1. The Blue Deal is a programme initiated by the Dutch Water Authorities in collaboration with the Dutch Ministries of Foreign Affairs and of Infrastructure and Water Management. Its aim is to address global water issues by exchanging water management knowledge with other countries. For the Blue Deal Mozambique partnership, the Dutch Water Authorities are working with five Mozambican water authorities and the water and sanitation department of the municipality of Beira to strengthen their capacity in the areas of water security, water allocation, and water quality.

Innovation in progress series

Throughout the Partners for Water 2022–2027 programme, we’ll be following several subsidised projects from start to finish. Over the coming years, these projects will share their transformative journeys with you, offering insights into their innovative solutions, collaborative efforts with local partners, and the challenges they face along the way. You’ll discover not only their successes but also the valuable lessons learned through their struggles and setbacks.

Stay tuned and follow their journey through the Partners for Water website. You can search for: ‘Innovation in Progress’ to find the latest updates. You can also visit our LinkedIn page or subscribe to our newsletter to stay updated.

Dredged silt from the Suriname River: waste or beneficial material? The Weg naar Zee project, funded by Partners for Water, investigated whether silt dredged from the Suriname River could be used to address coastal erosion and mangrove losses along the Suriname coast. Last month, the feasibility study concluded with promising results. Below, Bob Smits from consortium partner Deltares explains the potential of dredged silt.

About 8 years ago, Nature-based Solutions Advisor Bob Smits completed his master’s thesis on mangrove restoration at the independent knowledge institute Deltares. Since then, he has developed his expertise in coastal protection and management, particularly in sediment transport. In the Weg naar Zee project, Bob serves as the technical lead and project coordinator.

The Weg naar Zee feasibility study was conducted in collaboration with Boskalis, Conservation International Suriname, InterConnect and the Anton de Kom University of Suriname.

Natural buffer

The coastal area of Weg naar Zee is an intertidal zone nearly two kilometres wide, located directly west of the Suriname River mouth. “The coastal area used to be covered with mangroves,” Bob explains, “but over the past decades, it has eroded significantly due to changing land use, leading to the disappearance of almost all mangroves.” These mangroves served as a natural buffer against erosion and flooding. “With the loss of this buffer, flooding now occurs regularly.”

However, the Suriname River is being deepened to improve navigation, releasing large amounts of silt. “Currently, this material is being released into the ocean, but it is actually a valuable resource that can be utilised,” says Bob. “With this project, we aim to investigate whether we can use this dredged material to combat further erosion.”

Silt, sand, and mangroves

“We have some interesting findings from the analysis of the historical coastal development,” Bob says. “Sand appears to play a significant role in the natural restoration of mangrove trees. This can be observed in an area west of Weg naar Zee, where mangroves have returned without active human intervention. We suspect this is due to the natural formation of sandbanks in the intertidal zone, which cause the area behind them to fill with silt, creating an ideal habitat for mangroves.” However, no sandbanks are being formed on the foreshore of Weg naar Zee. “This is most likely caused by previous sand extraction east of the Suriname River and damming upstream of the river.”

Stimulating mangrove habitat

“The potential role of sand is a significant insight that we incorporate into our recommendations,” says Bob. “We see the possibility of placing artificial sandbanks, which would allow us to fill the area behind them with the dredged silt.” This solution would improve the natural conditions for a mangrove habitat, enabling the trees to grow again and form a natural buffer. He continues, “Reusing silt from dredged material is already being done in several places, and is widely acknowledged as a promising concept. However, this combination of using dredged silt and sand for the benefit of mangrove restoration and erosion control is still new.”

Valuable collaborations

“During the research, we involved local stakeholders, such as the Ministry of Public Works and local residents,” notes Bob. “Not only are they the problem owners, but they also possess a lot of local knowledge that we can combine with our international experience. We also owe a great deal to the Dutch Embassy in Suriname, which helped us significantly in arranging meetings with the Ministry of Public Works.”

