, despite their potential for precise calculations. “We wanted people to sit at a table together, in order to get a dialogue,” explains Trang Dinh. He facilitated the sessions at Can Tho University and is the country coordinator at Deltares for the Mekong region.

The physical board game format enables interpersonal dynamics that digital alternatives cannot replicate. For instance, player 1 can say to player 2, “you are now going to extract a lot of groundwater which has consequences for me”. They then find out that the only way to ‘win’ the game is by collaborating, explains Marta Faneca from Deltares. She played an important role in conceptualizing how gaming could bridge the gap between scientific knowledge and practical understanding.

It was also clear from the beginning that instead of providing a groundwater model, the game should give insights into the economic differences between, for instance, growing bananas or nuts. Initially the earnings will be higher, but then the game will show the enormous amounts of water needed. Where will this water come from? It needs to be stored. Can you store it yourself, or should neighbouring farmers be involved?

Everyone was excited. Trang explains: “even after the game was finished, people carried on talking. This outcome exceeded the team’s initial expectations and demonstrated the game’s effectiveness in generating motivation for sustainable practices.”

Policy implementation

The educational approach is designed to empower choice rather than prescribe specific solutions. So the game presents broad categories of interventions – water efficiency improvements, surface storage solutions, and managed aquifer recharge systems – while allowing players to explore their applicability to different situations.

The game’s development involved extensive testing with three distinct audiences, each bringing different perspectives and learning needs.

University students, particularly those without water resources backgrounds, approached the game with curiosity but a limited understanding of groundwater consequences. The game provided these students with their first tangible experience of how individual decisions create collective environmental problems. They gave the developers an open-minded insight into the use of the game.

Another audience, government officers, brought extensive technical knowledge but played with extreme caution. Trang: “They already have a lot of knowledge about the groundwater problem, and they play the game very carefully from the beginning. They almost never make mistakes”.

This observation of these three distinct audiences led to crucial insights about policy implementation and how different groups engage with environmental challenges.

Expanding impact

The game’s evolution from initial testing at Can Tho University in November 2023 to featuring at Hanoi’s UN Youth Festival in August 2025 demonstrates both its educational effectiveness and its scalability. Over three hour-long sessions, young participants from diverse backgrounds played the game, creating an inclusive environment that transcended language barriers.

Participants rated the experience an impressive 4.8 out of 5, with many commenting that it was “harder than expected” because it required balancing profit with sustainability. This difficulty was not a design flaw but a feature: it accurately reflected the real-world challenges faced by farmers and policymakers in managing competing economic and environmental priorities.

The development team discovered that successful implementation required constant adaptation to local contexts. The solution was to empower facilitators to modify game parameters in real time. Eight professional games are now circulating among universities, provincial departments, and communities, supplemented by locally produced versions using printed materials and Lego pieces. Another advantage is that no expensive technology is needed and the games can easily be adapted to local languages and contexts.

Learning by playing

“The project is finished. But that does not mean the game is over,” explains Niels Mulder. He feels it would be helpful to integrate this type of ‘learning by playing’ into higher education because it makes complex environmental systems tangible. Vietnam’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment sees the potential for integrating the game into policy consultation processes for new water resource regulations.

The Water Agency and Deltares are scaling up these efforts, developing training for new facilitators, adapting the game for different regions, and creating digital versions in order to reach broader audiences. However, they recognize that the physical board game format offers irreplaceable benefits: face-to-face interaction, collaborative problem-solving, and the tangible nature of gameplay that digital simulations cannot replicate.

Trang’s firsthand observations reveal how games can transform traditionally difficult conversations into engaging collaborative experiences. The game successfully introduced both familiar and novel water management technologies. “Drip irrigation is popular with farmers,” Trang noticed, “and managed groundwater recharge is new to them. Explanations about how alternative techniques can help save water were very welcome.”

Turning Insight into Impact

Investing in Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR), taking water from channels or rivers, and purifying it to appropriate standards is becoming more attractive in the long term. But this approach requires infrastructure investment and technical expertise. The process is more labour-intensive than simply drilling deeper wells and needs proper planning as it’s not an overnight solution. The goal is for everyone to benefit: both individual farmers and the broader community.

Government incentives can encourage farmers to adopt sustainable practices and offer solutions to reduce groundwater dependency. Players often ask for more information after playing, indicating genuine interest, and the game successfully raises awareness about how individual actions affect the broader delta ecosystem.

Most importantly, The Rethinking Groundwater Use Serious Game demonstrates that learning about environmental challenges need not be abstract or disengaging. It can be immediate, collaborative, and even fun, creating memorable experiences while still conveying crucial scientific concepts and fostering the systemic thinking needed for sustainable futures. As Marta Faneca concludes: “maximizing profit alone leads to a loss for everyone, not only regarding water, but also the environment and quality of life”.

In the mountainous regions of Nepal, natural springs are vital sources of drinking water for millions of people and animals. However, as road networks expand due to the need for connectivity, these natural springs are increasingly disrupted, leading to severe spillage and water shortages in local communities. Additionally, water seepage can compromise road durability, posing further challenges. Project RoSPro, supported by Partners for Water, revives Nepal’s mountain springs to strengthen long-term water security through innovative, community-driven Nature-based Solutions.

Dhankuta: Balancing economic growth with sustainability

Since June 2023, Saroj Yakami (who works at MetaMeta) and Madhav Dhakal and Sanjeev Bhuchar (who both work at The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) have been working on an innovative project to secure springs while simultaneously improving road construction through community driven, Nature-based Solutions. The initiative aims to develop a model that balances economic growth with sustainability. FutureWater is the third partner in this consortium.

Operating across Dhankuta Municipality and Chhathar Jorpati Rural Municipality, within a 71-square-kilometre watershed area, the project has successfully combined advanced data analysis with existing knowledge in the community. To maintain water quality and prevent contamination from traffic and environmental factors for instance, springs need to be protected by barriers or Nature-based Solutions such as vegetation buffers and simple earth structures.

Combining science and local knowledge for water security

To guarantee water flow and natural filtration methods to keep the water clean and safe for consumption, FutureWater, a Netherlands-based scientific research and consulting firm, utilized an existing small-scale hydrological planning model (SPHY) that is well-suited to mountainous regions. This model accounts for all the characteristics of such areas, including elevation differences, steep slopes, and snowfall patterns. Alongside this, a data-driven decision support system (DSS) that uses climate, soil, and land use data to support water management decisions was implemented.

