The Welang River in East Java, Indonesia, is a crucial lifeline for nearby communities, providing water for daily use and supporting local agriculture. However, as cities expand and populations grow, the river has faced increasing challenges such as flooding, erosion, and pollution. to address these issues, the Governments of Indonesia and the Netherlands, through its Partners for Water program invest in the Welang River Basin Transformation Project to tackle these challenges and protect both the river and the people who depend on it. This is the third article in the miniseries on the Welang River Basin project, highlighting the role of nature-based solutions for integrated water management. Click here to find other articles in the series.
Nature-based solutions (NbS) are increasingly recognized as an essential strategy to address water and erosion challenges in watersheds. These solutions harness natural resources to tackle various water and soil issues. In areas where traditional infrastructure may be expensive, NbS offers a sustainable and cost-effective alternative that is easily replicable by local governments and communities.
In the upstream area of Welang Watershed, East Java, Indonesia, the NbS approach was applied through co-construction with the local community by employing a 3R methodology (retention, recharge, and reuse of water) through creation of simple gully plugs. These structures made from locally available materials like bamboo, stones and branches, serve to collect and temporarily store water during high rainfall flows, retain sediments and materials washed into the channel, and slow down small, concentrated flows.
Utilizing natural materials available in the area as gully plugs (left: bamboo, right: stone)
Implementation at two sites
- In Surorowo, the upstream area of Welang on the side of Mount Bromo, the project marked the communities’ first experience participating in an international project. Village officials played an important role in encouraging broad community participation. Two Focus Group Discussions involving various stakeholders were held to explain the value of the project and the interventions, to build trust and gain commitment of the community. Over two months of activities, at least 28 different gully plugs and gabions were installed on community land and initiated directly by the community.
- The project location in Wonosari, the upstream area of Welang on the side of Mount Arjuno, is directly managed by the Wonosari Tea Plantation, making it easier to mobilize and cooperate with the workers. In just 12 working days, a total of 145 simple gully plugs made of stones, tree branches, and bamboo of various sizes were constructed.
Stakeholders involvement in demonstration activities
Institutional support
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on sustainable water resources management in East Java was signed between the East Java Provincial Natural Resources and Public Works Agency (PUSDA), the government implementing agency of the project, and Perhutani, a state-owned enterprise managing the implementation site. This ensured stakeholder alignment and paved the way for replicating NbS across the province.
Monitoring and evaluation
Once implemented, effective monitoring becomes essential for tracking the progress of the installed structures and demonstrating their effectiveness. Field observations conducted by the State University of Malang assess the condition of the gully plug installations, their impact on sediment capture, erosion control, and soil stability. These insights help identify the most effective structure types, ensuring informed recommendations for future implementations.
The monitoring showed that series of gully plugs made sequentially following the channel from upstream to downstream are effective in retaining heavy water discharge and capturing sediment. On average, a 10-20 cm thick layer of sediment was found behind the installed gully plug structures, with the greatest accumulation of sediment occurring behind gully plugs with bamboo barricades filled with soil or grass and dense shrubs.
The other type of gully plug made of branches, was observed to have grown densely, providing a natural barrier to the heavy water discharge and sediment flowing along the channel.
Recommendation for replication
For replication, bamboo gully plugs and branch-made gully plugs are identified as the most effective, affordable, and easy-to-implement structures. These options are chosen based on their proven ability to capture sediment, ease of installation, support for vegetation growth, and the accessibility of materials, making them suitable for small-scale community implementation across diverse land uses.
On the other hand, gully plugs made from stone or even gabions tend to be more difficult for communities to implement without assistance from the government or third parties in procuring materials, but are structurally more robust and durable.
The Welang River in East Java, Indonesia, is a lifeline for the people who live nearby, providing water for daily use and supporting local agriculture. However, as cities expand and populations grow, the river has faced increasing problems such as flooding, erosion, and pollution. In response, the Governments of Indonesia and the Netherlands invest in the Welang River Basin Transformation Project to tackle these challenges and protect both the river and the people who depend on it.