“I believe the most important aspect of collaboration is to have mutual respect and to be open to each other’s experiences and knowledge,” says Bob. “As a Dutch entity, I view challenges and solutions with my Dutch framework. To develop a solution that is adapted to the local context, it is essential to ask for input and knowledge from local parties and stakeholders and to truly work together towards a collaborative resolution.”

What’s next

“The results have been well received by the Ministry of Public Works and the local residents,” says Bob. As a follow-up to this feasibility study, the consortium would like to initiate a pilot project and is currently exploring available financing opportunities. As Bob explains, “The situation of coastal erosion and mangrove loss we have investigated is similar to the rest of the Surinamese coast and also to that of neighbouring countries Guyana and French Guiana. So if our planned pilot-project is successful, there are plenty of opportunities to scale it up.”

In Egypt, the Nile Delta and its 3 million small holder farmers struggle due to severe levels of salinity. The ProSal-Hydro project, funded by Partners for Water, addresses these challenges by providing an innovative, low-tech and low-cost solution using hydroponic systems in agricultural fields. Anas Azzam, project manager at consortium partner Delphy, and coordinator of the ProSal-Hydro project, shares about this innovative and accessible solution.

“After completing my master’s in water engineering and sustainable development, I have been working on multiple EU-funded projects in Egypt, focusing on sustainability, agriculture and water management,” says Anas. “What motivates me to work in this sector is the impact we can have. Seeing that results continue to have an impact after a project is finished inspires me to write new proposals and create more positive change for Egyptians who are faced with the challenges of drought, salinity and water scarcity on a daily basis.”

The ProSal-Hydro project aims to introduce innovative agricultural practices to combat salinity and water scarcity for smallholder farmers in the Nile Delta. During the pilot phase, the hydroponics systems will be implemented on five farms, along with training for farmers. The project will be coordinated and executed by Delphy International, a global expert in food and flower knowledge development and implementation. It is in collaboration with The Salt Doctors, a Dutch social enterprise company specialising in resilient farming systems for saline-affected areas, and Plug’n’Grow, an Egyptian company focused on economically viable hydroponic and aquaculture solutions.

Water scarcity and salinity

“The Nile Delta is home to over 3 million small holder farmers and serves as the primary food production area for Egypt”, says Anas. “However, sea water intrusion has led to raising salinity, affecting 40% of the farmland, particularly in the coastal area of the Nile Delta.” This critical issue requires urgent adoption of reliable, innovative agricultural practices and sustainable, smart technologies to ease the strain on freshwater consumption and soil fertility. Anas explains: “By implementing our soilless system, farmers can attain higher yields while reducing water consumption by around 80%. It offers to be a promising solution to the challenges in this vital agricultural area.”

Low-tech solution

“Most small holder farmers in Egypt don’t like high-tech solutions,” Anas points out, “they seek solutions that they can control and maintain themselves, so that they can stay independent and are less exposed to market fluctuations of spare parts.” The project offers an aquaponic system that caters to these needs and preferences. Anas explains: “The system consists of a pond that can be set up in an open field. The water is enriched with nutrients to ensure an optimal mineral balance and a pumping system is installed to provide circulation and aeration. A raft placed on top of the water, ensures evaporation is minimised.” Anas states that the water needs to be renewed only at the end of each yield cycle and that the remaining nutrient-rich water can be used to irrigate crops in the field. “This way no water is wasted.”

Stakeholder involvement

“Throughout the entire project, we maintain close collaboration with the participating farmers and actively seek their input,” says Anas. “By consistently gathering and incorporating their feedback, we aim to refine and optimize the system to local conditions, ensuring that it remains tailored to their specific needs and requirements.” To further strengthen stakeholder engagement, the project has scheduled various workshops, the first one being held in the upcoming month. “This workshop will bring together local government officials, representatives from NGOs and key stakeholders within the agriculture and water sectors,” says Anas. “Our primary objective will be to collect valuable insights and recommendations that can be incorporated in order to bolster the project’s implementation and scalability.”