The social enterprise MetaMeta has contributed over 20 years of expertise in water governance, land management, and climate adaptation to the project, protecting both springs and roads through a combination of measures. Additionally, MetaMeta set up a communication plan that ensures wide adaptation and the sustainability of the approach. ICIMOD brings decades of experience in spring management, working closely with the people who live and work in the area.

Achievements: more water, safer roads, better livelihoods

MetaMeta and ICIMOD recently provided an update on the project’s successes. Madhav Dhakal emphasized the importance of involving local leaders at every stage. He proudly reported that the collaborative effort has resulted in an increase of at least one litre per minute of available water in March 2025 compared to March last year. “That means water is now accessible to about 32 more people per day per spring.” This increase significantly benefits local inhabitants who previously had to fetch water from distant sources and can now invest the time saved in agricultural activities, improving livelihoods.

While MetaMeta is leading the overall project, FutureWater is focussing on a blueprint for scaling up similar efforts using scientific models that integrate ground data from test sites. Besides improvements related to water, roads are now safer and durable. There is less damage caused by water and repair costs are substantially lower, which helps people get around more easily and makes the area more accessible.

Simple structures and Nature-based Solutions to protect springs

A local NGO, HUSADEC, along with a dedicated young researcher from MetaMeta based in Dhankuta, has played an important role in roadside spring protection and spring management. They mobilised local communities, organised them into spring user groups, gathered existing information, and facilitated their active participation in designing, implementing, and monitoring the project.

With help from local communities and municipal authorities, four important springs were identified. To protect these water sources and nearby roads from erosion and damage, several simple structures were built. These include spring boxes, collection chambers, gabion walls, small dams made of plants, roadside drains, and drainage pipes or culverts. These green interventions function as practical Nature-based Solutions, while water tanks and tap stands were also installed to make sure water is available even during dry periods and to reduce water loss.

To keep the springs flowing in the long-term, small recharge structures – such as trenches and ponds – were created to collect rainwater. These affordable, earth-based solutions help rainwater soak into the ground rather than running off, keeping the springs healthy and supporting the local water supply.

Challenges and lessons learned

The project encountered several challenges during implementation:

• Construction during monsoon season was complex and required local knowledge to protect structures. In some cases, parts of retaining walls had to be redesigned and reconstructed due to damage caused by excess water.
• Budget limitations required design modifications in consultation with municipalities and local engineers with contributions from the community, municipality and ICIMOD for implementation.
• Land acquisition for recharge measures was difficult when the land was privately owned. Mediation with local stakeholders was essential to gain access. The municipality plays a vital role for the negotiations with different stakeholders.
• The fact that spring outlets shift when construction work takes place nearby showed the need for caution when working near spring water sources.
• Rights and environmental laws can complicate the execution of the project.

Local knowledge in water security

These challenges, while initially stressful for the community, were eventually managed using local expertise and took about two weeks to resolve. Despite the technical difficulties, the project remained on schedule. An important lesson was recognizing the value of local wisdom and the need to listen more closely to the knowledge of local people, who traditionally avoid touching or disturbing springs, as springs are natural wonders that they respect enormously.

For example, the community tried to extract water from a spring which seemed to have disappeared. They resolved this issue by using local techniques, which involved compacting the soil around the spring with black soil, effectively restoring the water flow. This demonstrates how local knowledge and traditional methods can be used to address challenges in water management. Additionally, the team realized the importance of integrating vegetation and using bamboo, a method that local people have been using for years to protect springs.

Community ownership drives long-term water security

After a year of monitoring, the consortium is satisfied with the progress. Local communities and municipalities are requesting more such initiatives, and some have already started their own roadside spring protection projects. This demonstrates how a co-designed, participatory approach fosters community ownership.
Although the current project phase is set to conclude in June, the consortium will leave behind crucial data, including a cost-benefit analysis considering social, environmental, and economic impacts. Involving local communities has proved to be very useful because of their valuable knowledge about the springs and their surroundings, but also for ongoing monitoring and maintenance necessary to keep the springs clean and functional. As unforeseen events like floods or droughts can impact spring protection efforts, the model needs to be adaptable to other regions.

A blueprint for scaling up Nature-based Solutions for spring protection

This collaborative initiative exemplifies how integrated approaches can address complex environmental challenges while benefiting local communities. By combining technical expertise with community-led efforts, the project not only revives natural springs and protects roads but also enhances livelihoods and builds resilience against future water scarcity.

Community involvement has been central to the project’s success. Through focus group discussions, surveys, training programmes, and a co-design approach, residents have been empowered to actively participate in monitoring and implementation efforts. While immediate benefits, such as improved access to water for drinking and agricultural use, are already evident, long-term impacts will take years to materialize. Transparency will be maintained with communities about this timeline, fostering trust and collaboration for sustainable outcomes.

As part of the Partners for Water innovation programme (2022–2027), this initiative demonstrates the transformative potential of combining scientific expertise with local partnerships. Through persistent efforts and collaboration, it paves the way for systemic change in water management and infrastructure planning. This will ensure that progress does not come at the expense of vital natural resources.

Innovation in progress series

During the Partners for Water programme 2022 – 2027, 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!

What do you do when a city floods during the monsoon, yet faces water shortages in the dry season? Or when you aim to build resilient infrastructure but are confronted with challenges such as informal settlements? For many cities, climate change is exposing these urban vulnerabilities, particularly in delta and coastal areas. Yet it also presents an opportunity to make cities not only more resilient, but also more liveable. We explored what makes a climate-resilient city, and the experiences of five delta cities on the front line of climate change: Semarang, Thủ Đức, Cartagena, Chennai and Beira.

Climate change poses a direct threat to the wellbeing of billions of urban residents. In all cities, climate-related risks are on the rise. At the same time, urbanisation continues to intensify. By 2050, nearly 70% of the world’s population will live in cities. This growth is putting increased pressure on infrastructure, water, space and public health. Mitigation alone is no longer enough. We must adapt to a climate where extremes are the new normal: too much, too little, or polluted water, as well as heatwaves and droughts.

Without action, damage to urban infrastructure could reach $415 billion per year. The urban poor are hit hardest, often living in high-risk areas without adequate protection. Yet urgency also brings opportunity. By approaching cities as interconnected systems, and working with water and nature, we can build climate-resilient cities that are not only robust, but also greener, healthier and more inclusive.

What is a climate-resilient city?

A climate-resilient city can absorb shocks, adapt to changing conditions, and recover quickly from extreme weather events such as sea level rise, heatwaves, flooding or drought. Resilience goes beyond physical structures – it also applies to institutions, governance systems, and communities. Increasingly, cities are moving from a mindset of control to one of working with change. With smart design, risks can be turned into opportunities: rainwater is captured and reused, urban heat becomes a driver for green and shaded spaces, and nature is integrated as vital infrastructure. Cities that plan ahead and reduce future risks can remain liveable, even under pressure.

