Early November the agreement for collaboration was signed between the Netherlands and Eswatini to continue Blue Deal into Phase 2.
Ms. Dlamini (left) and Ms. Hemmers sign the agreement.
In Eswatini it was Ms. Hemmers, member of the executive board of Dutch water authority Vechtstromen, and Ms. Dlamini, Principle Secretary of the Ministry of Natural Resources & Energy, who placed their signatures on the document. “Collaboration in Eswatini starts with a smile and a good start is half the job, as we say in the Netherlands”, according to Ms Hemmers.
Blue Deal makes the wheel stronger
It is due to climate change that both countries have to deal with more and more similar problems such as drought, heavy rains, heatwaves and floods. Ms Hemmers: “Thanks to the Blue Deal we don’t have to reinvent the wheel over and over again. Instead, we are enabling each other and we are making the wheel stronger. We do this by learning from each other and creating new solutions together.”
5 catchment areas, 1 operational organisation
The Blue Deal project in Eswatini assists in the decentralisation of water resource management from the Ministry to the local water authorities. Eswatini has 5 river basins that each have their own boards. These 5 boards have decided to combine the work in one operational organisation for more efficiency and better effective execution of operations. This is the Joint River Basin Authorities Project Board and the direct partner of the Blue Deal cooperation.
On November 27, Dutch Water Authorities (DWA) organised the DWA Network Day in Driebergen, with the central theme 'Water Knows No Boundaries.'
DWA coordinator Piebe Hoeksma opened the day with a plenary conversation with Luzette Kroon, board member of the Association of DWA. After a presentation by former Chief of the Defence Staff Tom Middendorp and the presentation of the NWB Award, there were theme sessions on the 4 main DWA themes: knowledge exchange, Europe, international projects/Blue Deal, and attractive employment. Approximately 120 employees, administrators, and foreign coordinators from within and outside the water authorities were present.
Importance of International Cooperation
“The water authorities are the least known government entities, but they enjoy the greatest trust,” Kroon opens her conversation. “80 percent of the Dutch trust that the water authorities keep our country, which is partly below sea level, dry. With Bureau Brussels, our representation in Europe, we also have a significant influence on Brussels policy. The international community is eager to learn from us. But we also face significant challenges, such as long periods of drought, extreme rainfall, and water pollution. These challenges are global: climate change is here, and it pays no attention to national borders. That’s why international cooperation is crucial, especially in the field of climate adaptation.”
Water at the Core of Sustainable Development Goals
Kroon is pleased that this year saw the first United Nations water conference. “This demonstrates that both the subject of water and international cooperation are high on the administrative agendas. The question now is: how do we ensure that this remains the case? I believe by continuing to emphasize the urgency. The Sustainable Development Goals mean nothing without water. International work also has significant added value for the water authorities it makes us more attractive as an employer.”
Water, Both Friend and Foe
The second keynote speaker has an impressive curriculum vitae: Tom Middendorp led the army for 38 years, was the first to put the climate on the agenda at Defence, and wrote the book Climate General, translated into five languages. “In the Netherlands, water is both our greatest friend and enemy at the same time,” he states in his presentation. “The economy owes much to our favourable location near water. At the same time, water is our greatest threat. Adaptation is in our genes due to these extremes.”
Reducing Water Dependency
Middendorp emphasizes our increasing dependence on water. “Look at production: a sheet of A4 paper requires a whopping 10 liters of water, and a T-shirt requires 4000 liters. And the demand for water continues to grow, partly due to population growth and our living standards. At the same time, water supply is decreasing due to increasingly longer periods of drought. We must reduce our water footprint and dependence on water through circularity: better reuse.”
Tensions Due to (Water) Scarcity
During his work abroad, Middendorp saw how scarcity of essential resources causes tensions between population groups. “Water scarcity causes conflicts and forces people to move. Through this phenomenon, I saw the connection between climate and security. Because climate change is closely related to water: to food shortages and the livability of areas. At Defense, I therefore put climate on the agenda and linked it to security.”
Giving Room to Innovation
“To resist increasingly extreme weather, we must collaborate,” says Middendorp. “We must give room to innovation, create a knowledge ecosystem, and collaborate across borders. The solution to these new water challenges lies in our innovation and adaptability.”
NWB Award 2023
The morning programme concluded with the presentation of the NWB Award 2023, the prize for the most compelling video about international water authorities work. After showing the shortlist, Luzette Kroon, as chair of the NWB Fund, announced the winner: ‘A strategic alliance for water conservation in the Chira Valley’ from Blue Deal Peru. They win €5000 for further research and an interview in Het Waterschap, the magazine of the Association of DWA. Kroon: “The videos provide a good insight into our work and show how many people are involved in international water authorities projects.”