What’s next?

“We have selected sites in the delta with varying water quality, salinity, and weather conditions. Currently, we are working on implementing the system,” says Anas. He explains that this has taken longer than expected: “We aim to use as many local materials as possible and achieve a low price with high efficiency. Sourcing these products requires time and constant consultation with our technical experts from Delphy and the Salt Doctors.” Fortunately, the finish line is in sight: “Next month, we will be ready to operate the system in 5 locations.”

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

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

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

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

Integrating road planning

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

Advanced methods

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

Consortium partners

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

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

Digital twins

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

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

Approach and phase

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

Goals

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

Innovation in progress series

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

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

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

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

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

Transforming Ghanaian horticulture

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

Promising harvest

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

Farmers’ scepticism

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

Understanding the farmers’ context

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

Scaling up

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

Innovation in progress series

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

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

Meet the team

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

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

MAReS

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

Efficient data measurements

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

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

Problem-driven innovation

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

Designing for the end user

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

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

Scaling up

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

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

Innovation in progress series

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

Amidst the global challenge of climate change, agricultural regions like Vietnam’s Mekong Delta stand at the intersection of high productivity and significant vulnerability. The delta, home to over 18 million people and contributing more than 50% of Vietnam’s rice production, plays a vital role in ensuring food security across Asia and beyond. However, rising sea levels, excessive groundwater extraction, and saltwater intrusion threaten its survival. In response, a coalition of Vietnamese and Dutch experts have established the Mekong Salt Lab, dedicated to helping farmers in the Tra Vinh Province adapt to increasing droughts and salinization. Funded by Partners of Waters, we shed light on this ongoing innovation through a series of interviews. In our first episode, Gregor Van Essen and Bich Tran (Bica) update us on the current challenges and forthcoming steps.

Image: Mekong Salt Lab – Location of Tra Vinh Province in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam

About Salt Lab

Salt Lab addresses the impact of saline intrusion on farmers’ livelihoods in Tra Vinh Province, Vietnam. The project tackles issues such as reduced crop and fish yields, scarcity of fresh water for irrigation and household use, and the socio-economic consequences of salinity. It provides practical solutions and training through a Centre of Expertise, such as blended learning platforms, hydroponics, water treatment, and constructed wetlands. Adopting Farmer-to-Farmer and Public-Private Partnership models, Salt Lab will initially implement and integrate seven promising adaptive and scalable interventions, enhancing resilience and sustainable agriculture in the Mekong Delta. These are the 7 solutions part of the pilot project:

• Hydroponics: an open-field, low cost, and low-tech hydroponics system designed to grow crops in saline-affected areas.
• Freshwater Collection and Retention: techniques such as water bags, retention ponds, and lining irrigation canals to maximise availability of freshwater
• Water and Wastewater Treatment: innovative nanofiltration methods using hollow fibre (HF) membrane modules for treating polluted water sources efficiently and sustainably.
• Constructed Wetlands: artificial wetlands at the farm level to retain fresh water, treat polluted water, and promote groundwater infiltration.
• Salinity Data Farming Platform & App: a unique platform and mobile app that provides real-time salinity data, helping farmers make informed decisions.
• Asia Raincraft: a serious gaming-based approach for community and stakeholder participation, fostering collaboration in addressing water and climate adaptation.
• Salinity Blended Learning Programme: equips farmers with practical knowledge about salinity and how they can respond or adapt to it.

Project team

The Mekong Salt Lab project is managed by a team of four members, including Gregor van Essen from The Water Agency and Bich Tran from Tra Vinh University, Vietnam. Gregor, as project director, oversees strategic operations and engages with key stakeholders like Partners for Water and the Dutch embassy. With over two decades of experience in the Mekong Delta, Bica, responsible for operational models, is deeply committed to enhancing farmers’ livelihoods in the region.