The project is built around a central idea: collaboration. Local communities, government officials, and environmental experts are all working together to develop smart water management solutions that address the river’s problems. What makes this project unique is its focus on local ownership by involving everyone in the process, ensuring that solutions are created by listening to the needs and ideas of the people who live near the river.
The Welang River Project adopts a collaborative, step-by-step approach to co-create practical and sustainable solutions that meet community needs. It begins by engaging with local residents to understand their issues, such as flooding or limited access to clean water. With these insights, local residents, government officials, and experts work together to develop solutions. After initial testing, community feedback is used to refine these ideas, enhancing their effectiveness. The final, improved solutions are then implemented in coordination with government plans to ensure they can be scaled for broader impact.
The role of Trusted Advisors
A key element of the project’s success is the involvement of Trusted Advisors. These are local experts who know the area well and play an essential role in guiding the project. Their job is to make sure the solutions are not only smart but also long-lasting and beneficial for the community in the long run.
For instance, Pak Eko Setyawan, a soil expert from Malang University, provided evidence-based support by monitoring the riverbanks to see how stable the soil is before and after implementation of demo plots to prevent erosion. His measurements help the project and stakeholders understand whether these interventions are working and provide valuable data for future projects.
Similarly, Pak Syukur Sugeng Apriwiyanto, an expert in waste management, has developed a recycling and composting program for an elementary school near the river. The students have embraced this program, and many have even started teaching their families about recycling. The program has been so successful that other schools in East Java are considering adopting it, showing how small, practical steps can lead to wider change.
One of the standout features of the project has been its close collaboration with academic institutions like Malang University, Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS), and Brawijaya University. These partnerships have provided students – the future water managers – with hands-on experience in field research and given the project valuable insights into flood behavior, community perceptions, and the effectiveness of flood defenses. By involving universities, the project has been able to combine cutting-edge research with practical solutions.
The Welang Project: A model for future water management
The success of the Welang River Project so far is a testament to the power of collaboration. The Trusted Advisors, with their diverse expertise, have played a vital role in shaping the project’s strategies, ensuring that the solutions are grounded in local knowledge and research. As the project prepares to wrap up, the contributions of these advisors will continue to make a lasting impact, demonstrating how local involvement and expert guidance can foster sustainable development and positive change.
By working together, the Welang River Project is not just solving today’s problems – it is building a model for how communities can protect their natural resources for future generations.
Partners for Water recently sat down with Fauzy Nasruddin, the Secretary at the Water Resources Agency of East Java Province (Indonesia) and spoke about the collaboration with the Netherlands on managing the floods in the Welang river basin in East Java.
Fauzy Nasruddin has significant expertise and experience in water management, and visited Delft in September to accompany his staff members on a short course at the Institute for Water Education (IHE) which also allowed him to join his wife’s graduation. Just like him, she studied at the Institute for Water Education (IHE).
Long-standing collaboration
For the last decades, Fauzy Nasruddin has been deeply involved in collaborative water management projects, including those funded by Partners for Water, predominantly addressing issues like flooding, drought, and water pollution in East Java. The challenges of having too much, too little, or too polluted water should eventually be replaced by the 3 Rs of sustainable water management: Recharge, Retention, and Reuse.
The partnership with the Dutch government formally began in 2020, but its roots date back to 2015. That year, the former Dutch minister Stef Blok came to East Java to visit the grave of his grandfather, an engineer who built a dam in the region during the colonial period. This dam still functions today, symbolizing the historical connection and shared expertise between the two countries.
Early dialogue and exploration
In 2018, a delegation from East Java, including Fauzy Nasruddin himself, visited the Netherlands. They travelled to Zeeland and were invited to the University of Applied Sciences to explore potential areas of collaboration and discuss cases of mutual interest, including flood and water quality issues in East Java. In 2020, the collaboration was strengthened during a royal visit to Indonesia.
The Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management visited Surabaya, where Nasruddin’s office is located. She decided that the Welang River could be a pilot project for further cooperation in water management. The river basin is experiencing great problems with flooding and has been the subject of various water management and flood control projects, including collaborative efforts between Indonesia and the Netherlands.
The Welang river’s challenges
The Welang River floods between eight and ten times a year during the rainy season, which lasts from December to March. These floods have significant impacts on local communities, especially the poorer populations who are more vulnerable to natural disasters. While past infrastructure projects, such as building levees and reinforcing riverbanks with stones and concrete (grey infrastructure), have been undertaken, these solutions proved temporary. The floods returned, indicating a need for more sustainable and integrated approaches.
More updates on the Welang WatershedA new approach: the Welang River Master Plan
As part of the collaboration with the Netherlands, a Master Plan for the Welang River has been developed, followed by several pilot projects that focus on integrated and participatory water management, design and implementation. The goal is to manage floods by slowing down and absorbing water in the watershed rather than simply diverting it as quickly as possible. In upstream areas, solutions that use local materials and labour are being found, so they are not only cost-effective but also sustainable and scalable, as local communities can maintain and replicate them, Nasruddin says.
“Early results indicate that these methods are effective at a pilot scale, but scaling them up across more locations, midstream and downstream, is still work in progress,” he adds. The collaboration in Welang is a showcase of integrated planning and implementation, involving a diverse set of local stakeholders. In the midstream and downstream locations, the collaboration is taking a participatory design approach to jointly identify and agree upon interventions that improve water management in critical flooding areas.
A concrete example of such a pilot project is the construction of simple water barriers in the upstream part of the Welang River. These structures, made of bamboo, wood, and local stones, retain water and reduce sedimentation. While some early attempts were unsuccessful – some bamboo structures collapsed during heavy floods – the project has provided valuable insights. It underscores the importance of designing structures that are strong enough to withstand extreme weather conditions while fitting the local context and capabilities.
Challenges
One of the biggest challenges Nasruddin mentions is the complexity of the administrative and political landscape in Indonesia. Political changes can lead to shifts in priorities and budgets, hindering the continuity of long-term projects. He compares this to the situation in the Netherlands, where a Delta Act and a fixed Delta Budget ensure consistent funding and planning, regardless of political changes. He sees the lack of a similar legal framework in Indonesia as an obstacle to sustainable water management initiatives.
Another issue is the involvement of multiple stakeholders with different interests. In the upstream area of the Welang River, for example, forestry agencies, water companies, environmental organizations, and local communities are all active. Each of these parties has its own priorities, making it difficult to arrive at a joint action plan. Nasruddin stresses the importance of stakeholder engagement and co-creation, where all involved parties are included in the process from the start. This not only promotes collaboration but also ensures that solutions better fit the needs and context of the local community.
The economic aspects are also a challenge. Investments in water infrastructure, especially in flood control and upstream conservation, are often seen as less profitable compared to projects like toll roads or commercial developments. This makes it harder to secure funding for crucial water management projects that may not provide immediate financial returns but are essential for the sustainability and safety of communities.
Personal motivation
Nasruddin’s personal motivation stems from his passion for water management and the realization that well-managed water can improve lives and make communities more resilient. He sees water as a common good that, when effectively managed, can have tremendous positive effects on society. His experience in the Netherlands has broadened his perspective, particularly in understanding the importance of process management and stakeholder involvement alongside technical solutions
Future hopes
In the future, he hopes that Indonesia can develop a legal framework similar to the Dutch Delta Act, enabling long-term and stable investments in water management. However, he acknowledges that this is a complex process, given the political dynamics and the diverse interests of stakeholders. Nonetheless, he remains committed to improvement and innovation in water management, with the ultimate goal of improving the quality of life for the people of East Java and making the region more resilient to the challenges of climate change and population growth.
More about what we do in Indonesia
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 Novita Andriani, whose lifelong struggle with frequent flooding has fueled a deep commitment to addressing the region’s water challenges,
In this Humans of Partners for Water series, meet Novita Andriani, Head of Water Resources Planning in East Java. Passionate about her work, she’s focused on reducing water’s destructive impact and turning it into a valuable resource for communities.
