On May 23, the water consultancy company HKV and the Dutch water authority of Limburg provided a Nature-based Solutions training course for a delegation of colleagues from the Blue Deal partnership in Romania. Now they made a video of this training.
Author: Harmke Berghuis
Busy InspirAgua summer
Slowly working towards the summer, for many people this applies in the months of June and July. But this was definitely not the case for the Blue Deal programme in Colombia, called InspirAgua. 2 work visits took place in June and July, 1 in the Netherlands and 1 in Colombia.
In June, 8 Colombian colleagues joined the first Blue Deal congress in Amsterdam to participate in workshops and field visits, together with Blue Deal colleagues from all over the world. After 3 days of congress the work visit continued with various activities. The Colombians visited a waste water treatment in Zutphen, came to see the challenges we face within the peat meadow areas, talked about ‘adaptive pathways’ and saw examples of the ‘Ruimte voor de Rivier’-project (‘Room for the River’), in which there is more space for water in rivers to avoid flooding and other water related problems.
In July, 13 Dutch InspirAgueros went to Colombia to continue working on the different topics within the InspirAgua programme. Along the Río Magdalena we worked on Nature Based Solutions and a stakeholder network to improve the cooperation of all the parties involved, in order to protect the river and the people. In the northeast we continued working on participatory monitoring and how to actually apply the useful data you gather. The focus in the south was partly on making use of data, but also involved the further development of an action plan for waste water treatment.
Overall, InspirAgua had a productive summer in which we not only worked together on the work that has to be done, but we also managed to strengthen the relationships between our partners and colleagues.
NWB Fund supports Blue Deal Congress
The Blue Deal Congress has shown that international cooperation between water managers is useful, necessary and also a lot of fun. The NWB Fund is proud to have contributed to this on behalf of the bank of the Dutch water authorities (Waterschapsbank). 3 lessons learnt stand out.
Lesson 1: Water management is about money
Water management is about money, because without money you won’t be able to get a lot done. The NWB Fund therefore co-finances projects and activities within (and outside) Blue Deal partnerships aimed at climate adaptation, with a focus on nature-based solutions and inclusiveness. Proposals are welcome.
Lessson 2: Water management is about trust
Water management also requires a different currency: not euros or dollars, but trust. Because good relationships are also a precondition for realizing change. There was a lot of networking during this congress and a party is the ultimate team building activity. The fund has therefore wholeheartedly sponsored the Blue Deal Congress party.
Lesson 3: Water management is about solving issues together
After all, this congress was a historic moment. As water managers, we traditionally mainly look at our own working area, because there is plenty to do there. After 800 years, the Dutch water authorities are now also looking outwards and are seeking international cooperation. Because climate does not respect borders and only together can we solve difficult issues. We are the pioneers of this movement in the Blue Deal. Let’s commit to making this a success.
For more information and questions about the NWB Fund, please contact programme manager Marion Wierda (mwierda@uvw.nl).
Movie: the very first Blue Deal Congress
The first Blue Deal Congress took place from 12 to 14 June. Participants from 14 countries visited Amsterdam and exchanged knowledge about common challenges. “The Dutch model is not a blueprint for the rest of the world.” Watch the video and look back at the congress.
The goal of the Blue Deal congress? Getting to know each other, so that it will be even easier to exchange knowledge in the future. Between the Dutch and the Blue Deal partner countries, but also between the partner countries themselves. One of the participants: “Money is not the only thing to get something done. It’s about people working together to find solutions.”
The days consisted of a plenary programme on Monday, during which Peter Glas, among others, talked about Dutch water management. He did make a comment, however: “The Dutch model is not a blueprint for the rest of the world.” But perhaps the model can serve as an inspiration. On Monday, there was also a session on intercultural cooperation.