Watch the video submissions for the NWB Award
Theme Sessions: Knowledge Sharing and Europe After the lunch break and networking opportunities, there were two rounds of theme sessions on the agenda. In each round, participants could join one of the four topics. In the Knowledge Sharing theme session, Petra Goessen, foreign coordinator at Dutch water authority Hollands Noorderkwartier, sought ideas for acquiring more knowledge from abroad. In the Europe theme session, Luc Kronenberg and Noa Hartog, lobbyists in Brussels on behalf of Vewin and the Association of DWA, explained what the Union does in Brussels and how the European Union operates.
Attractive Employment and International Projects
In the Attractive Employment theme session, Frank Tibben (intelligence manager at World Waternet) and Anne Maaike Koeneman (policy advisor international cooperation at Dutch water authority Drents Overijsselse Delta) showed why internationally oriented water experts choose water authorities as employers. In the Blue Deal/international projects theme session, Marion Wierda, programme manager at the NWB Fund, highlighted various international projects of the water authorities.
The final work visit with training week on Resilient Cities and the Blue Dragon Day took place on November 10.
Training Week on resilient cities
The latest addition to the Blue Dragon programme is a new pool focusing on climate adaptation. In the inaugural week from 6 to 9 November, the pool concentrated on:
Explaining the importance of cooperation in climate-adaptive measures
Outlining the concept of climate adaptation
Describing the systematics of climate adaptation
Identifying the necessary data collection from a given area
The training was conducted by Mrs. Anet Lablans and Ms. Denise Winters both from water authority Hollands Noorderkwartier. The usual field trip during the week was spent in the city of Rach Gia. The participants were requested to photograph locations where flooding during heavy rainfall may occur.
The first Blue Dragon Day
In the morning of Friday 10th November at the meeting hall of the Research Laboratories Complex (RLC) Building, Can Tho University, the Blue Dragon Programme and Can Tho University organised the first Blue Dragon Day. This event, a highlight of the Blue Dragon Programme, revolves around the “Partnership for long-term assistance of Dutch Water Authorities in Mekong Delta Vietnam”.
We had the honor of welcoming distinguished delegates:
Mr. Willem Timmerman, First Secretary, The Netherlands Embassy in Vietnam
Mr. Vương Viết Hưng, Vice Director of Integrated Climate Resilience and Sustainable Livelihoods Mekong Delta Project Management Board, Central Project Office (CPO), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development
Mr. Dang Ngoc Giao, Vice Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Hau Giang
Prof. Dr. Tran Ngoc Hai, Vice Rector of Can Tho University
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Van Pham Dang Tri, Director of DRAGON-Mekong Institute, Can Tho University
Other delegates were several lecturers and students of Can Tho University and representatives from Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development, Departments of Environment and Natural Resources, Departments of Construction, and Departments of Planning and Investment from provinces in the Mekong Delta.
The Delegates of Blue Dragon Day
The meeting provided a valuable opportunity for our partners to share their activities and experiences during Phase 1. Plans for Phase 2 were presented and discussed, including the expansion of the programme to other provinces in the Mekong Delta. Dynamic discussion sessions yielded valuable insights for Phase 2, and intent for cooperation was received from a new provinces of the Mekong Delta.
The period from the end of October until the beginning of December, 3 different Dutch Water Authorities teams visited the 3 regions on the island of Java, Indonesia, where the Blue Deal is active.
Pekalongan 23 until 27 October 2023
A team of 5 visited Pekalongan in the week of October 23 to 27. The activities consisted of providing training on the subject of wastewater treatment and operation and maintenance of wastewater treatment plants. An advisory report has been prepared for scenarios for improvement of two existing wastewater treatment plants for batik wastewater of the kota (city) and 2 in the kabupaten (regency) of Pekalongan. A visit from a specialist will follow at the beginning of December for a further exploration of Nature Based solutions (NbS) in the form of helophyte filters for the purification of batik wastewater.
The new DWA project leader has been involved in local water management issues. For a number of important sub-areas bordering the city, further exploration has been carried out into how to make these areas as a whole climate-robust and how the management of assets, such as flood defenses and pumping stations will play an important role in these. This will be further taken seriously in 2024.
Semarang 6 untill 10 november 2023
In 2023, the DWA team for the area of Semarang has undertaken two work visits. In both of the visits the team was generously welcomed at the offices of the municipality and Public Works of Semarang.