Nature-based Solutions and climate-resilient cities

Nature-based solutions (NBS) are approaches to societal challenges that harness natural processes, such as vegetation, soil and water. For cities, they offer an important alternative to traditional ‘grey’ infrastructure such as drainage systems and concrete flood barriers. Because they evolve with changing conditions and deliver multiple benefits simultaneously, NBS are particularly well suited to strengthening urban resilience. Examples include green roofs that reduce heat stress and retain rainwater, or city parks and mangroves that buffer water and slow down flooding. When they are well integrated into urban planning and policy, NBS can create synergy between climate mitigation and adaptation, while also enhancing liveability and biodiversity.

Despite their proven value, NBS are still applied on a relatively limited scale compared to grey infrastructure. Upscaling is essential to ensure cities can withstand increasing pressure from heat, drought and extreme rainfall. Partners for Water works from a systems perspective to maximise the benefits of these solutions, developing sustainable approaches with a strong focus on operation and maintenance.

Five climate-resilient cities around the globe

Semarang

Semarang is a fast-growing coastal city on Java’s north shore that faces some of Indonesia’s most pressing climate challenges. The city’s population has grown from around 1 million to about 1.7 million over the past twenty years. Severe land subsidence – in some areas up to 20 centimetres per year – combined with tidal flooding, flash floods and water scarcity affects residents’ daily lives. Rapid urbanisation and reliance on groundwater extraction further worsen the risks. But the tide is turning: the city aims to become climate-resilient by 2045 through long-term, integrated planning.

To tackle its water challenges, Semarang applies a mix of measures. These include rainwater harvesting in homes and shared spaces to mangrove rehabilitation along the coast, vetiver planting to prevent landslides, and early warning systems for floods and vector-borne diseases. Building on these efforts, the Water as Leverage programme, supported by Partners for Water, pilots integrated, multi-stakeholder solutions that combine NBS with conventional infrastructure and smart data technologies. By bringing together Dutch and Indonesian expertise with strong local involvement, these projects support Semarang towards becoming a climate-resilient city. Read more about Semarang.

Cartagena

Colombia’s historic port city Cartagena is under pressure. The city is growing rapidly but faces rising sea levels, flooding and extreme heat. Most of its one million residents live in low-lying areas, making them especially vulnerable to flooding. By 2050, projections suggest that sea levels around Cartagena – amplified by ongoing land subsidence – could rise by more than 30 centimetres. These predictions put even greater pressure on coastal neighbourhoods. Through the Water as Leverage programme, with support from Partners for Water, residents, local experts and city officials are working together on plans that address both climate risks and socio-economic inequality.

The projects are small in scale but strategically placed, and include water plazas, elevated walkways, mangrove restoration, and improved access to drinking water. This approach integrates all the relevant aspects: design, nature, the social and environmental aspects, as well as the economic and financial ones. By placing local ownership at the heart of the process, the city is building a strong foundation for lasting, inclusive change. Read more about Cartagena.

Thủ Đức City

Thủ Đức City in Vietnam is a city in the making. Today it has just over one million inhabitants, but by 2050 it is expected to grow to around three million residents. Situated between the Saigon and Đồng Nai rivers, the new city is highly exposed to flooding. Extreme rainfall, high river levels, land subsidence and the interaction of these factors make water management a central challenge for its development.

With support from Partners for Water, a blue-green vision has been developed. It combines natural buffers, flood retention zones and smart urban design to better manage excess water. This vision has been translated into spatial plans and policy recommendations focused on working with water, alongside digital systems that support real-time water management. Without adaptation, annual flood-related losses are estimated at nearly USD 67 million and could more than double by the end of the century. By embedding Nature-based Solutions and digital water management systems into its spatial planning, Thủ Đức aims to grow into a resilient metropolis that can withstand both climate pressures and urban pressures. Read more about Thủ Đức City.

Chennai

Chennai is a fast-growing megacity in southern India. It faces a paradox of water extremes: severe flooding during the monsoon followed by extreme drought. Simultaneously, the city is steadily losing its capacity to retain water due to paved-over infrastructure, unregulated urbanisation and polluted waterways. Chennai’s traditional water bodies, known as ‘tanks’, once held around 188 million m³ of water. Urbanisation since the early 1900s has reduced this capacity by about 7%. The remaining 93% is located mostly outside the city and is increasingly threatened by encroachment, pollution and poor maintenance. To reverse this trend, the Water Resources Department aims to triple the city’s storage capacity by 2050.

The City of 1,000 Tanks project, supported by Partners for Water, supports this goal by drawing on the city’s ancient water infrastructure. The project restores these systems and links them to new NBS such as infiltration fields, retention ponds and other green infrastructure. By capturing, filtering and slowly recharging water locally, the project tackles both water scarcity and excess. The approach is modular, scalable and rooted in local collaboration with schools, businesses and communities. Chennai shows that climate adaptation is not only about innovation, but also about reviving and revaluing traditional knowledge. Read more about City of 1000 Tanks.

Beira

Mozambique’s port city of Beira is on the front line of climate change. In 2019, it was devastated by Cyclone Idai, which damaged around 70% of the city’s housing stock. Two years later, Cyclone Eloise in 2021 left another 20,000 homes – roughly 17% – damaged or destroyed. Together, the two storms caused over USD 2.4 billion in losses. But rather than focusing solely on recovery, Beira is pursuing structural transformation. Through the Masterplan 2035, developed with support from Partners for Water, the city is investing in climate-resilient urban development: from improved drainage and wastewater treatment to coastal protection and stronger local governance.

Through public and private partnerships, Beira is building climate-resilient homes with minimal construction costs or rent-to-buy schemes. This makes safe housing accessible to residents for whom home ownership would otherwise be entirely out of reach. Simultaneously, the city is updating its municipal cadastre to improve property registration and enable the collection of property taxes. This is a long-term strategy, focused on system change in order to become a truly climate-resilient city. Read more about Beira’s system change approach.

Seven building blocks for a climate-resilient city

1.        Systems thinking and integrated approaches

Climate adaptation only works when water, infrastructure, public health and governance are seen as part of an interconnected system. It must be addressed across all spatial scales, from the pavement to the metropolitan region.

2.        Making space for water

When cities actively allocate space for water through buffers, temporary retention zones and natural systems, rainfall becomes a manageable design element. It can even become a resource for future droughts.