Ensuring that Water Quantity, Quality, and Continuity meet Current and Future Demands
Novita Andriani, the Head of Water Resources Planning for East Java’s Public Works Department, has turned a childhood marked by frequent flooding near her home into a career dedicated to water management. Growing up along a river prone to disasters in Java, Novita was inspired to study water resource management in Surabaya, the bustling capital of East Java.
Her experiences have fueled a deep commitment to addressing the region’s water challenges, which she views as a collective responsibility.
“We all have a common goal: sustainable management of water resources. That’s my pride”.
In her current role, Novita is spearheading efforts to conserve water resources in areas where this is particularly challenging, such as the Welang river in Java. Her work focuses on ensuring that water quantity, quality, and continuity meet both current and future demands, reflecting a broader commitment to sustainable development in one of Indonesia’s most vital regions.
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. Costal cities are also threatened by exacerbate 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 programs. 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 program aims to foster cooperation among government entities, the private sector, NGOs, young professionals, and knowledge institutions.
The program’s priorities include lowland development and irrigation, integrated water management, and the development of capacity, knowledge exchange, and youth engagement.
Exploring opportunities in Indonesia?
Are you currently working on water projects in Indonesia or exploring how to do so? Or just curious about participating in the Partners for Water initiatives? Here are ways for you to get involved:
- Apply for our tenders focused on innovative solutions in delta countries like Indonesia.
- Join our annual Indonesia platform meeting or one of the other Partners for Water events. Check out our events page for upcoming events.
- Follow us on LinkedIn and subscribe to our newsletter to stay updated on our tenders, activities, events and projects.
- Apply for the Partners for Water subsidy. Explore whether you are eligible.
- Get in touch with our Project Advisor for Indonesia: Simon van Meijeren
As we commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Dutch Training & Exposure Programme (DUTEP), we reflect on a decade of fruitful collaboration between Indonesia and the Netherlands in the realm of integrated urban water management. Established in 2014, DUTEP is an annual capacitybuilding programme that serves as a strategic instrument for modern bilateral knowledge cooperation, bringing together Indonesian and Dutch partners from education, the corporate sector, and government to address one of the pressing challenges faced by both Jakarta and Rotterdam – urban water management
A Unique Capacity-Building Initiative
DUTEP is designed to enhance the capacities of Indonesian mid-career government officials by providing them an opportunity to spend a period in Rotterdam – also known as the Dutch delta city and Jakarta’s sister city – where they undertake research internships at renowned Dutch organisations working on water management.
“More than 60 DUTEP alumni have already been visiting Rotterdam to learn and to be trained in the field of water, water management and how to create a resilient city,” said outgoing mayor of Rotterdam Ahmed Aboutaleb. According to Aboutaleb, DUTEP is a good example of a new way of bilateral cooperation between cities – by observing the Dutch context, candidates can adopt practices applicable to their own context back home in Indonesia.
At the same time, the DUTEP alumni network serves as an important resource for the Dutch water sector with opportunities to open doors in Indonesia.
Maria Qibtya, Head of Human Resources Development Agency DKI Jakarta, adds: “DUTEP is considered very useful in the process of developing the capacity of DKI Jakarta employees whichtruly impacts solving water management problems in DKI Jakarta. We hope that this programme will continue and develop not only related to water management alone, along with the repositioning of DKI Jakarta from a capital city to a global city”.
A Prime Example of Public-Private Collaboration
DUTEP is a prime example of public-private collaboration, where higher education, the business sector, and the government work closely, making substantial financial and in-kind contributions to the programmes success. The consortium consists of the Jakarta City Government, the City of Rotterdam, Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences, Water Authority Delfland, Van Oord, Deltares and the Port of Rotterdam. Nuffic Southeast Asia fulfils the role of program coordinator and is supported by RVO’s Partners for Water. A very positive development is that the Indonesian Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing of the Republic of Indonesia (PUPR) is participating for the first time in this year’s programme.