During the 1st work visit we had the opportunity to meet key stakeholders active in the Banger Polder area. We received insight in the workings of the control room that surprisingly showed an impressive overview of CCTV camera locations across the city of Semarang. Traffic jams in Semarang are often caused by flooding of the roads during the rainy season. They use the CCTV cameras also for monitoring of the occurrence of floods due to a lack of water level measuring points in the city.
In the second work visit four pumping station operational teams (UPTDs) presented their findings on how to improve the operation and maintenance (O&M) of pumping stations. We concluded with the aim to further work on (updated) Standard Operating Procedures (SOP’s). This will be the focus of our next DWA work visit in March 2024!
Tangerang 27 November until 1 December
Staying calm under Climate pressure; this was the challenge during our recent visit to our partners in Kabupaten Tangerang in Java Indonesia. Our arrival late November coincided with the arrival of the rain season after an unusual long dry period. Where the dry period is currently not the focus of our Blue Deal partnership, it was clear that this had presented our counterparts with many challenges on water distribution. However the lack of water was soon replaced by an excess of water.
In a rapidly urbanizing and developing regency just West of Jakarta, with an area ¼ the size of The Netherlands and more than 2 million inhabitants, the water related challenges are abundant. For more focus and clear explanation of water issues, 2 defined pilot projects have been selected to start working on towards sustainable integrated water management. In one of those areas we support the partner in design and planning of a retention basin to prevent flooding in a low lying residential area. The recent and second visit to this area, a training on the basics of flood control and retention basins was performed; the pilot area was hit by the worst floods it had ever seen; caused by very heavy rainfall. The flood reached high water levels and flow velocities within 2 hours of rainfall and the water had mostly disappeared again within the next 3 hours indicating a lot of hardened surface upstream. Luckily nobody was hurt but the event put an immediate focus and motivation on our project.
The last week of November, the Blue Deal partnership in Peru received the official notification from the NWB Fund announcing that they approved our proposal for a project to evaluate the feasibility of Carbon Credits market in 2 communities in Piura, Peru.
The initiative responds to the needs of local partners, with the aim to improve the livelihoods for the local communities through agroforestry. And to protect the catchment area against erosion and surface run-off water.
This is a joint proposal written by the Dutch team from the so-called KIWI learning programme and the Piura technical team working on the framework of the Blue Deal Peru partnership. The project starts next year and it involves organisations and tools, such as the NWB Fund watershed reforestation tool which the NWB Fund has also supported in other parts of the world.
Almost 100 powerful youth and women with enthusiasm and tireless energy were ready to kick off the so-called 4th “Incomati Basin Women and Youth in Water” Conference in Eswatini, on November 6.
Minky Groenewald (Ministry of Tourism and Environmental Affairs) was one of the top speakers.
Of course, men were welcome to join as well, and some did. The conference was filled with inspiring presentations and workshops about women and youth in water management, given with the greatest dedication and enthusiasm. Young Experts (Yeppers) from Eswatini, Mozambique and South Africa were present, as were water professionals from the so-called Dutch KIWI programme. The youth asked to be heard and work with them for a more sustainable future.
Mainstreaming youth and women in water
In many developing countries, woman are the de facto decision-makers in households. Including youth recognises their potential as change agents and future leaders who can bring innovative insights and technological advancements to address water challenges effectively.
Everybody in the room was aware to do their part in mainstreaming youth and women in effective water resource management. To share knowledge, experiences and best practices on transboundary water management. The week was further dedicated to strengthen the capacity of exciting governance structures, whiles bringing to the fore crosscutting issues, such as gender mainstreaming in the sector. The latter is specific to the women and youth in water, groups which are often marginalised and under-represented in water related discussions and operations.
Platform
The platform of the conference aims to advocate for women and youth inclusion in equal opportunities for effective leadership in the management of water resources. Empowerment starts with education and conferences such as these, which help share important information that can empower women and break societal injustices. The conference highlighted the challenges faced in Eswatini and the opportunities women and youth could participate in.
Barriers
One of the barriers that affect women and youth participation in the water sector is that there are not enough water programmes in local institutions. Young people have to go to institutions that are out of the country. And that becomes more expensive, yet there is a need for specialised education in the water sector.
Water policies affect women and youth more severely
Important is to strengthen collaborations between youth and decision-makers in the water sector. This way, policies made in the country can be relevant and address the needs of young people and women on the ground. Because these policies actually affect these groups more severely if not addressed properly. Water in Africa is often a women’s business. On this November 6, it became everybody’s business in Africa and in Europe.