3.        Flexibility and adaptive capacity

A resilient city is flexible and evolves as the climate and associated risks change. This requires future scenarios, room for experimental development, phased planning, and the ability to adjust course when needed.

4.        Monitoring and data analysis

Digital tools and modelling software can help detect risks early and support an effective response. Data collection and management form the foundation for improved policy and governance.

5.        Participation and local ownership

Solutions only have lasting impact when they are supported by the local community. Local engagement ensures context-specific solutions and fosters long-term ownership.

6.        Collaboration and governance

Coordination between governments, public and private organisations, knowledge institutions and residents are crucial for implementation and lasting impact.

7.        Working with nature

By cooperating with the natural processes of vegetation, rivers or mangroves rather than trying to control them, cities can develop sustainable and flexible solutions that support both climate adaptation and urban liveability.

Partners for Water for climate-resilient cities

When we view cities as interconnected systems and choose to work with nature rather than against it, we can build urban environments that are more resilient, greener, and more liveable than ever before.

Partners for Water supports cities around the world in building climate resilience through an integrated, systems-based approach. We promote the use of NBS and advise cities on innovative and sustainable water management. In doing so, we not only address water security, but also biodiversity, food security and healthy living environments.

Our support spans strategic guidance, from policy advice and planning to capacity-building within local governments. We also fund and facilitate pilot and feasibility studies that test scalable, sustainable and innovative water solutions.

From a partially built wetlands with 1.1 million residents to a megacity of three million by 2050, the city of Thu Duc is rapidly transforming. Located in an area that, due to land subsidence and sea level rise, will be below sea level by the end of the century. Flooding from intense rainfall and high river levels is already a regular occurrence. Welcome to Thu Duc City: the future financial heart of Ho Chi Minh City.

Haskoning’s Netherlands-based Karel Heijnert, Team Leader for Phase 2 and Vietnam based Alexandria Norris-Moore, who led Phase 1 and now serves as Urban Resilience Expert in Phase 2, share their insights into the project.

The challenges of Thu Duc City

What makes this project stand out is its scale and timing. With a projected population growth of around 2 million people within a few decades, the city is on the brink of irreversible change. “It’s about one third developed and the rest is still empty space and wetlands,” says Alexandria Norris-Moore, “but they will be building – because they already have just down the road.”

That reality gives the project a rare window of influence. “We may be small in scale,” adds Karel, “but if you’re at the table at the right moment, you can help steer a mega-development before it locks in future problems.” This makes the Partners for Water-funded initiative more than a consultancy effort – it’s a strategic lever at a critical turning point. By combining Dutch expertise in urban water management with Vietnam’s high-level planning system, the team hopes to embed nature-based flood risk management into the DNA of a city still under construction. As Karel puts it: “This study won’t solve everything. It’s a drop. But it’s a well-placed drop in a resilient city that’s about to flood with people.”

To meet this challenge, Thu Duc City partnered with the World Bank and the Government of The Netherlands on an Integrated Flood Risk Management (IFRM) project. Funded by the Partners for Water programme and delivered by Haskoning, with its partners OMGEVING and Delta Context, the project aims to embed flood resilience into the urban planning and development of Thu Duc City.

From analysis to narrative: Phase 1

Phase 1 started with a core question: how did Thu Duc become what it is today and how did past urban decisions contribute to today’s flood risks? The project team combined a historical-spatial analysis with advanced water modelling and future growth scenarios.

“It was the first time this level of analysis had been done at this scale; connecting all of the waterways across Thu Duc City, from small canals to bigger rivers to temporary ponds,” Alexandria explains. “We created a blue-green network, linking green spaces for water storage and for spatial connection between blue and green.”

Blue-green vision reveals the bigger picture

This approach didn’t just yield technical solutions like drainage systems, polders or dikes; it told a bigger story. The narrative helped shape the city’s land use and master plan, creating a spatial logic that justified investment choices across the entire city. “RVO (Netherlands Enterprise Agency), as the implementing body of the Partners for Water programme, gave us the space to explore that full journey,” she says, “from high-level strategy to detailed interventions. And that’s what made the investment proposals for Phase 1 stronger – because they were grounded in a citywide logic, not just a local quick fix for worst-hit areas.”

Supported by the World Bank, the blue-green vision was translated into a detailed investment proposal for a pilot area in the north of the city. The proposal was approved by Thu Duc City with minimal changes and submitted directly to the national government. “It’s extremely rare,” Alexandria notes. “For a local government to approve a consultancy-led proposal with so few changes and immediately submit it for national funding; especially when a large part of it includes Nature-based Solutions (NBS).”

That last part is key. NBS are still not a preferred option in Vietnam. “They prefer hard grey infrastructure because they can see the results quickly,” Alexandria says. “So actually, trying to get them on board with some of the NBS was quite a journey. But as soon as we did, they were much keener to put forward those investment items to the national government for funding.”

A ‘clean sheet’ for resilient urban development

While Phase 1 delivered a blue-green vision and a ready-to-fund investment plan, Phase 2 focuses on the next step: supporting Thu Duc in turning that vision into action. “We worked with the city’s task force and chairman to say, well, if you’re going to really do flood management correctly, these are some recommendations you need to adopt around institutional governance and coordination. And that’s what became Phase 2,” says Alexandria. At the heart of this second phase is the focus on integrating flood risk management into the urban fabric before it is fully built.

Embedding flood resilience in urban planning

“On one hand, you have flooding problems in the already urbanised areas; on the other, there’s a clean slate – open space where we have a chance to do it right,” says Karel, team leader of Phase 2. “You need space to properly manage water over time in a city like this. That space could be on the street or in a park. But if you don’t plan for it now, you’ll be forced to solve it later with massive pumps and canals; and that’s expensive and inefficient.” And that matters in Vietnam, a country Karel describes as “a world champion in planning.” “When you have it in the zoning plans – what should be green, what should be buildings – there’s a much higher chance that it will actually happen,” he says.

Designing structural measures in combination with spatial planning

This is where Phase 2 proves most strategic. The team is developing spatial planning guidelines for water-sensitive planning in Thu Duc’s new districts – areas set that will become financial centres, high-tech hubs and modern housing areas. They are also supporting the design of integrated measures, to ensure that areas designated for water in planning are translated into functional spaces in reality. “And that’s actually what our project focuses on: Nature-based Solutions. But this it’s putting people on the wrong foot. This can be misleading but it’s really about combining structural measures with space for water. That could be green space, but not always,” Karel emphasises. “It’s about making the space multifunctional: for daily use by communities and occasionally for flood management. You can’t rely on pumps alone in a monsoon city that’s sinking below sea level.” That’s what Phase 2 is all about: embedding flood resilience into the DNA of a megacity-in-the-making.