“With the Netherlands’ expertise in water management, participants are expected to gain valuable knowledge and international experience, which will serve as a foundation for innovative solutions in Indonesia,” the Head of the Human Resources Development Agency of PUPR said. The Agency further emphasizes the significance of DUTEP as a key opportunity for strategic knowledge exchange and capacity-building, aimed at achieving the goals of the MoU Water between Indonesia and the Netherlands (2022-2027) and enhancing ongoing bilateral cooperation.
Furthermore, involvement of Partners for Water in DUTEP enhances collaboration at both the urban (DKI Jakarta) and national (PUPR) levels, strengthening the connection between urban and national collaborative networks.
In July 2024, Nuffic Southeast Asia and Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences hosted a hybrid pre-departure briefing for the selected DUTEP candidates for the 2024 programme to prepare them for their departure to The Netherlands.
The five DUTEP participants hosted by the City of Rotterdam will delve into various aspects of sustainable urban water management, such as the management of green open spaces in waterside areas while incorporating conservation functions, and an analysis of Rotterdam’s success in becoming a climate-resilient city.
Meanwhile, Water Authority Delfland will host three participants who will investigate sustainable solutions for the eutrophication problem in stormwater ponds, explore blue-green infrastructure to address Jakarta’s flooding issues and examine the impacts of river naturalization on alleviating water stress in Indonesia’s Brantas River.
The two participants hosted by Van Oord will investigate levee construction within the National Capital Integrated Coastal Development (NCICD) programme and the implementation of wateroriented urban planning for flood disaster mitigation in the low-lying Rawa Terate subdistrict.
Finally, at Deltares, two participants will concentrate on critical environmental challenges related to water management in Jakarta, including identifying the most effective mitigation policies and strategies against land subsidence.
The last weekend of August 2024 marked the start of the programme for this year’s DUTEP cohort. During the first days, they explored the city of Rotterdam.
The Next Decade for DUTEP
As DUTEP enters its second decade, it is hoped that the programme continues to serve as a prime example of a successful public-private partnership, demonstrating how international cooperation can lead to sustainable solutions for challenges related to urban water management. With its flexible set-up, the programme has also potential to be implemented in different sectors, timeframes and countries in its next decade. If you’re interested in partnering with DUTEP, please reach out to Nanya Burki for more information.
More information about DUTEPWith 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.
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
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.
Learn more about our work in IndonesiaThe Government of Indonesia, in partnership with the East Java Province and the Government of the Netherlands, continues to collaborate on addressing water challenges in the Welang Watershed works in East Java, Indonesia. The project began in 2020, and is currently midway through its second phase.
By engaging in a co-creation process with communities, regional experts, and provincial and local governments, the project further details priority interventions for key water challenges in the catchment area. Here are some updates on the progress.
A multi-stakeholder approach
Rapid urban and economic development in the Welang Watershed has led to numerous water-related challenges. These include erosion on slopes, sedimentation in rivers, urban flooding, and water distribution issues. Given the involvement of many stakeholders in both the problems and their solutions, the project adopts a multi-stakeholder approach, guided by three key principles:
- Achieving Practical Co-Creation Results: Ensuring solutions are compatible with the Indonesian water framework.
- Creating Replicable Solutions: Developing solutions that can be implemented without substantial external support.
- Mobilizing Local Resources: Fostering an environment where local resources are utilized for joint solutions.
These guiding principles are applied across both the upstream and mid-/downstream areas of the Welang River, allowing the project to tackle challenges from multiple perspectives and involve various sets of stakeholders.
Integrated focus across the catchment
Wonosari and Surorowo
In the upstream areas of the Welang River, the focus is on water resource conservation. This is achieved by introducing low-cost and low-tech soil and water conservation measures, such as gully plugs. These measures are designed to reduce runoff and soil erosion, and increase water infiltration. Project activities in the upstream areas center around the Wonosari tea plantation and the Surorowo sub-village.
