Author: Harmke Berghuis

Blue Deal delegation attends COP16: Biodiversity must be a central theme

From 21 October to 1 November 2024, the United Nations (UN) hosted the 16th Conference of the Parties (COP16) on biodiversity in Colombia. A small delegation from the Blue Deal attended the COP to highlight the importance of regional cooperation by water authorities to strengthen biodiversity together. Erik de Ridder, Chair of the Dutch water authority De Dommel and Lead of the Blue Deal Colombia partnership, was part of the delegation.

Blue Deal representatives

Erik de Ridder participated in COP16 at the invitation of CVC and ASOCARS, partners of the Blue Deal Colombia partnership known as InspirAgua. CVC is based in Cali, Colombia, where COP16 was held. Marieke van Nood, Programme Manager of the Blue Deal, represented the Blue Deal Programme Office, while Water Envoy and Blue Deal Steering Committee Member Meike van Ginneken was also present.

A global approach to biodiversity

During COP16, UN member states discussed global strategies to address biodiversity loss, including the Global Biodiversity Framework established in 2022. This framework sets out objectives to halt the worldwide decline in biodiversity.

“Small steps are crucial”

De Ridder participated in a panel on the integrated management of biodiversity and ecosystems, focusing on the role of governance and institutions. “When implementing complex goals, like those discussed at the COP, small steps are crucial,” he shared. “Biodiversity should be a central theme in all government policies, from agriculture to urbanisation. Only an integrated approach can offer meaningful solutions and make resources available for implementing organisations. I was deeply moved by how Colombia views biodiversity as a natural and essential responsibility.”

“Water quality must be in order”

Water Envoy Van Ginneken also highlighted the importance of regional and international cooperation by water authorities to enhance biodiversity. During a visit to a local water treatment plant, she stated: “Improving biodiversity requires good water quality. The collaboration between the Blue Deal and the local water treatment plant operator is an example of how bilateral partnerships can contribute to stronger biodiversity and help achieve COP goals together.”

International collaboration and biodiversity

During COP16, the Blue Deal delegation strengthened ties with Colombian and other international partners. The event also provided an opportunity to gain new insights into biodiversity through lessons learned from international collaborations. Learning from other countries is a key priority for the Blue Deal.

Biodiversity crisis in the Netherlands

Biodiversity and ecology play a vital role in the work of the water authorities in the Netherlands. Through the design and management of ditches, dykes, and other infrastructure, they contribute to strengthening nature. The water authorities can therefore play a key role in addressing the biodiversity crisis in the Netherlands.

Blue Deal Colombia

In Colombia, Blue Deal InspirAgua works to improve water conditions in the Magdalena River basin. The partnership collaborates with national and regional partners to promote climate-resilient and socially inclusive water management. Key priorities include developing functional river basin plans, establishing an effective crisis organisation, improving data-driven knowledge and insights, wastewater treatment, and pollution prevention and enforcement.

Annual meeting for Economic Mechanism project Romania

On October 7, it was once again time for the annual meeting in Romania regarding the Blue Deal Economic Mechanism project. This year’s location was Timisoara, Romania. Following what was for some a long travel day, the workshop began on Tuesday, October 8, with a welcome speech by Liliana Michineci, the director of NARW, the Romanian water authority.

Progress in KPI dashboard

After reflecting on the Blue Deal work visit to Leiden, the Netherlands, which took place earlier in May this year, the first major topic on the agenda was addressed. This concerned the progress made by Romanian colleagues in developing a KPI dashboard. The aim of the dashboard is to help monitor their goals and achievements more effectively in the future. In collaboration with the World Bank, an initial concept for such a dashboard was created and presented for the first time in Timisoara, Romania. Although there is still much work to be done, the first step was well-received. The coming period will focus on identifying suitable KPIs and determining how data will be collected and provided. The project with the World Bank must be completed by March 1, 2025, and the topic will undoubtedly be revisited during the next Blue Deal work visit.