What’s next?

While spatial planning and governance remain central to Phase 2, the next frontier lies in building the city’s digital infrastructure. One of the projects tasks is focused on designing two systems that will anchor Thu Duc’s flood risk response in data and real-time insight. The first is the Flood Risk Management Information System (TD-FRMIS), which will help authorities anticipate, monitor and respond to floods through hydrodynamic modelling, GIS mapping and early-warning capabilities. In parallel, the team is designing a Geospatial Data Sharing Platform (TD-GDSP), enabling departments to integrate and overlay spatial data on everything from land use and drainage to elevation and population density. These digital platforms will help Thu Duc City move from reactive infrastructure planning to anticipatory, risk-informed urban development.

Looking ahead, continued collaboration with Ho Chi Minh City as the administrative authority of Thu Duc will be essential. A newly installed city administration is expected in the third quarter, providing a critical opportunity to align on priorities, integrate digital systems and further embed flood resilience into strategic decision-making. Ensuring institutional continuity and support from both local and metropolitan levels will be key to scaling the project’s impact.

International collaboration at its best

Thu Duc’s development highlights the importance of embedding flood risk management early on in urban development. With clear spatial guidelines, institutional support and smart digital systems, the city is taking concrete steps toward long-term resilience. This approach of linking strategic planning, practical tools and local ownership offers valuable lessons for other fast-growing cities in delta regions. As the project moves forward, continued collaboration between Dutch and Vietnamese partners will be essential to ensure the results have lasting impact, both in Thu Duc City and beyond.

In 2001, four high-level government officials from Indonesia and the Netherlands gathered to sign the first bilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Water. At that pivotal moment, Indonesia was facing pressing water-related challenges: widespread pollution, limited access to clean drinking water, frequent flooding and drought, and outdated infrastructure.

These issues threatened not only local water security but also the country’s food sovereignty and economic resilience. Through the MoU, both governments committed to work together on Indonesia’s water priorities and generate knowledge relevant to Dutch and Indonesian water challenges. More than a technical agreement, this MoU signified a shift towards equal diplomatic relations and mutual knowledge exchange. It laid the foundation for a decades-long partnership between the two nations.

The Dutch Water Sector in Indonesia

The current MoU on Water (2022 – 2027) serves as an umbrella for all Dutch co-funded bilateral water-related activities. It enables the Dutch water sector to contribute to Indonesia’s development priorities by applying its internationally recognised expertise and decades of experience in water infrastructure and management. Within this framework, the Partners for Water programme facilitates coordination, fosters collaboration, and connects actors in the Dutch water sector with relevant Indonesian counterparts. A high-level Joint Steering Committee (JSC) provides strategic guidance and meets annually. The JSC is co-chaired by the Indonesian Secretary-General of Public Works and the Dutch Director-General for Water and Soil at the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management. Dutch participation is facilitated via tenders, sector meetings and expert contributions to the JSC. Central to this engagement is building long-term relationships through knowledge exchange, capacity development and youth engagement.

Three Priorities

Within the bilateral cooperation, a strategic and programme-based approach is adopted to maximise effectiveness and impact. This approach centres on three priority themes, each supported by a dedicated working group and overseen by the JSC. The three themes are:

• Integrated Water Resilience in North Java
• Lowland Development for Irrigation
• Sharing Knowledge, Building Capacity, and Involving Youth

Integrated Water Resilience in North Java

Java’s northern coast is Indonesia’s economic and agricultural core, but it faces growing water challenges due to urbanisation, industry, and climate change. These pressures affect water availability and quality, while also increasing risks like land subsidence and flooding.

In response, the Indonesian government seeks integrated, future-proof solutions. Through the bilateral cooperation, Dutch and Indonesian partners are building water resilience by combining Nature-based Solutions with smart data technologies. This is done through collaboration with local stakeholders and capacity building, ensuring environmental and social values are embedded in each water solution.

The Netherlands contributes decades of experience in flood resilience, hydro-informatics, and coastal management to the collaboration. Along the North Java coastline, joint projects have developed practical, sustainable solutions – often in partnership with local actors and international organisations such as the Asian Development Bank, the World Bank and Invest International. For the Dutch water sector, opportunities remain strong to support investments, offer innovative solutions, and engage in knowledge exchange.

Integrated Water Resilience in Semarang

In the city of Semarang, the Indonesian and Dutch water sectors collaborate on integrated solutions for land subsidence, flooding and water scarcity. Combining Nature-based Solutions with conventional infrastructure, the project demonstrates climate-resilient interventions that protect both people and ecosystems. Building upon the Water as Leverage programme, the project collaborates with local communities and authorities, and Dutch and Indonesian experts. It focuses on long-term spatial planning towards a climate-resilient Semarang by 2045 and illustrates how co-creation and inclusive design are key to integrated water resilience in North Java. Partners include One Architecture, Arcadis, Diponegoro University (UNDIP), PriceWaterhouseCoopers, the Ministry of Public Works, the Ministry of National Development Planning, the City of Semarang and Central Java Province.

Lowland Development for Irrigation

The vast lowlands and peatlands of Indonesia are essential to the country’s agricultural productivity and food sovereignty ambitions. However, these areas face complex water management challenges including flooding, acid sulphate soils, low fertility, and saline intrusion. Where peatlands have been drained for agriculture, challenges are compounded by land subsidence, fires, and carbon emissions, threatening productivity and ecological stability. Increasing lowland food productivity is a government priority. Therefore, Indonesia is implementing comprehensive rehabilitation strategies for tidal and non-tidal lowland areas through participatory irrigation management systems. These systems are built on five pillars: water supply reliability, infrastructure development, effective irrigation management, institutional frameworks, and human resource capacity.

The Netherlands and Indonesia have built a valuable partnership in lowland development and irrigation since the first MoU signing. This collaboration, mainly focused in South Sumatra and Kalimantan, has developed expertise in data collection, mapping, governance, and technical innovations. Currently, the collaboration focuses on enhancing productivity through improved water management in existing lowland areas. It offers the Dutch water sector opportunities to exchange knowledge and expertise, particularly through intergenerational knowledge transfer, and to provide monitoring and technical support for water management and infrastructure solutions.