On Tuesday, the participants split into smaller groups and were able to follow workshops on Water pricing, Water safety management, Stakeholder participation, Urban waste water management, Nature-based solutions, and Smart monitoring. On Wednesday, the participants saw Dutch water management in practice by visiting the Sand Motor, the Markermeerdijken or the Amsterdamse Waterleidingduinen. On Thursday and Friday, the partnerships went their separate ways and visited the water authorities they work with. There, too, they saw more of Dutch water management in practice.
Blue Deal Congress Day 3: water management in practice
June 14 was day 3 of the Blue Deal conference, the last day of the joint programme. Time to see Dutch water management in practice. The participants could therefore choose from an excursion to one of these locations: the Markermeerdijken, the Zandmotor or the Amsterdamse Waterleidingduinen. Looking back on day 3.
Amsterdamse Waterleidingduinen (Amsterdam Water Supply Dunes)
“When building cities, people have always been looking for ways to bring in water,” says the guide who gives the tour through the Amsterdamse Waterleidingduinen. He will first give a presentation on how Dutch water management actually works. Today it is not so much about how governance works – the participants learned more about this on Monday – but about how the Netherlands has been working on flood risk management and sufficient water since its inception. A woman from Kenya laughs and asks: “Are you planning to reclaim even more land or do you think this is enough?”
Questions about water management
The other questions clearly show what the countries themselves are struggling with. For example, the man from Ethiopia who asks how the Netherlands makes agreements with the other countries through which the rivers run. Or the woman from Kenya who asks who determines how deep drilling is allowed to pump up groundwater by farmers, for example, and how that works with regulations and enforcement. And another question from the audience: how do you prevent water pollution?
Drinking water
Although the Amsterdamse Waterleidingduinen are mainly intended for drinking water, the participants can still learn a lot from them for their work. For example, about purification with natural sources, such as the dunes. Moreover, drinking water and other water management are not always separated from each other abroad.
Markermeer Dikes and Sand Motor
The other groups visit 2 projects related to flood risk management, the Markermeer Dikes and the Sand Motor. They also return enthusiastically from the locations. In Ghana, plans are currently underway to build their own Sand Motor. The entire delegation therefore chooses to participate in this excursion to learn more about the project and to see with their own eyes what such a Sand Motor will look like.
End of the day
In the evening, the participants conclude with a dinner and a performance by Waternet’s house band, in which several international guests eventually play a part. And of course, as befits an international party, there is a lot of dancing.
Visiting
The delegations from Argentina, Burkina Faso, Colombia, eSwatini, Ethiopia, Ghana, Indonesia, Kenya, Mozambique, Palestinian territories, Peru, Romania, Vietnam and South Africa will visit one of the 21 partner water authorities during the last 2 days of the congress.
Blue Deal Congress Day 2: learning from each other
The second day of the Blue Deal Congress took place on 13 June. This day was dedicated to 6 workshops on topics that play a major role within the Blue Deal. Looking back at Day 2.
The themes of the sessions were:
- Water pricing
- Water safety management
- Stakeholder participation
- Urban waste water management
- Nature-based solutions
- Smart monitoring
These are all themes within the Blue Deal where knowledge is also shared through Communities of Practice (CoPs) throughout the year. Participants from all partnerships can participate in this. Are you a Blue Deal member and want to join a CoP? Send an email to Monique Zwiers via mzwiers@uvw.nl.
Water Pricing
Takhona Dlamini from eSwatini was one of the international guests who gave a presentation during the Water pricing workshop. She says: “We live in a region with water scarcity, where a lot of water is also used for irrigation. We have started pricing the use of water. This entails many challenges, for example for farmers. Today we shared our experiences with other countries during a session. We learned a lot about different ways other countries have regulated water prices. For example, in some countries you pay for the amount of water you use or you need a permit for certain activities in a region.” She found the session educational and fun: “We are all part of the large Blue Deal family.”
Water safety management
During the session on flood risk management, the construction of dikes was not discussed. In fact, building a dike is “only half the job”, says Monique Zwiers of the Blue Deal Programme Office. “During construction, you already have to think about how you are going to organize maintenance.”