Tax collection

Although it was not formally on the agenda, the topic of tax collection was also discussed. Upon request, Philip Daelmans of the Dutch water authority Limburg gave a presentation about the imposition and collection of taxes through the tax collaboration system in which his water authority is involved. This topic piqued the interest of the Romanian colleagues, especially since the Romanian water authority NARW plans to introduce a solidarity contribution of €8 per household starting in 2025. This contribution is part of a proposed law based on World Bank recommendations. The aim is to raise an estimated €8 billion between 2025 and 2039, not only through the solidarity contribution but also by tapping into new revenue streams such as groundwater extraction fees and energy generation from water.

Key topics

2 key topics on the agenda for day 3 were communication/lobbying and treasury management. Starting with communication, it is crucial for NARW to bring its partners on board with the World Bank’s recommendations. Earlier this year, a meeting was organised with key stakeholders, including ministries and energy companies, and the Romanian colleagues provided an update on this in Timisoara. They drew inspiration for organising such meetings from the ‘storytelling’ workshop given by Marcel de Ruijter earlier this year in Leiden. Regarding treasury management, Philip Daelmans gave a presentation on how it is handled at the Dutch water authority Limburg.

Asset management

The main focus of the final day of the workshop was the use of risk and asset management within NARW. To make significant progress on these topics, work is being done with a software tool that NARW had previously employed. The goal is to use risk analysis to identify the most significant risks related to NARW’s assets, allowing prioritisation of actions and allocation of maintenance budgets accordingly. To date, 50,000 assets have been mapped and integrated into the software tool.

In addition to the above-mentioned topics, the workshop was, as always, enriched with presentations and excursions that provided participants with greater insight into the hosting water authority and its management area. All in all, the work visit was a resounding success on every level.

Marieke van Nood new Programme Manager Blue Deal

On 1 October, Marieke van Nood started as the new Programme Manager for the Blue Deal. Van Nood has extensive knowledge and experience in working internationally within the water sector. In the past years, she also gained experience with the Blue Deal, working for several Blue Deal partnerships as Regional Director East Africa and Asia for World Waternet.

This is what Marieke says about the Blue Deal:

“Over the past 6 years during my work at World Waternet, I have often been proud of my water colleagues when they showed solutions for sustainable water management. In Kenya, it turned out that the private sector was very keen to help the water authority with their tasks and with funds for that. In Ethiopia, operational training proved to be enough to actually start using donated vacuum trucks. Small interventions, but with a huge impact.”

Missing piece of the puzzle

“Strong water organisations are often the missing piece of the puzzle in sustainable water management. And the Dutch water authorities enable strengthening these organisations with the Blue Deal programme. That’s why I’m so excited to lead the Blue Deal programme on the way to 2030! The Blue Deal opens doors.”

Human relationships

“The human relationships make the Blue Deal programme unique. I look forward to meeting everyone who makes the work of the 17 partnerships possible. And to hear what is on your minds and where you see opportunities.”

Increased collaboration

“Strengthening public water organisations in our partner countries is increasingly seen as that missing piece of the puzzle by other major players in the water field. Increased collaboration with these partners is a huge opportunity for the Blue Deal programme. Together with the programme office and the 17 partnerships, I am committed to this increased collaboration in the coming years.”

Meet the team

Want to get in touch with Marieke van Nood or one of the other members of the team? Reach out to info@bluedeal.nl. Or get in touch with one of the individual members of the Programme Office:

New Blue Deal Young Experts visit the Netherlands

From 9 to 21 September, a group of Young Experts from Blue Deal partnerships visited the Netherlands. This was the kick-start of their 2 year programme as Yeppers, as they are called.

What is the Young Expert Programme?

The Young Expert Programme (YEP) offers young professionals the opportunity to join a training programme for 2 years, to learn in an international environment. For the Blue Deal, a tailor-made programme was created, co-financed by the NWB Fund. Young professionals from all 17 partnerships will work in the water authorities in their countries for the Blue Deal, while also following a programme for personal and professional development. They also receive coaching through this programme. This way, they can strengthen the water management in their countries.

2 people are looking at the tubes inside a wastewater treatment plant

Water management and personal development

These Yeppers started their 2-year programme in the Netherlands and will continue their programme while working for the water authority in their own country. In the next 2 years, they will join several (online) trainings dedicated to water management and their personal development.

Visit to the Netherlands

In the Netherlands, the group attended various workshops on topics such as water governance and personal development. They also visited water authorities and went on field trips, such as to the Hondsbossche sea defence and to a water treatment plant.