Dadahup

In the degraded polder area of Dadahup, Central Kalimantan, Indonesian and Dutch experts have been working together since 2021 to rehabilitate 25,000 hectares of lowland agricultural land. The project began with a request from the Ministry of Public Works and Housing for a second opinion on water management and flood protection. Dutch expertise has supported the development of practical solutions tailored to the local context, such as a simplified system for dry and rainy seasons. The current phase focuses on human resource development through hands-on training and knowledge transfer. Partners include IHE Delft Institute for Water Education, The Indonesian Ministry of Public Works and Housing (PUPR), the Netherlands Enterprise and Development Agency (RVO) and the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management.

Sharing Knowledge, Building Capacity, and Involving Youth

The Dutch-Indonesian water partnership recognises that effective water management relies on long-term investment in people. Knowledge transfer is therefore a fundamental, cross-cutting pillar of the bilateral cooperation. This theme supports the work of the other working groups by ensuring continuity and future relevance through youth engagement and capacity building. A joint knowledge exchange programme is being implemented. This programme includes initiatives like the Dutch Training and Exchange Programme (DUTEP), Wave Indonesia, webinars with local institutions, and youth-oriented activities such as hackathons and field visits. Additionally, high-level events and missions highlight the partnership and foster connections between Dutch and Indonesian stakeholders.

Particular emphasis is placed on intergenerational exchange, enabling senior experts to pass on insights to the next generation of water professionals. For the Dutch water sector, this theme offers valuable opportunities to contribute by strategically leveraging the diverse networks built over years of partnership, and by embedding these exchanges into the formal MoU collaboration. This ensures that they are not isolated but connected and mutually reinforcing.

The Welang Watershed

The Welang Watershed project in East Java demonstrates integrated, community-driven water management through upstream conservation and downstream flood mitigation. Solutions are co-created with local communities, authorities and experts to ensure relevance and long-term impact. The project strengthens capacity by embedding knowledge exchange between Indonesian and Dutch partners, fostering local ownership and engaging with schools to raise youth awareness on waste and river health. Led by Witteveen+Bos, Nuffic Southeast Asia and AidEnvironment, the project facilitates collaborative knowledge exchange, capacity building and youth engagement.

Read more about the Welang project.

Looking Ahead

After over 25 years of fruitful collaboration – marked by diverse and impactful initiatives, strong partnerships, and lifelong professional friendships – the bilateral water cooperation between Indonesia and the Netherlands is in full swing. Looking two decades ahead, Indonesia aspires to become a resilient, high-income society and the world’s fifth-largest economy by 2045. Achieving this ambition will require addressing its urgent water challenges, opening up new opportunities to exchange innovative, inclusive and sustainable solutions with the Dutch water sector.

The joint ambition is to strengthen mutual trust, secure future cooperation and ensure the Dutch water sector remains a relevant and valued partner for Indonesia. In the coming years, the bilateral cooperation will continue to focus on the current three key areas. Actors in the broader Dutch water sector – like knowledge institutions, NGOs and companies – are invited to engage in this cooperation. They can do so by applying for tenders or joining one of the many webinars, information sessions and networking events hosted by Partners for Water.

Is your organisation interested in co-creating a coordinated vision for water resilience in Semarang, Indonesia? Read about our call for market orientation.

Dutch start-up Reefy is making waves in coastal protection with its innovative ReefBlock technology, implementing Nature-based Solutions from Rotterdam to Mexico. The company launched a successful pilot in Rotterdam’s port area in 2023, and scaled up with support of the Partners for Water subsidy by bringing its ReefBlock technology to Mexico’s threatened coastline in 2024.

The ReefBlocks – large, Lego-like structures featuring complex tunnel systems – serve not only as a foundation for reef growth but also as a submerged breakwater to protect the coastline. Their expansion from Rotterdam to Mexico showcases how innovative Nature-based Solutions can be successfully adapted for international challenges.

This article was originally published on the Dutch Water Sector website.

Two years after installing an artificial reef using reef blocks in the Port of Rotterdam to reduce the impact of heavy waves and foster a rich underwater landscape, the project has proven that infrastructure development and nature restoration can go hand in hand.

The reef blocks have notably enhanced the Port of Rotterdam’s busiest shipping channel, giving rise to greater species diversity, cleaner water, and a stronger ecosystem. Monitoring shows that the reef offers shelter to a variety of marine species, increasing the biodiversity.

Modular reef design and installation

In 2023, a Dutch consortium comprising Rijkswaterstaat (Directorate-General for Public Works and Water Management), the Municipality of Rotterdam, Boskalis, and Reefy installed the ‘Rotterdam Reef’, a modular reef structure consisting of 17 three metre long and six tonne concrete blocks featuring tunnels, shaded passages, and rough textures. The structure has created a dynamic ecosystem where fish, crabs, and shrimp can thrive, offering protection for both coastlines and marine life.

Collaboration across stakeholders

In addition, the rough surfaces of the reef blocks have encouraged shellfish and the growth of algae, leading to three times higher biodiversity compared to standard concrete structures. Petra de Groene, Director of Economy and Sustainability at the Municipality of Rotterdam, said that “Learning by doing helped us bridge the gap from lab testing to real-world application, where concrete and biodiversity work hand in hand.” Research involving environmental DNA (eDNA) has confirmed that the Port of Rotterdam’s main channel serves as a crossroads for freshwater, saltwater, and migratory fish species. The reef supports fish migration, promotes continuous water circulation and enhances water quality through natural filtration.

Resilient and Storm-Ready

In terms of technical performance, the reef blocks have proven to be resilient under extreme weather conditions. All 17 blocks remained stable during severe storms, including Storm Poly in July 2023.

Over the last two years, the project has demonstrated that the artificial reef reduces wave action and promotes sediment accumulation behind it, thus increasing coastal protection and preventing erosion. Reef blocks can also make coastlines more resilient to storms and floods and, say project partners, they are ready for broader application at a global scale.

Leon Haines, Co-founder and CTO of Reefy, explained that “This project proves that nature and infrastructure can truly strengthen each other. The reef blocks are a sustainable, scalable solution for water safety and ecological restoration. We are ready to scale the technology globally and are already working on projects ranging from rivers in the Netherlands to the tropical Caribbean in Mexico!”

Partnerships Across Sectors

The project’s success is credited to strong collaboration among partners. Reefy developed the modular technology, seamlessly merging coastal protection with ecosystem restoration. Boskalis managed the installation of the reef blocks, drawing on their expertise in hydraulic engineering and coastal defence. The Municipality of Rotterdam supported innovation and ecological monitoring, gathering valuable environmental data. Rijkswaterstaat championed the initiative for nature-inclusive infrastructure in the Port of Rotterdam.

The reef blocks project aligns with the goals of the European Water Framework Directive, which aims to improve habitats for aquatic plants and animals while enhancing overall water quality.