And there is often no budget for management and maintenance. Large financiers, such as the investment banks, also invest mainly in the construction of water infrastructure rather than in maintenance. Zwiers: “The Blue Deal is now also working on this, to find out how we can make such investments attractive to major donors.”
Stakeholder participation
The session on stakeholder participation proved once again how many similarities there are between the Blue Deal partner countries. They all deal with similar interest groups, such as communities, farmers, fishermen or companies that use the water. The partner countries are also struggling with similar challenges in terms of financing and communication. The solution to the challenges has not yet been found in these short sessions. “But,” says Marcel de Ruijter, Partnership Manager for Romania, “This is just a start for sharing information with each other. It is the beginning of a process.”
Waste water management
During session on waste water management, 2 opposing ways of water purification were discussed: South Africa with a traditional approach and the Palestinian territories that use a high-tech, innovative approach. Both forms are good, emphasizes Hans Schepman, of the partnership in South Africa. “It really depends on the local context which solution you choose.” In addition, during this session it was strongly emphasized how important natural solutions (nature-based solutions) are. For example, through purification via wetlands.
The lack of funding for management and maintenance was also be discussed in this session. The participants do see all kinds of possibilities, such as revenue models for companies or by making the polluter pay.
Nature-based solutions
“There is a nature-based solution for every problem,” says Jaap Bos, of the Blue Deal partnership in Ghana. For example, the neighboring country of Ghana, Burkina Faso, like many other countries, has to deal with the proliferating water hyacinth. During the session on nature-based solutions, they spoke about how the problem with water hyacinth can be converted into something that can earn money. For example, some countries use it to produce biogas. The Blue Deal programme in South Africa has a training programme for women to use dried water hyacinth to make baskets, which they then sell. Burkina Faso and South Africa have already made an appointment to discuss this further. “It shows once again how important knowledge sharing is.”
Smart monitoring
Liesbeth Wilschut, from the Blue Deal Programme Office, holds up her mobile during the smart monitoring session. “Nowadays we have so many new options for water monitoring. This makes participatory monitoring much easier. And it is also very cheap.” She lets the participants try out how it works, to monitor the water themselves. With a special monitoring stick, the participants walk to the river Amstel, next to which the event location is located. They briefly dip the swab into the water and then place it on a special card and use their phone to read the data. What they learn about the water in the Amstel? “The amount of nitrate it contains is okay. You can safely swim in it.”
What’s on the agenda for June 14?
On June 14, the third day of the congress, the participants will go out. They then visit a location where they can see Dutch water management in practice. They can choose one of the options: the Markermeerdijken, the Sand Motor or the Amsterdamse Waterleidingduinen.
Blue Deal Congress Day 1: intercultural cooperation
The very first Blue Deal Congress started on June 12. International visitors from 16 partnerships were present. “This congress is a wonderful way to learn from each other: learning by meeting each other.” Looking back at Day 1.
In the morning, Luzette Kroon and Emilie Sturm opened the day under the leadership of moderator Ikenna Azuike. Kroon is a board member International Affairs at the Association of Dutch Water Authorities. Sturm is programme manager of the Blue Deal Programme Office. Kroon: “This congress is a wonderful way to learn from each other: learning by meeting each other.” Because that is the purpose of these days together: to meet each other and thus create a basis for exchanging knowledge even more easily in the future. Between the Netherlands and the partner countries, but also between the partner countries themselves.
Drop in the ocean?
The purpose of the Blue Deal is to improve access to clean, sufficient and safe water for 20 million people around the world. “Isn’t that a drop in the ocean?” asks moderator Azuike. “Yes,” replies Kroon, “But we are not alone, so much more is happening in our partner countries. And other countries are also coming up with different programmes. At the UN Water Conference in March this year, we saw that a real movement is emerging. Western countries – largely responsible for climate change – are increasingly taking their responsibility.” The Blue Deal is one of the sources of inspiration in this, as was also apparent at the UN Water Conference.