Empowering farmers: the crucial role of Mekong Salt Lab

Vietnam faces severe water deficits, worsened by intense droughts. During extreme dry seasons, the lack of freshwater forces many farmers to abandon their crops, a situation worsened by rising salinity levels. Farmers often lack the practical support needed to combat salinization. While they witness the negative impacts, such as failed crops, they lack the data, tools, and knowledge to respond effectively:

• Practical salinity data: Farmers need timely and useful data to assess the quality of various water sources and monitor changes in salinity levels over time.
• Practical knowledge and tools: Farmers require practical knowledge and tools to adapt to salinity, including methods for freshwater retention, water treatment, and the cultivation of salt-tolerant crops.
• Actionable and affordable support: Farmers need support and solutions that are both practical and affordable.

The services of Mekong Salt Lab are specifically targeting these gaps and the urgency of doing this for farmers cannot be overstated. Gregor emphasises its significance, stating, “For Mekong farmers, this project is not a nice-to-have; it is a matter of survival.” Despite the challenges, engaging local farmers in education and changing their practices is a formidable task. Bica underscores the importance of patience and cultural understanding, noting, “We must listen to local farmers and adjust our model to meet their needs.” Experimenting and upscaling present significant challenges during the initial phase, making the role of the Salt Lab crucial in addressing these issues and ensuring the sustainability of local agriculture.

Consortium Partners

The Mekong Salt Lab project thrives through the collaboration of a diverse consortium of Dutch and Vietnamese partners, including The Water Agency, Tra Vinh University, Kim Delta, The Salt Doctors, Saxion University, HZ University, SkillEd, and Acacia Water. Each partner brings specialised expertise in areas such as hydroponics, freshwater retention, saline agriculture, soil management, blended learning, stakeholder engagement, aquaculture, and wastewater treatment. Co-funded by the Partners for Water programme, this consortium benefits from regular guidance and oversight. As Gregor stated, “The collaboration with Partners for Water goes beyond funding. They connect us with other initiatives and partners in the Mekong Delta that can strengthen our project” This partnership aims to create sustainable water solutions tailored to the Mekong Delta’s needs.

Collaborating with local partners

Working closely with local partners is indispensable for the success of the Mekong Salt Lab project. Through comprehensive needs and gap analyses, the team ensures that their solutions align with local realities. “We’ve consulted local authorities and farmers extensively during the proposal phase to understand their needs and explore potential solutions,” explains Bica. Engaging influential “champion farmers” has proven pivotal. “We’ve carefully selected farmers who can effectively represent the issues we’re addressing and actively contribute to the project,” notes Bica.

Currently, two champion farmers are piloting integrated systems that include water collection and retention for agricultural activities, water treatment for household use, vertical hydroponics, and deep-water hydroponics to address salinity and water scarcity. The challenge lies in adapting these Dutch systems to the local context and ensuring the farmers learn how to operate them effectively. “We need to educate these farmers thoroughly while determining the best practices for them. This will help us develop a general approach for broader implementation of these systems”.

The interest among local farmers and government officials is evident. The local government, having already visited three times to assess the project’s progress, underscores their commitment and enthusiasm. The governments of the neighbouring provinces of Soc Trang and Ben Tre have also shown interest. By leveraging local expertise and fostering continuous dialogue, the project is well-positioned to achieve long-term success and make a significant impact on the community.

In the field and next steps

Currently the project is in its first phase, in which innovative solutions are being implemented at two champion farms and soon to be expanded. “With these farmers, we set up a model with hydroponics for vegetable planting. The deep water culture helps save water for farmers. The next step is integrating solutions effectively,” Bica says. Looking ahead, Gregor envisions broader success, stating, “We want the Mekong Salt Lab to become a one-stop support centre for farmers. Farmers can come to us for practical advice, solutions, and training.” The ultimate measure of success lies in the project’s ability to sustainably improve farming yields and enhance farmers’ livelihoods.