By 2026, Bangladesh is expected to transition from a low-income to a middle-income country, marking a significant shift in its development landscape. This transition opens up new opportunities for Dutch private organisations and investors to engage more deeply with Bangladesh’s development. In this transition, the collaboration will shift from aid to a partnership based on mutual interests, equal collaborations, and robust economic relations. The Dutch private sector has a chance to play a significant role in this new phase, leveraging its expertise in water management and other important sectors.

But in order to enter this tactical and operational playing field for long-term collaboration, there is work to be done. In this article, two experts share their insights on public-private partnerships in Bangladesh. Fahim Faisal is a researcher and the author of a report commissioned by Partners for Water (PfW) on Public-Private Partnership (PPP) opportunities in Bangladesh. Rubaiyath Sarwar supported the development of a vision and strategy for the Dutch Water sector in Bangladesh beyond ODA (Official Development Aid). Together, they identify the Dutch USP (Unique Selling Point) and the six main ingredients for successful partnerships.

The Dutch USP: quality and strategic impact

The Netherlands has been historically recognised for its trustworthy advisory services, knowledge products and high-end technology, strategically working with the Government of Bangladesh (GoB) for the last 50 years on water and food security, organisational strengthening and social development topics, such as sexual and reproductive health and rights. The efforts on water and food have culminated in the Bangladesh Delta Plan 2100 (BDP2100). The emphasis on comprehensive, holistic and integrated programming and strategic impact is a hallmark of Dutch bilateral engagement. With Bangladesh’s middle-income status, the dynamics are changing for the better with sustained opportunities for Dutch technology and knowledge.

Bangladesh changes perspective

Bangladesh is evolving in its approach to development projects, emphasising not just cost but also quality and technological advancement. The government is steering this shift. As Rubaiyath notes, “When we talk about Bangladesh, often we have this perception that having a low budget is very important. That’s true in some cases, but both the government and the private sector are gradually recognising that it’s not just about low initial cost, it’s also about quality and added value.”

Government to government (G2G) collaboration to facilitate PPPs

With the transition, opportunities for new collaboration frameworks are coming to the table. One of these potential frameworks is a Government to Government Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to facilitate PPPs. The MoU acts as a binding agreement between governments, reducing political and project risks. Fahim highlights that this form of G2G cooperation minimizes risks and attracts international funding by making projects more attractive to investors. Several countries have already signed a MoU with Bangladesh, and the Netherlands is exploring this option.

Six ingredients to start building long-term relationships in Bangladesh

To establish successful long-term business relationships in Bangladesh, local experts recommend focusing on these six key strategies.

1. Leverage expertise in the water and agricultural sector

Dutch companies face significant competition from established and low-cost consortia dominating the Bangladeshi market. However, the Dutch water sector can build on its long-standing relationships in the water and agricultural sector, and on its reputation for leadership in technical assistance. It can thus continue leading feasibility and technical supervision missions for forthcoming projects. By partnering with soft loan providers, the sector can design projects that will help Bangladesh achieve its Delta Technology goals, while leveraging Dutch technologies. These projects help Dutch companies to gain a foothold, demonstrating their added value in tactical and operational projects.

2. Build strong relationships

Establishing robust relationships with key agencies that are new to the Dutch water sector is crucial for effective project implementation. Engaging with agencies like the PPP Authority and the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) ensures reliable project execution and financial backing. Building these relationships takes time, local presence and upfront investments, but ultimately facilitates smoother project development.

Examples: By drawing on the experiences of the British and Danish private sectors, the Dutch private sector can benefit from further intensifying and utilising existing platforms like the Dutch-Bangla Chamber of Commerce & Industry. These platforms foster collaborations, enhance mutual understanding, and offer valuable partnership opportunities. Additionally, developing local lobby groups to advocate for Dutch investments could be a strategic move.

3. Showcase added value

Breaking into established consortia favoured by Bangladeshi agencies, primarily consisting of Asian contractors, is challenging. The Dutch private sector must clearly demonstrate its added value and competitive advantages to persuade the government to consider new partnerships. Effective communication of the sector’s unique strengths and capabilities is crucial in order to enter and compete in the market. As Fahim says “there is often a general awareness of Dutch expertise in agriculture and water management, but specific knowledge about individual companies and their specialties is lacking.” Enhancing the visibility and understanding of Dutch companies’ strengths will facilitate more targeted and effective partnerships with Bangladeshi firms.

Example: Chinese companies dominate the energy sector due to their long-term presence and strong local partnerships. However, despite their low overhead costs, they often fail to deliver projects on time. Highlighting Dutch companies’ superior project management and technological advancements, as well as reduced operational and maintenance costs in the long term can help overcome these established preferences.

4. Use quality as a way into existing consortiums

Dutch firms can leverage their technical expertise and high-quality technology to penetrate the market by focusing on niche opportunities that require premium, long-term solutions. Engaging in technical feasibility assessments and design missions allows Dutch firms to define their scope and demonstrate the business case for high-value investments, influencing tender documents to favour their capabilities. The Dutch private sector could be considered as the partner of choice for sustainable investments.

Example: Japan’s involvement in constructing Dhaka’s new airport terminal highlights how a focus on quality and technological superiority can secure project bids. Their participation in the feasibility study and the development of a robust technological plan, integrated into the procurement process, significantly increased their chances of winning the project.

5. Provide soft loans to reduce risks

Addressing the critical issue of soft loans can help Dutch companies overcome the perception of being expensive high-end technical service providers. Partnering with international financial agencies to offer financing solutions can mitigate the Bangladeshi government’s concerns about higher costs and enhance the attractiveness of Dutch firms in competitive tenders. Projects like these help Dutch companies to gain a foothold and demonstrate their added value.

Example: Japan provided a $1.3 billion low-interest loan for Dhaka’s new airport terminal through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). This financial support reduced the project’s risks, making it more viable and attractive.

6. Target specific sectors to capitalise on entry opportunities

There are promising opportunities for the Dutch water sector to engage with government institutes in the fields of water and delta. As Bangladesh transitions from a low-income to a middle-income country, opportunities will extend beyond government initiatives, especially in the private sector. Small to medium size companies in the readymade garment (RMG) sector are shifting towards sustainability, renewable energy, and circular economy practices. All these issues can actually provide opportunities for the Dutch private sector. “And later on Dutch firms can actually capitalise on those entry opportunities and move into other areas,” Rubaiyath explains.