From November 6 to 10, more than 200 water managers and water loving professionals gathered in Mbabane, Eswatini, to attend the 7th edition of the REMCO conference. And for the first time, it was hosted by the Joint River Basin Authorities together with Blue Deal Eswatini.
REMCO stands for River and Environmental Management Cooperation. It is a conference that is held every 2 years in one of the 3 Blue Deal countries in southern Africa: Eswatini, Mozambique and South Africa. These countries share the Maputo and Inkomati river basins. Climate change impacts the region through the greater frequency and severity of floods and droughts. In order to meet these growing challenges, transboundary cooperation is a must.
Sharing knowledge
Water professionals, researchers, policymakers, stakeholders from the Incomati and Maputo River basins and partners from 7 countries, European and African, were all present. They exchanged ideas, talked about innovations and discussed past, present and future challenges in water management. This conference had a focus on improving collaboration on operational water management challenges. Topics discussed included:
the participation of women and youth
data management and exchange
and the importance of water for a growing economy and vibrant communities (agriculture, tourism, industry, energy, etc).
The Blue Deal teams of all 3 countries participated. Representatives of Dutch Water Authorities were present to support, learn and discuss. Dutch Professor Herman Havekes gave a presentation on Dutch water governance. Other Dutch colleagues shared their experience and knowledge as to how transboundary water management with Germany and Belgium is important for the Netherlands as well.
Keynote from Ministry
Welcome remarks were delivered by each country. The keynote speech and official opening of the REMCO conference was done by host country Eswatini. Ms Dorcas Dlamini spoke warm words as Principle Secretary of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy. On behalf of the European participants, Ms Ellen Hemmers, head of the delegation from Dutch Water Authorities and Executive Board member of Dutch water authority Vechtstromen, shared the welcome and high expectations for the coming days.
National elections
During the week the results of the national elections in Eswatini became clear. Ms Ellen Hemmers congratulated the newly appointed Prime Minister Russel Dlamini, saying that she understands that the Prime Minister was well versed in issues of water and the importance of sustainable water management. The week after, the JRBA and Waterschap Vechtstromen congratulated the new Minister HRH Prince Lonkhokhelo with his appointment to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy which includes water resource management.
Next location: Mozambique
The last day of the conference is always set aside for a field trip. Tourism was included this year as a topic for both opportunities and sustainable water management. Delegates travelled to the cultural village of Mantenga. However, for those who had missed water after 4 days of inside conference, there was a water option to visit Maguga Dam in Eswatini. The next REMCO will be in 2 years in Mozambique as the previous was 2 years ago in South Africa.
From October 30 until November 3, it was time for the annual visit to Romania within the framework of the Blue Deal project Economic Mechanism. The location for the proceedings in 2023 was the provincial city of Targu Mures, situated in the heart of Romania, and to Bucharest.
Various topics were on the agenda during the workshop at the office of the Romanian water authority in Targu Mures (RBA Mures). Initially, we were warmly welcomed by the director of RBA Mures and the economic director, Calin Sara. Apart from the attendees in Mures, a mix of colleagues from Mures, Cluj, and Bucharest, Romanian colleagues also joined via a video link. Among them was Liliana Michineci, the economic director of the NARW.
Focus on project with World Bank
One of the main focuses for the Romanians at present is their project with the World Bank. One of the recommendations from the most recent report stemming from this project is currently highly relevant. It suggests imposing a solidarity levy (around 13 euros) for purposes such as water barriers, among others.
Taxation and communication
From this perspective, the Romanian side expressed a keen interest in learning more about the approach of Dutch Water Authorities regarding taxation and related communications. Therefore, Philip Daelmans from the Dutch water authority Limburg delivered a presentation on Dutch taxation, which was very well received. Following this, Bas Dingenouts presented on communication within the Dutch water authority Scheldestromen. Communication in the broadest sense, specifically emphasising raising awareness among the population about the tasks of the water authority and justifying the expenditures incurred. This presentation was also positively received and offered several points to delve into further in subsequent sessions.
Several workshops
Apart from discussions on the project with the World Bank, the Romanian side also gave presentations on topics such as risk management and the impact of new tax rates on the revenues for Romanian water authorities. These discussions were interspersed with visits to RBA Mures locations (such as a purification plant, dam, etc.). On Friday, the workshop concluded in Bucharest during a meeting at the headquarters of NARW, where Liliana Michineci welcomed us, expressing her delight with the collaboration and reflecting on yet another successful work visit.
It was agreed to plan 2 new work visits in 2024, one in Leiden, the Netherlands, in May, and another in Timisoara, Romania, in October. Alongside the topics discussed in this work visit, numerous other subjects will be on the agenda, such as the use of benchmarks and KPIs to measure performance. Altogether, it was once again a successful visit, providing a solid foundation for the visits in 2024. Onwards to the next year!