Building networks and sharing knowledge

Setsabile Thwala from Eswatini is one of the people who were selected to join the YEP for the Blue Deal. “We come from different cultures and I believe we can learn a lot from each other. YEP is also about building networks, interactions and sharing knowledge. I think it’s something we will gain a lot from as the whole batch and I look forward to the experience.”

Tools for achieving goals

Aditya Darmawan is also one of the Yeppers, from Indonesia. One of the reasons to join the YEP is for the lessons on personal development: “This week, I already learned a lot about myself, about who I am and what my goals are professionally. In the workshops, they gave me the tools on how to achieve these goals.” He also speaks about the professional lessons he learned from his visit to the Netherlands. For example about the use of nature-based solutions.

Knowledge exchange

Maricielo Cruz Mogollon, one of the Yeppers from Peru, also speaks about what she learned from her visit to the Netherlands. “From my visit to some of the Dutch water authorities, I noticed how they all work together and support each other. I like how they use the nature and the environment. And also how they are open to learn from other countries and that they give me the opportunity to learn from them, to exchange knowledge.”

Blue Dragon Viet Nam supports Miss Business

What do water authorities have to do with beauty pageants? The Blue Deal partnership in Viet Nam, called Blue Dragon, was asked by one of the competitors to become her official sponsor.

Earlier this year, Mrs. Lily Vo, a Vietnamese-born entrepreneur now living in the Netherlands, approached the Blue Dragon programme for support in her participation in the Miss Business Global election event, held in Vietnam. Mrs. Vo, a 1979 boat refugee from Viet Nam, wanted to use her platform to promote social and community initiatives, choosing to highlight Dutch water management as part of her campaign.

Nature-based solutions as central message

In collaboration with a former board member of the Dutch water authority Hollands Noorderkwartier, Mrs. Vo contributed to a video showcasing the improvement of the Hondsbossche sea defence, as an example of nature-based solutions. This project exemplifies the innovative water management strategies the Netherlands is known for, and served as a central message during her participation in the Miss Business Global event.

Miss Business Ambassador Global and Miss Business Charity Global

At the final election in late July, Mrs. Vo was crowned Miss Business Ambassador Global 2024 and Miss Business Charity Global 2024, with Dutch Water Authorities proudly supporting her as one of her official sponsors.

This unique collaboration highlights the global relevance of Dutch expertise in water management and its capacity to inspire and support international communities in tackling water-related challenges.

Colombian water authorities visit the Netherlands

From 7 to 14 September, 13 board members of Colombian water authorities visited the Netherlands. They shared knowledge and experience with Dutch officials and specialists. The visit was part of the Blue Deal Colombia programme, InspirAgua.

The visit focused on cross-border collaboration, within their own organisations, with each other, and with regional partners. Key themes included engaging local communities in projects, nature conservation in Colombia, decision-making, wastewater treatment in the Netherlands, and water management in general. “The collaboration with Colombia is about exchanging knowledge and inspiring each other with good examples. This helps both sides to become better water managers, equipped for the changing and challenging tasks ahead,” says Ellen Bollen-Weide, programme manager for InspirAgua.

Mutual learning experience

The Colombian water authorities were immersed in Dutch water management for a week. At the same time, there was great attention to the Colombian approach, from which the Netherlands can learn a lot, especially in areas like climate change, drought, and heavy rainfall. Organisational topics were also covered, such as regional processes and their financing.

Cross-border collaboration helps both parties

According to Erik de Ridder, chair of the Dutch water authority De Dommel and responsible for InspirAgua, the visit provided valuable insights. “I firmly believe that by seeking collaboration beyond borders, you not only help others but also yourself. By seeing things through someone else’s eyes, you notice aspects that may seem obvious to us but aren’t.”

InspirAgua’s mission

The Blue Deal programme InspirAgua aims to deliver cleaner water to 15 million Colombians living and working along the Rio Magdalena by 2030. The programme works with national and regional partners to strengthen water management, making plans for rivers, developing a robust crisis organisation, utilising data, treating wastewater, and preventing pollution.

Blue Deal visit to Romania for Decision Support System

A Dutch Blue Deal delegation visited Romania from 8-11 July. The main goal was to discuss the content and scope of 2 workshops on behalf of the development a Decision Support System (DSS) in Romania. The workshops are foreseen in 2024 and 2025 to let Romanian experts learn the basics of developing a DSS.