Peter Glas: The Dutch model is not a blueprint
Keynote speaker of the day was Delta Commissioner Peter Glas. He gave a presentation on water management in the Netherlands. “The Dutch model is not a blueprint, but it can serve as inspiration for our colleagues from abroad.” For the foreign delegations, this Dutch model is certainly something they want to learn from. They ask questions and afterwards several people ask for the PowerPoint presentation, so that they can look at it again later or share it with colleagues.
From draining to retaining
Glass also addresses the challenges facing the Netherlands. For example, that the Netherlands must retain more and more water instead of draining it. “We go from draining to retaining.” And there are all kinds of areas in which the Netherlands can learn from other countries. What can we learn from you in the field of water awareness and participation, Glas asks the audience. A South African guest responds: “In general, water awareness is very high in our area. But we notice that this is not always the case with young people. That is why we started a project: seedlings of hope. For example, together with children we will collect waste in the vicinity of a waterworks. We gradually start to tell more and more about how water management works.”
And what do the international delegations learn from the Blue Deal? For example, John Kinyanjui, from the partnership in Kenya, says during a panel discussion: “We want our government to pay more attention to our water resources. We should not just use the water and then not think about tomorrow. We want our government to realize that we also need to retain and replenish our water resources. We are now working on that with the Blue Deal.”
Intercultural collaboration
The day ended with a session ‘Collaboration across cultures’ by trainers Sheriff Aligbeh and Esther Janssen from Culture Inc. After all, that is what happens in the Blue Deal: working together with all kinds of countries and different cultures. That means adjusting to each other from time to time. Is that bad? Aligbeh does not think so: “A chameleon also adapts its colors to the environment. But does it change its core?”
He explains how cultural differences can sometimes lead to difficult situations. He gives an example of a Dutch man who had to work with people he did not trust at all. They didn’t even look at him! Aligbeh explains: “That is the difference between an egalitarian culture, as in the Netherlands, and a hierarchical culture. These people showed him respect by not looking at him.”
A woman from Burkina Faso gives a tip: “We have made a kind of a cultural map with a comparison between the Dutch and the Burkinese. That makes life a lot easier for us, and for them. Because we now know how best to communicate with each other.”
What’s on the agenda for June 13?
After a successful day on June 12, there is also a lot on the program on June 13. On this day, the participants will split into smaller groups to follow workshops. With the topics: Water pricing, Water safety management, Stakeholder participation, Urban waste water management, Nature-based solutions, and Smart monitoring.
Blue Deal Congress starts Monday June 12
The Blue Deal Congress will take place in Amsterdam from 12 to 14 June. 14 countries will take part in this water congress. Afterwards the delegations will visit Dutch water projects in various provinces for 2 days. This way Dutch Water Authorities and the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Infrastructure and Water Management want to exchange knowledge within the international water sector.
Improving access to clean, sufficient and safe water worldwide for 20 million people around the world in 2030. That is the ambitious goal of the Blue Deal, the international programme of the 21 Dutch water authorities and the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Infrastructure and Water Management. The Blue Deal started in 2018. The second phase will run from 2023 to 2030.
“The consequences of climate change are huge,” says Luzette Kroon, board member International Affairs at the Association of Dutch Water Authorities. “In recent decades, water-related disasters have increased. Hurricanes, downpours and rising sea levels lead to flooding. Droughts and water shortages undermine millions of families’ livelihoods and make some areas uninhabitable. This causes a great deal of damage and unrest, threatens peace and security and fuels migration. Water is therefore high on the international policy agenda.”
There is an increasing demand for knowledge and expertise in the field of water management. Kroon continues: “Dutch Water Authorities can offer that. But with the Blue Deal, the water authorities not only want to provide knowledge, but also collect it,” emphasizes Kroon. “It goes both ways. For example, we learn from the experiences with drought in countries such as Burkina Faso and South Africa. Other examples are the cooperation with stakeholders, but also switching to crops that require less water. That is relevant for the entire water sector.”