At Wonosari, coordination with the tea plantation administration ensured strong support throughout the implementation phase. This collaboration resulted in the successful installation of 140 gully plugs. A month later, feedback from the tea plantation administrator confirmed that the plugs effectively mitigated runoff onto the streets after heavy rainfall.
To begin implementation in Surorowo, a collaboration agreement was needed between Perhutani, the concession permit holder, and the East Java Province, the project partner. Thanks to the strong commitment from both parties, the administrative process was completed much faster than usual. This efficiency allowed ground implementation to start in parallel, resulting in the completion of 18 gully plugs by April, with plans for more.
Community
The active involvement of the community in the construction process sparked enthusiasm among local people. Many expressed interest in replicating similar infrastructure on their own, empowered by the realization that these initiatives can be achieved with locally available materials. Pak Imam, the manager of the tea plantation, explained: “Yes, it works. Before we implemented these gully plugs, there was usually runoff after it rained, and we couldn’t pass the small roads in the plantation.”
Additionally, in collaboration with the University of Malang, the implemented measures are being monitored to collect baseline data on runoff volume, existing gullies, sedimentation, and infiltration rates.
Sidogiri / Welang Lama
In the downstream and midstream areas of the Welang River catchment, specifically in Sidogiri and Welang Lama, significant progress is being made to address frequent flooding issues affecting local communities. A key part of this effort involved workshops with local schools to raise awareness and encourage community participation in waste management, recognizing that waste blockages are a major cause of flooding. These initiatives emerged from the initial co-creation session where stakeholders identified waste management as crucial for flood mitigation.
Collaborations with Universitas Negeri Malang, Universitas Brawijaya, and ITS Surabaya have driven progress. Students conducted detailed field surveys to understand the dynamics of flooding. This data, combined with a hydraulic assessment by the project team, formed the foundation for a co-creation workshop where stakeholders reviewed and provided feedback on proposed flood mitigation measures. This inclusive approach ensures that solutions have community support and incorporate local knowledge, paving the way for lasting impact in managing the river basin’s challenges.
Strategic alignment with ongoing NL-funded projects
One of the goals of the Welang project is to integrate and align its activities with other initiatives in the East Java region to enhance capacity-building and promote local ownership. The Welang project has partnered with the OKP tailor-made training program, designed to equip civil servants in East Java Province with essential skills for cross-sectoral collaboration and addressing water management challenges.
Additionally, the project is exploring collaboration opportunities with the Brantas River basin project, which aims to improve wastewater management. In February and March, site visits to the Brantas River were conducted to gain insights from the Brantasae application, with the aim of integrating its features into the Welang project. Brantasae is a map-based application that collects public-uploaded data on water quality, waste generation, and overall river basin issues or initiatives. It serves as a data inventory platform to support river assessment and monitoring.
Background Information:
The Dutch-Indonesian Consortium embodies a collaborative and sustainable approach to addressing Indonesia’s water challenges.
The project is facilitated by the consortium comprising three key organizations: Witteveen + Bos, Nuffic Southeast Asia, and AidEnvironment.
- Witteveen + Bos: Leads overall project management and provides expertise in hydraulic modeling, alongside coordinating community waste management activities.
- Nuffic Southeast Asia: Ensures the integration of co-created solutions within institutions, engaging regional experts and students in the process.
- AidEnvironment: Facilitates community involvement and implements agricultural solutions focused on water conservation and erosion control.
Funded by Partners for Water
This project has been receiving funding by Partners for Water because we underpin the longstanding cooperation between the governments of Indonesia and the Netherlands on water management (MoU Water) and are dedicated to enhancing water security globally through enduring partnerships between local stakeholders and the Dutch water sector. By fostering knowledge exchange, promoting innovations, and advocating an integrated approach, we aim to contribute positively to water security for people, plants, and animals.
For further inquiries, please contact: Simon van Meijeren, Programme Advisor Partners for Water Indonesia.