Example: The collaboration within the Dutch Bangla Onion Support in the Bangladeshi onion sector highlights the broad scope of opportunities. Together, they supply integrated solutions aimed at producing better quality onions, reducing post-harvest losses, and ultimately decreasing onion imports while increasing income for onion growers and traders. This collaboration addresses agricultural storage challenges and showcases Dutch versatility beyond water management. The agricultural, circular textile, and IT sectors offer fertile ground for Dutch technological support, fostering sustainable and mutually beneficial growth.

Continued collaboration for sustainable and mutual growth

As Bangladesh evolves, the focus is shifting from merely cost-effective solutions to those that offer quality and technological advancement. This aligns well with the Dutch approach, which emphasises strategic impact and high standards. By adopting these six ingredients for building successful long-term business relationships, Dutch companies can further penetrate the Bangladeshi market. In doing so, they can foster sustainable and mutually beneficial growth, thereby contributing to SDG5 and achieving the Dutch policy goal to increase water security and safety for over a hundred million people worldwide by 2030.

Malawi is increasingly grappling with severe flooding. As climate change intensifies, rainfall is becoming more extreme, leaving communities with little time to prepare. While early warning systems exist, they fall short when it comes to dealing with flash floods. Processing takes too long, predictions lack precision and crucial data is often inaccessible due to licensing restrictions and costly software. The result? People receive warnings too late or not at all, resulting in potential loss of life and damage to infrastructure and possessions.

Time for change. With support from the Partners for Water subsidy scheme, an effective collaboration between Royal HaskoningDHV (RHDHV), Malawi’s Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services (DCCMS), the Department of Water Resources (DWR), Malawi Red Cross Society (MRCS) and the Netherlands Red Cross’ data and digital team, 510 (NLRC 510) has developed a revamped early warning system. By integrating improved forecasting models into the open-source Impact-Based Forecasting Portal (IBF), this initiative is setting a new benchmark for flood management in Malawi and beyond. The new system expands on what was already in place, enhancing key aspects that needed strengthening.

Building on the foundation of early warning systems

Malawi has long recognised the importance of early warning systems in protecting communities from flooding. However, many of the existing tools faced limitations that reduced their effectiveness, especially in the case of flash floods:

• Generalised predictions – Global datasets often lacked the local detail needed for accurate, on-the-ground forecasts.
• Delays in processing – In rapidly changing weather conditions, timely data delivery is critical. In the case of flash floods, most warnings arrive too late.
• Limited access – Many systems require costly licenses or are too complex for widespread use.
• Communication gaps – Even when warnings are issued, they do not always reach the right people, or be clearly understood at the community level.

By identifying these areas for improvement, the project team was able to develop a system that is faster, more accurate and inclusive.

The solution: IBF with advanced forecasting models

The team recognised the potential of NLRC 510’s Impact-Based Forecasting Portal (IBF) and wanted to expand its capabilities. Unlike many other tools, the IBF System does not just provide raw data; it offers an intuitive digital environment where all relevant information is consolidated. This enables disaster managers to make timely, well-informed decisions.

To make a real difference, IBF required an upgrade: A Flash Flood Forecasting Module. This new feature integrates local flood models with external rainfall data, significantly improving accuracy. The team had already developed advanced hydrodynamic and hydrological models for Karonga and Rumphi, two flood-prone cities, but they lacked a way to integrate these models into a functioning early warning system.

Partners for Water then stepped in on request, co-financing further development. As a result, IBF can now handle flash floods more effectively and is scalable for other regions facing climate-related challenges.

From forecasting to action: making warnings work

A high-tech forecasting system is great, but if people do not act on its warnings, it is useless. That is why IBF was designed with accessibility and usability in mind. In collaboration with UNICEF, MRCS and NLRC 510, several strategies were developed to ensure warnings lead to action such as:

• WhatsApp alert groups – Local meteorologists and disaster responders send daily updates and emergency warnings in real time.
• Local early warning systems – Megaphones, radio broadcasts and motorbike couriers ensure that even those without smartphones receive timely alerts.
• Warnings in local languages – By translating alerts into regional dialects, everyone can understand what is happening and what they need to do.

Thanks to this combination of digital and traditional communication channels, the system reaches even the most remote villages. People can now take precautionary measures and better prepare for extreme weather events.

Impact so far – and what comes next

With the new IBF System in place, Malawi is now far better equipped to handle flash floods. The system has already proven effective, issuing timely warnings that allowed authorities and residents to take preventive action.
However, there is still work to be done. The next steps for the government and local organisations in Malawi include:

• Expanding IBF to include more cities and rural areas.
• Further improving sensor networks to enhance real-time data accuracy.
• Securing long-term funding and full government adoption.

A system that endures

Where previous projects have struggled due to financial or technical constraints, IBF has been designed with sustainability in mind. The system is open-source and freely accessible, eliminating the need for costly software licenses. Additionally, the project has installed multiple monitoring stations equipped with rain gauges and water level sensors that continuously collect and process data.

However, funding remains a challenge. Sensors require maintenance, SIM cards need replacing and without structural resources, the system’s long-term effectiveness could be at risk. Herman de Jonge (RHDHV) stresses the importance of long-term financing, whether through government support, humanitarian funds, or the Early Action Protocol of MRCS, which releases emergency funding when critical thresholds , such as number of people at risk are reached.

A model for the future

The impact of this project extends well beyond Malawi. Thanks to Partners for Water’s funding, IBF can be rolled out through a broader part of Malawi. However, the impact of this project extends well beyond this East African country. The technology behind IBF is scalable and can be deployed in other climate-vulnerable regions. Moreover, the system is flexible and can be adapted to forecast other disasters, such as droughts, cyclones, or even diseases like malaria and dengue. This aligns closely with the United Nations Early Warnings for All programme, which aims to ensure that all communities worldwide have access to reliable early warning systems.

With an innovative approach and targeted investment in technology and accessibility, this project is setting a new standard in disaster prevention. With sustained resources, its impact could reach far beyond Malawi helping thousands, if not millions, of people prepare for an increasingly unpredictable climate.

To address this issue, Element15 deployed its unique BAR system water solution in Ghana’s Northern Region, in partnership with Partners for Water, and with initial support from Invest International. It contains an innovative filtration process that removes all harmful substances from the water, making it safe for consumption. In addition, the BAR filtration systems eliminate the need for boiling, allowing families to drink safe water straight from the source.

This water solution not only provides safe drinking water but also prevents releasing emissions from the open fire. These avoided emissions are converted into carbon credits, certified by Gold Standard. Revenue from these credits keeps the systems running, funds maintenance, creates local jobs and allows us to expand operations and impact – at zero cost to the communities.