Achieve global goals
The Blue Deal programme contributes to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Dutch water envoy Henk Ovink: “Water is our best chance for the future. Water’s power to change means that water has an impact on all SDGs. Water security can be felt in every vein of our society. And working on water literally brings together every voice and stakeholder, in every river basin, river course or region, across all borders and sectors. Water connects interests and cultures. Optimal water management is essential, and water managers must sit around the table. And that is the core of the Blue Deal Programme. The whole world working together for water, nothing less”.
“The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs is a proud partner of the Blue Deal,” says director René van Hell of the Ministry. “In the first phase of the Blue Deal, we strengthened and built up the partnerships in the then 16 partner countries together with Dutch Water Authorities. For phase 2, we want to deepen these partnerships by focusing on learning, climate adaptation and social inclusion.”
First Blue Deal Congress
Delegations from Argentina, Burkina Faso, Colombia, eSwatini, Ethiopia, Ghana, Indonesia, Kenya, Mozambique, Palestinian Territories, Peru, Romania, Vietnam, South Africa will attend the first Blue Deal Congress. The international partners will have the opportunity to get to know each other and the Dutch parties involved in the Blue Deal for 5 days. These days are all about meeting and exchanging knowledge.
On Monday, guests are welcomed in Amsterdam where they are introduced to Dutch water management. On Tuesday, the international delegations will stay in Amsterdam where they will exchange knowledge about common water challenges. Wednesday is dedicated to seeking knowledge in the field a number of excursions to Dutch water projects are organized here. On Thursday and Friday, the delegations will go into the provinces to visit one of the 21 partner water authorities.
Programme during the Congress
Monday 12 June
Welcome by the Head of Dutch Water Authorities (Luzette Kroon), an introductory session on Dutch Water governance and a session on intercultural cooperation. All international partners are kindly asked to introduce themselves and a meet & greet will be organized between the international delegations and the Dutch representatives within the Dutch Water Authorities. Followed by a boat trip on the river Amstel.
09.30h – 10.30h Walk in and registration, coffee with a Dutch pastry
10.30h – 12.30h Welcome and plenary morning on Dutch Water governance
12.30h – 13.30h Lunch, meet & greet with partners
13.30h – 15.30h Plenary session on intercultural communication
15.30h – 16.15h Plenary wrap-up of the day
16.15h – 17.45h Boat trip on river Amstel, with drinks
Tuesday 13 June
All participants are invited to contribute in technical sessions on common challenges in the water sector.
09.00h – 09.30h Plenary kick-off day 2
09.30h – 11.00h Round 1 – workshops
11.00h – 11.30h Break
11.30h – 13.00h Round 2 – workshops
13.00h – 14.15h Lunch break
14.15h – 15.30h Plenary wrap up of the sessions
15:30h Optional: ‘regional sessions’
Wednesday 14 June
On Wednesday, 3 excursions are offered.
9.00 Bus leaves for excursion 1
10.00h Buses leaves for excursion 2 and 3
10.00h – 16.00h Travel from/to location, guided tour, lunch
16.00h Back at hotel
16.00 – 17.00h Possibility to refresh before closing dinner and party
17.00h Evening: dinner and party at Waternet
What happened during the Congress?
Read what happened during Day 1 of the congress.
Blue Deal programme strengthens South African municipalities’ efforts towards Green Drop certification
In spring, the South African organisations collaborating in the Blue Deal Crocodile River partnership welcomed their colleagues from Dutch Water Authorities to the Mpumalanga region.
The collaboration with the Dutch is part of the worldwide Blue Deal programme. The work visit proved to be a success, with high energy levels and motivation among all participants. The visit focused on the establishment of 4 different task teams, which have been made operational in the areas of:
- business planning and finance
- technical capacitation
- communication and intergovernmental relations
- data monitoring and sharing
Knowledge exchange
The purpose of this work visit was to exchange knowledge between South African and Dutch superintendents. In December 2022, the South African superintendents visited Netherlands as part of the Blue Deal ‘buddying and twinning’ peer learning programme and to learn from their Dutch counterparts. This time, the Dutch visited their South African counterparts to learn from and thus collaborate on the operation of participating waste water treatment plants.