Read up on our work in IndonesiaThe World Water Forum 2024 (WWF) is a wrap!
The largest international conference in the water sector took place from 18 to 25 May in Bali, Indonesia. Time for a recap of the exciting things that transpired at the Dutch Pavilion.
An important reason for attending the WWF Dutch pavilion was to help position the Netherlands as an expert on global water challenges providing innovative approaches and state-of-the-art solutions to improve water security. In order to achieve this, the pavilion was designed as an open, inclusive and inventive space to make finding new (or strengthening existing) local and international partnerships easy.
The pavilion boasted an extensive programme with three main themes: ‘Water for resilient cities and deltas’, ‘Water for food and energy’ and ‘Clean and safe water for all’. These were some of the highlights from an exciting week at WWF:
Start of a wave
The week kicked off with a bang with the launch of the ‘Indonesian Wave’, part of Wavemakers United. ‘A youth-led intergenerational network that connects initiatives, merges resources and enables collaboration. All the while adapting to local contexts to achieve the Water Action Agenda goal of educating one million children per year.’ explained Sabrina Farah Salsabilla, Chief Marketing Officer at ReservoAir.
Founder of Wavemakers United Tilly Stroo signed a Letter of Intent with the Indonesian Ministry of Public Works and Housing and Wavemakers United to collaborate under the Centre of Excellence for Water and Climate Resilience. ‘Signing this at such a significant platform as the WWF, Indonesia and the Netherlands are demonstrating their continued investment in youth participation. Not just during WWF’s but into the future as well.’
Water envoy in the house
Special Envoy for International Water Affairs, Meike van Ginneken also attended the WWF: ‘At the UN Water Conference in New York in 2023, we agreed to more than 800 water actions. Today, the Water Action Agenda is in full swing with Dutch companies, NGOs and the government participating in many of those actions at the community, local and national levels.
‘I want to congratulate the Indonesian government on bringing together the whole water world here at WWF. It has been a great opportunity to celebrate our long-standing and productive bilateral cooperation with Indonesia.’
A Matter of Perseverance
On the second day of the WWF, we – Partners for Water – hosted a session in collaboration with Water as Leverage. This programme brings together cities, designers, engineers, and financiers to enhance urban resilience to climate change. The goal of this session was to discuss bilateral collaboration with our seven partner countries regarding inclusive delta development.
As improving water security requires perseverance, we consider long-term partnerships with our partner countries to be essential. Amongst other things, we discussed how we can enhance the current approach and how to engage local partners effectively. We also shared insights gained from projects undertaken in our partner countries.
Launch of inaugural report
An exciting event that occurred at the Dutch pavilion was the launch of the first International Panel on Deltas and Coastal Areas (IPDC) report. The report was produced through a collaborative effort and sets out the climate adaptation strategies, processes, and challenges of each IPDC member country. Meike van Ginneken presented the first copies to two esteemed IDPC-members, Indonesia’s Pak Leo Eliasta and Egypt’s Mr. Walid Hakiki.
A special visitor
On the last day of presentations at the WWF, a very special person visited the Dutch Pavilion. Minister Basuki Hadimuljono of Indonesia’s Ministry of Public Works and Housing stopped by.
‘I had the wonderful opportunity to speak with the Minister about the relationship between Indonesia and The Netherlands, particularly focusing on the water sector. I believe this relationship will always be strong, equal and beneficial’, said Nishchal Sardjoe, Senior Water Management specialist at Deltares Indonesia
Thank you
Partners for Water would like to thank all the companies, NGO’s, governments, knowledge institutions and visitors who came and participated at our pavilion. We trust you had a fruitful WWF and hope to see you soon.