From November 13-17, a work visit took place in Nampula, Mozambique, focusing on climate adaptation. We took important steps towards more long-term thinking and started setting our priorities for the next period.
Throughout the year, Blue Deal Mozambique has been dedicated to the theme of climate adaptation. Our focus has been on the northern water authority, ARA-Norte, headquartered in Nampula.
Long-term thinking
While the impacts of climate change are already visible in day-to-day activities, there has been limited attention towards long-term preparations. To initiate thinking about climate adaptation, we collaborated with ARA-Norte, taking cues from the Dutch Delta Programme on Spatial Adaptation, and we took several significant steps.
Risk matrix for setting priorities
During the visit, our initial reflection was on the consequences of climate change, both in the long term based on future scenarios, and on practical experiences in the present. Subsequently, we mapped out areas where these consequences of climate change (such as floods, droughts, and water shortages) occur prominently. We then delved deeper into the risks and impacts at the watershed level, examining their interconnectedness. By creating a ‘risk matrix,’ we gain a better understanding of potential priority areas.
Collaboration with the agricultural sector
Recognising that climate adaptation cannot be tackled alone, we engaged in dialogue with a primary stakeholder: agriculture. Agriculture stands as an immensely significant sector in Mozambique, with approximately 75% of the population involved. Food security is crucial and unfortunately more vulnerable due to climate change. Agriculture heavily relies on sound water management. Therefore, collaboration becomes even more imperative amid climate change. Our local colleagues found this initial stakeholder dialogue both enjoyable and enlightening.
Climate adaptation action plan
In the next phase, we plan to focus more specifically on an area around the city of Cuamba. Several themes converge in this region, including (drinking) water scarcity, erosion from drought, and floods. Based on satellite data, we’ve potentially identified areas suitable for creating upstream water buffers. By conducting field visits and continuing stakeholder dialogues with local authorities and communities, we take significant strides towards an integrated ‘climate adaptation action plan’ for prioritised catchment areas.
100 expert professionals from Corporaciones Autónomas Regionales (CAR) all over Colombia gathered on November 23 and 24 in Barranquilla to discuss the future of water governance in Colombia.
Experts from InspirAgua (Blue Deal), the CAR, SEI, Esri, IDEAM and the Ministry of the Environment, among others, met to share the progress of the work in water governance. The Asociación Corporaciones Autónomas Regionales (ASOCARS) and Blue Deal Programme InspirAgua organised the event together with the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI), the Environmental Systems Research Institute Colombia (ESRI) and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (COSUDE). The event was hosted by Corporación Autónoma Regional del Atlantico (CRA).
Strengthened partnerships and knowledge networks
This unique gathering of water experts throughout Colombia represents an important step towards the 2030 Blue Deal Colombia goals of strengthened partnerships and knowledge networks in the country. Four lines of action were formulated. Wastewater (with an active program in Caldas, Valle del Cauca and Huila), Groundwater; permits, control and monitoring of discharges; and planning (water boundary, decision-making and modeling tools) were prioritized to be further elaborated in 2024.
Important guests
The event was attended by 31 of the 33 environmental authorities CAR, Fabián Caicedo, director of water resources at the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development, experts of the Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology and Environmental Studies (IDEAM), National Planning Department (DNP), the Ministry of Interior, Justice and Decentralization of the Government of Honduras, the Antioquia Science and Technology Center -CTA and the University of Antioquia.
High-quality knowledge
Ellen Bollen, director of Blue Deal InspirAgua in Colombia, pointed out that: “There is a lot of high-quality knowledge in Colombia and in the CARs. InspirAgua wants to connect, share, and contribute through an exchange programme for all CARs through ASOCARS. Meeting up and sharing our practices are essential for our ability to tackle big challenges in water management now and in the future. We identified wants and needs for knowledge exchange to further elaborate and I’m proud of InspirAgua and its partners who made it come together.”
Regional lessons from 30 years of existence
During the last 30 years, the CARs have worked on water management in 124 hydrographic basins, covering 28.6 million hectares, and 87 POMCAS approved by 2023 at the national level are reported. “These spaces for dialogue around water governance are essential to identify regional lessons learned from work carried out by the CARs during the 30 years of existence of the SINA, in search of contributing to the National Policy for Integral Management of Water Resources, to the implementation of the National Development Plan, and the future Four-Year Action Plans of the CARs,” said Ramón Leal Leal, director of Asocars.