Green Drop
The collaboration between South Africa and the Blue Deal is focused on the development of Green Drop improvement plans and asset registers, which are critical to improving the municipalities’ score on the Green Drop and ultimately securing a Green Drop certificate. Working towards this certificate will enhance the operation of waste water treatment plants, improve the discharge quality, and consequently boost the quality of the Crocodile River. Good river water quality is vital for both the animals living in the Crocodile River and for those communities downstream that use water for drinking, for irrigating their crops and for religious purposes.
Reaffirm collaboration
Meetings between the leadership of various national and local partner organisations and the municipalities of Mbombela, Nkomazi and Emakhazeni were held to reaffirm collaboration in the Blue Deal Crocodile River partnership and to celebrate the progress made.
Sustainable future
The Crocodile River team is confident that this work visit will significantly contribute to improved Green Drop scores during new assessments later this year. This exciting development brings us one step closer to securing a sustainable future for the Crocodile River and surrounding communities.
Blue Deal Ghana visits Sand Motor in Togo and Benin
From 9 until 12 May a group of representatives of the Ghanaian government and the Dutch Blue Deal Programme paid a visit to the Sand Motor project in Togo and Benin. The visit is part of the cooperation between Ghanaian organisations and the Blue Deal Programme.
Delta Programme
Since the Blue Deal Programme focusses on the exchange of knowledge, good governance and capacity building, this visit was of great value. One part of the Blue Deal activities in Ghana is setting up a Delta Programme with the cooperating organisations for the coast of Ghana to deal with issues such as sea level rise, erosion and salt intrusion. A long-term plan, a Delta Fund, Delta laws and an overarching governance structure can be part of this Delta Programme.
The Dutch Blue Deal members were accompanied by the Ghanaian Water Resources Commission (WRC), a coordinating NGO for Delta Issues in Ghana, a representative of the district assemblies in the Lower Volta Delta, the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI) and the Hydrological Service Authority (Hydro). Together they are taking the first steps into the development of the Delta Programme.
Sand Motor in Togo and Benin
Since 2022 the Dutch company Boskalis started the Sand Motor project along the coast of Togo and Benin as part of the West African Coastal Areas Management (WACA) programme. The main goal is to protect 40 kilometres of the coastline from the east of Togo to the west of Benin from erosion. The project includes the construction of new groynes and the rehabilitation of existing groynes. In addition, beaches are raised with more than 1 million cubic meters of sand. Finally, a Sand Motor of 6.4 million cubic meters is constructed on the Benin side of the border.
This Sand Motor is an innovative way of protecting the coastline by ejecting sand on the beaches through a submerged pipe. A large amount of sand is placed in strategic places, which over time spreads along the coastline due to the natural movement of wind, waves and currents. This principle of building with nature strengthens and maintains the coastline in a robust and natural way.
Nature Based Solutions and local involvement
The visit to Benin and Togo was a great opportunity to learn more about nature-based solutions like the Sand Motor and to work together with different organisations to set meaningful next steps in the protection of the coast of Ghana. Boskalis guided us along the coast to visit the various construction sites. They stressed the importance of the cooperation with the local people and local governments. Although on some locations the people started to oppose, it turned out very soon that they became strong supporters of this approach. Because the flood safety for the local communities is improved, the entrance to the sea is always guaranteed and ownership is established, and no fishing grounds have been destroyed.
The exchange of experiences with Togo and Benin about their approach was very fruitful for the Ghanaian organisations and the Delta Programme team learned from the strategies of Togo and Benin to protect the coasts. To broaden the knowledge, some participants of the meeting will also be visiting the Sand Motor along the coast in the Netherlands in June during the Blue Deal Congress.