DSS is a system that provides computer-driven technological solutions that help in making decisions to solve complex problems.

The Blue Deal work visit kicked off with a meeting at the National Institute of Hydrology and Water Management (NIHWM) headquarters and was dedicated to the expectations of the current workshop. At first, Mr. De Ruyter of the Unie van Waterschappen gave an update about the Blue Deal partnership.
Next, the director of NIHWM, Mr. Matreata, gave a presentation about the NIHWM systems currently used for water management in Romania, and the linkage between meteorological administration information and hydrological forecast centre products.

DSS complementary to current systems

After an extended lunch, Mr. Matreta explained how a DSS can be complementary to the systems already in function. He also gave an insight in the current developments for the flash flood warning system. To give a slight impression of some possibilities of a DSS, Mr. van der Zwan from the Dutch water authority Rijnland explained how Rijnland has developed a DSS and how it is used on a daily basis.

With the insights of both the Romanian partners and the Dutch visitors, the discussions focused on the most sufficient pathway to implement a DSS in Romania and especially the critical points to take in consideration. To implement a DSS step-by-step, the first step is to develop a pre-operational DSS for a part of the Arges-Vedea river basin.

Visit to Arges-Vedea River Basin

The next day, the delegation was given a warm welcome by the Arges-Vedea River Basin Administration (RBA Arges-Vedea) in Pitesti. Mr. Cristian Barbu of the RBA Arges-Vedea provided insights in the water management in the watershed of Arges-Vedea.

After a perfect stay in the beautiful area of Voina in the northern part of the basin, the next day the discussion continued about how the water management in the Arges-Vedea basin is done. The participants concluded what the starting points were for a DSS in the Arges-Vedea basin, and how to develop, implement and maintain a DSS.

In the afternoon, the Rausor dam, one of the major dams in the Arges-Vedea basin, was visited. The participants were informed about dam management and technical issues.

How to develop basis knowledge on DSS

On the last day of the visit, the Dutch and Romanian participants had an online meeting with HKV and Deltares. They discussed the content of the workshops and the level of detail. The participants that will attend the workshops will develop basic skills about developing a DSS and gain basic knowledge of the structure of a DSS. This knowledge will be of utmost importance for upscaling a DSS other areas in Romania. Funding of the workshops comes from Blue Deal, NARW and NWB Fund.

After the meeting was finalised, the Dutch participants flew back home, looking back on a fruitful visit, and looking forward to the next steps in this process.

Milestone during WISA: establishment of Catchment Management Agencies

From June 12 to 14, the WISA conference took place in Durban, South Africa. This 3-day water management event for Southern Africa had the theme 'Turning the Tide'. A significant moment during the conference was the official launch of water authorities for South Africa, called Catchment Management Agencies (CMAs).

Over the past years, the Blue Deal shared its experiences related to water resource management tasks, which contributed to the establishment of CMAs in South Africa. Marion Wierda, CEO of Blue Deal South Africa, played a crucial role alongside the South African minister and other dignitaries during this inaugural event. We also spoke about the 750-year history of the water authorities in the Netherlands.

Previously, CMA responsibilities in South Africa were scattered across provinces and ministries. By creating these water authorities, we emphasise the importance of clean, sufficient and safe water. CMAs enable local, responsible management of water-related challenges. Together, we’re working towards resilient water management.

During the conference, the Blue Deal also achieved the following:

  • We conducted workshops on Blue Deal collaborations, including a workshop on ‘Women in Water’, in partnership with the World Water Academy.
  • We participated in the Wetskills competition. Our Blue Deal team presented a case study, and 4 students from around the world delivered their final presentations during WISA.
  • We managed a joint booth with the Department of Water and Sanitation, where we connected with stakeholders during breaks.
  • We held meetings and established agreements with the Dutch ambassador and the Minister of Water and Sanitation in South Africa (joint Steering Committee).
  • And much more!

Blue Deal Indonesia partners visit the Netherlands

From June 8 to June 16, 11 partners from the 4 local Blue Deal partners of Java, Indonesia, visited the Netherlands. In addition to knowledge sharing, we paid significant attention to strengthening the cooperation among the various Indonesian partners and the regions.