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!

Saroj is a water resource expert and Country Manager for MetaMeta Research in Nepal. Sanjeev works for the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), managing the interventions on sustainable springs. For the RoSPro project he is responsible for the co-design process, intervention and spring conservation.

We meet over Teams, as they are both in Nepal. During our conversation it becomes clear that this innovative project aims to make a big impact, not only in Dhankuta, but across the Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) region.

Innovative approach

Saroj studied International Land and Water Management at Wageningen University. He joined MetaMeta Research in 2014 where he became involved in the Green Roads for Water initiative. “Roads affect how water flows, but water also affects roads. Most road damages are due to water. By reimagining roads as tools for landscape improvement we can manage water supplies and increase the lifespan of roads”, explains Saroj. “For the RoSPro project I coordinate the activities in Nepal, focusing on stakeholder collaboration, data collection, impact analysis and co-design processes.”

Making a bigger impact

For ICIMOD and Sanjeev this project is relevant for the entire HKH region, which spans across eight countries. “Nearly 100 million people in the region depend on springs for their water security, of which approximately 10 million in Nepal. Spring water is a lifeline, catering to drinking, domestic, and agriculture needs, but many of these sources are dwindling. This is mostly due to the rapid expansion of road networks, in addition to changes in land cover and climate.

Road development alters the spring’s natural outflow, while rock cutting disrupts the location of spring orifices. For a long time, this problem has largely gone unnoticed, which poses a significant threat to the local communities and their water resources.” In an effort to address both the depletion of springs and the rapid expansion of roads, this project combines the roadside guidelines published by MetaMeta Research and the Department of Local Infrastructure (DoLI) with ICIMOD’s hydrogeology-based spring revival protocol.

Consortium Partners

The consortium is led by MetaMeta Research. Saroj explains: “MetaMeta had been working on roadside spring protection guidelines specifically for local road network in Nepal, as part of the Green Roads for Water initiative. With the intention on integrating our work, we shared our ideas with ICIMOD, as they are experts on spring revival in the HKH region”.

Sanjeev: “For ICIMOD this was very interesting. We had been developing a protocol for spring revival as well as decision support tools for mountain hydrology. Together we could address both problems at once. FutureWater, highly specialized in water management in the HKH context, contributes to the project by creating a digital twin and decision support toolkit. Through the integration of advanced techniques and tools, the project endeavors to secure safe and dependable water provisions for mountain communities while also preserving the quality of road infrastructure and sustaining connectivity”. DoLI will oversee the implementation.

Collaborating with the local community and local partners

Sanjeev: “Our main focus from the start was getting the local community and local government involved, making sure to include women in every step of the process. Promoting gender and social inclusion is an integral part of this project. Women are a vital part of communities, but are rarely in decision making positions. We make a conscious effort to change that”. The bottom-up approach and participatory process was essential for getting the problem recognized and endorsed by local governments. Saroj: “It enabled us to incorporate valuable local knowledge in the Nature-based Solutions, with respect for local traditions”.

In the field

Since the start of the project in July 2023 a lot has been accomplished. Sanjeev begins: “We organized a kick-off to share the objective of the project with different stakeholders and started the process to co-select four roadside springs for piloting. There we conducted a hydro-geological study at field level. With the data from hydro-geological mapping, we were able to create 3D images of the area”.

Saroj adds: “We gathered a large amount of data to use in the co-design process. For example, we held household surveys and explored the area with locals to gather information about water quantity and changes in spring flows among other things. In Focus Group discussions we asked them to draw their own map of the region. This revealed all sorts of interconnections between their water supply and sources, built infrastructure, and other types of land uses. Valuable information that only locals have”.

Next step

Saroj is excited about the next phase: “At this moment, we are in the process of finalising the co-design process for the measures for improvements of both springs and roads to be implemented in four pilot sites by May 2024. We have a short time frame before the monsoon starts.”