A special thanks to everyone who hosted a session at the Netherlands Pavilion 2024:
Bandung Technische Hoogeschool Fonds (BTHF), BESE BV, Danone, Deltares Netherlands, EcoShape Consortium, International Panel on Deltas, Coasts and Islands (IPDC), MetaMeta, Nazava Indonesia, NX Filtration, Partners for Water, Royal HaskoningDHV, UN-Habitat, Simavi, The International Centre for Water Cooperation (ICWC), SNV Netherlands Development Organisation, Valuing Water Initiative (VWI), Van Oord Dredging and Marine Contractors, WaterWorX (VEI, WereldWaternet and Oasen), Water as Leverage, Water Footprint Implementation, Wavemakers United/Nuffic/The Water Agency, Wetskills Foundation, Yayasan Plan International Indonesia
A glimpse of the NL Pavilion during the World Water Forum 2024
Indonesia and the Netherlands have a longstanding cooperation in the field of water
To define priority initiatives in the many aspects the cooperation involves, three Joint Working Groups (JWG) have been established since October 2024. To share and discuss the initial outcomes, and to gain input from the water sector active in Indonesia, Partners for Water is hosting an exchange session on 8 May.
Joint Working Groups
Three JWGs have been tasked with formulating a joint vision and ambition on which the Netherlands and Indonesia will collaborate in the coming years, and to make this ambition tangible in concrete initiatives. Started in October 2024, the JWGs consist of Dutch and Indonesian counterparts who each explored one of the three aspects of the cooperation:
- JWG 1: Integrated Water Resilience, from North Java to enlighten other priority developments.
- JWG 2: Lowland Development and Irrigation.
- JWG 3: Capacity development, Knowledge exchange and Youth engagement.
You are invited!
The JWGs prove to be an effective instrument to exchange ideas with the Indonesian counterparts and to define priority initiatives for the coming years. To share and discuss the initial results and gain further insights from the water sector on these themes, we’d like to invite you to participate in our online exchange session.
Through this online exchange session, you will be informed on the progress and intermittent outcomes, and have the chance to share your knowlegde and inform us on relevant tools available within the sector that can contribute to the regarded themes. Additionally, you will be invited to join us on a regular basis in dedicated brainstorm sessions for each working group.
The online exchange session
The online session will be held on 8 May, 10.00 AM – 11.30 AM (CET). During the session, there will be a plenary introduction to the working group process, followed by breakout groups where you will take a deep dive into the specific outcomes of the working group of your choice.
Want to join? Apply for the event through this form and subscribe to a specific deep dive session. We are looking forward to meeting you on 8 May.
Apply for the online exchange sessionDeep dive sessions
As JWG 3 primarily seeks to contribute in the field of Integrated Water Resilience (JWG 1) and Lowland Development and Irrigation (JWG 2), you are invited to participate in one of the following two deep dive sessions:
Integrated Water Resilience
Urban centers across North Java inhabit a complex interplay of economic development, population increase and resulting natural resource pressures, like high groundwater abstraction, high land subsidence rates, frequent floods and coastal erosion, among others. This deep dive explores the JWGs efforts to identify and further concretize the areas of mutual interest between the Netherlands and Indonesia, among which Nature-based Solutions, urban water resilience, water governance and social inclusion. The deep dive explores what a more holistic approach on regional water management could bring to this complex interplay, and how to build upon existing cooperation and knowledge in North Java.
Lowland development and Irrigation
Lowland areas play a central role in the efforts of Indonesia to reach food independence. Facing major production gaps in the near future, the demand for improving productivity of existing lowlands is high. In reaching these efforts, Indonesia aims for a food system transformation towards an ‘eco-region’ that is sustainable, healthy and resilient, and based on local resources. For years, the Dutch – Indonesian collaboration has provided strategic guidance on lowland areas through programmes like EMRP (2007-2008), WACLIMAD (2010-2012) and QANS (2012-2014). This deep dive will highlight potential areas to continue the collaboration on lowland areas and asks for your participation in defining the unique Dutch selling points in this field.
Partners for Water is a Dutch government programme enhancing water security internationally in long-term cooperation with local partners and the Dutch water sector. By facilitating strategic planning and support in the early stages of innovation, the programme aims to contribute to systemic change for sustainable water management and infrastructure. This is how we initiate impactful changes for a better living environment.