The Dutch team organised a comprehensive programme, featuring a mix of presentations and field visits to the Dutch water authorities of Schieland and Krimpenerwaard, Aa and Maas, Delfland, and Hollands Noorderkwartier.

Learning from each other on climate adaptation

On Monday, June 10, the delegation visited the research institute Deltares, to discuss the relationship between land subsidence and coastal erosion. Subsequently, the delegation went to The Green Village, a field lab centre for innovation, to observe innovative developments in climate adaptation. Climate change is a crucial theme where we can learn a lot from each other, as Indonesia has been dealing with heavy rainfall and significant flooding for much longer.

Water management in hill areas

Tuesday, June 11, focused on water management in hill areas. Topics included area processes (stakeholder involvement) for the spatial integration of water management. The delegation was surprised by the extensive water storage capacity and the absence of pumping stations.

Webinar: challenges and solutions from Indonesia

On Wednesday, June 12, a webinar was organised at the Dutch water authority Delfland. A total of 46 participants from various water authorities registered. During the webinar, our Indonesian partners provided insights into their challenges and search for solutions. The impact of waterlogging was made tangible through visual materials (photos and videos), emphasising the importance of our cooperation.

> Watch the complete webinar

Following the webinar, there was a visit to the water level management control room, and the afternoon focused on chemical and ecological water quality.

Nature-based solutions

In the north of the Netherlands, the last 2 days focused on coastal protection with a visit to the Hondsbossche Sea Defence, where coastal protection and nature development go hand in hand. Additionally, a water purification plant with a large helophyte filter, a nature-based solution, was visited on Texel. We concluded the week with a teambuilding activity at the beach of Camperduin.

Second work visit to Peru

From June 9 until June 22, a team from Blue Deal Peru went on the second work visit for 2024. The team spoke with local water authorities about many topics and organised workshops. We also saw the results of our scholarship programme.

The team started the journey with having a meeting with the board of directors of the National Water Authority (ANA) in Lima. We shared and coordinated themes of common interest, such as water and climate adaptation, and the strengthening of the water councils’ work.

Visit to Tumbes

We also visited our 2 Blue Deal regions: Tumbes and Piura to work with our regional partners. In Tumbes, we spoke with the Water Resources Council Tumbes and its technical team about the urgent needs of their employees, and about the key role of having better communication among themselves and a long-term strategy. We also visited the Governor of Tumbes for an update on our project in the region.

Sedimentation of the 2 main rivers in the mangrove areas was also a topic for discussion, sharing concerns and ideas to deal with this situation that threatens the mangrove environment. We met and talked with representatives from the local government, university and civil society organisations about water management, water quality and water harvesting contribution to reforestation processes. Our Young Expert shared her experiences at the World Water Forum in Indonesia and we ended our visit in Tumbes selecting the new Young Expert who will work with the local and Dutch team from 2024 to 2026.

Visit to Piura

In Piura, we also met with representatives of the Water Resources Council Chira-Piura and its technical team. Discussions included strengthening the water council and cooperation on flood control and urban drainage plans in Piura with the National Infrastructure Authority. Carlo van Oijen from Wageningen University and intern at the Dutch water authority Noorderzijlvest presented his research results on flood risk reduction in the Piura river basin. Another Dutch colleague, Jelle Agema, visited forest plantations as part of a feasibility study on water management and carbon credits funded by NWB Fund. He was impressed by the large forest and the communities’ conservation activities. As part of this study we held a workshop given by Farm Tree to the technical team and AIDER, the organisation that will carry out the study. Additionally, we discussed the objectives and target group for a training on operation and maintenance of wastewater treatment plants in Piura.

First results of scholarship programme

We are pleased to see the first results of our scholarship programme: support to university students to get their professional titles on water management. The first student got her professional title with a thesis on ecosystem services graded with outstanding marks. The second student is done with her field research on water saving on rice production. Her results are now being validated amongst the local organisations.

In Lima, we learned about the work of the ANA’s on transboundary water management with Ecuador, which also influences Piura and Tumbes. We also shared ideas with the colleagues on water management, water culture, participation and social inclusion. Overall, we look back at a very productive work visit and look forward to continuing the work with our partners.