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Impact of the Blue Deal on Dutch international water policy

The Dutch government is shaping its policy for development cooperation for the coming years. This is done in the light of a decision to cut back on international cooperation budgets. Water management will remain a key focus in the Dutch international policy. And existing financing obligations, such as cooperation in the Blue Deal programme, are given priority.

Dutch Water Authorities has therefore participated in various meetings, amongst others with members of the Dutch Parliament and in a meeting with the Minister of Foreign Trade and Development Aid. In this way, we point out the importance of the contribution of the Dutch Water Authorities, by means of the Blue Deal programme, for international cooperation in the water sector.

Blue Deal contributes to key objectives of Dutch international water policy

Dutch Water Authorities brings to the front that the Blue Deal will continue to be an important cornerstone for the new Dutch international policy. This programme contributes to several key objectives:

  • Strengthening Dutch trade: The Blue Deal collaborates with regional water authorities in 15 countries. To implement projects in these regions, expertise is crucial, making Dutch companies a natural partner due to their world-class knowledge of water management.
  • Contributing to stability in our partner countries: By strengthening local and regional water authorities, the Blue Deal enhances water management, improving living conditions and reducing migration pressures. Additionally, climate adaptation solutions help ensure future access to clean, sufficient, and safe water, fostering a stable living environment.

Blue Deal contributes to global stability

“Water management remains a key theme in the government’s international vision,” says Luzette Kroon, Chair of the Blue Deal Steering Committee. “We take pride in our international efforts and see the tangible benefits for society. The Blue Deal is gaining momentum, promoting trade and contributing to global stability. I urge the Dutch Minister to ensure the Blue Deal is firmly embedded in the international cooperation strategy up to 2030. By focusing on strong local governance, we serve the Netherlands’ interests directly and sustainably.”

Global knowledge exchange and opportunities for Dutch businesses

“Water managers worldwide are increasingly facing extreme weather conditions, such as floods, droughts, and a lack of clean water,” Kroon continues. “This growing demand for water management expertise is precisely where the Netherlands excels. Since 2018, the Blue Deal has actively shared Dutch water knowledge globally, creating opportunities for both Dutch and local businesses. The programme supports the Sustainable Development Goals (specifically SDG6) and brings valuable insights back to the Netherlands, sparking innovative ideas that benefit our own water management.”

More clarity expected by spring 2025

The future direction of Dutch international trade and development policy will become clearer when the government releases its policy note in the spring of 2025. This document will outline the specifics of the Netherlands’ approach to water management and other priorities from 2026 onwards.

A dike specialist looks back at her first work visit with Blue Deal Peru

What is it like to work for the Blue Deal Peru? Evelien van der Heijden is a Dutch dike specialist who recently joined the Blue Deal family. She shares her experiences of her first work visit to Peru from 17 - 28 November. "This was a reality check for me."

System as a whole

“I’m a dike specialist at the Dutch water authority Rivierenland. I studied Earth Sciences, which taught me the logic behind earth’s processes. My contribution to the Blue Deal Peru team focuses on minimalising the problems on the rivers during rainy seasons. I do, however, realise we have to take into account the system as a whole, including the various (extreme) challenges it faces.”

Goals for the first visit

“My goals for this first work visit were:

  • Meeting our partners and getting a sense of the different parties involved, and the roles and positions they take;
  • Getting more information about the regions, the rivers and the existing challenges.”

Ways to cooperate

“Our direct partner is the Autoridad Nacional del Agua (ANA). We visited the headquarters in Lima and spent most of our time with the ANA’s in the northern regions of Tumbes and Piura. For my work, another important party is the Autoridad Nacional de Infraestructura (ANIN). This party is assigned to build infrastructural works to prevent disruptive floodings who severely affect the regions. Together with our partners we spoke with ANIN about ways to cooperate and exchange information.”

Climate Cafe

“We joined the Climate Cafe workshops on a field trip to the Tumbes river upstream areas. The workshops are also part of our project, they are organised by the University of Applied Sciences Hanze, Wageningen and Maastricht Universities. They focus on working and creating awareness of water and climate issues among university students. Together with the students, I learned about the Tumbes river, quality and sedimentation problems.”

Extremes of the river system

“The day after, we had a field trip with ANA, ANIN and other stakeholders. This day brought together parties that have trouble cooperating. Although no friendships blossomed, at least there was knowledge exchange and interaction. And I learned about the different parties and their (interacting) roles.”

“During this field trip, we visited some brand new constructions, built by ANIN. These huge constructions collect the debris during rainy season in temporary tributaries. It’s hard to imagine these constructions at work during that season or a ‘wet event’ when melting away in the sun in a dry river bed. It made me realise the scale of the extremes of this river system. I realise now that I need more experience to really comprehend this system.”

Don’t jump to solutions

“In Piura, Dutch Water Authorities colleague Betty Laan (from the Dutch water authority hoogheemraadschap Hollands Noorderkwartier) gave a workshop about strengthening the position of the water councils and the possible conditions of a decision-making process. This gave me a good understanding about the different parties and their interests, including their challenges. The key insight from the sessions and discussions with Betty and the partners was the importance of first understanding the conditions of a situation or problem, rather than immediately jumping to solutions.”

‘Wastewater people’

“Later that day, the room was filled with ‘wastewater people’. This was because Dutch Water Authorities colleague John Koop (of the Dutch water authority Hunze en Aa’s) introduced a training programme for employees at wastewater treatment facilities. Additionally, Sander Wingelaar, a PhD candidate from TU Delft, presented his research proposal on wastewater resource recovery. Although not my area of expertise, certainly an expansion of my network.”

“The day after, Carlo van Oijen, a student at the Wageningen University, presented his Bachelor thesis ‘Flood Risk Reduction in the lower catchment of the Piura River”. Carlo was on screen (via Teams), while ANA and ANIN sat together with us in the meeting room. We had an open conversation about the newly gained knowledge and how we could work together to help mitigating floods in the city.”

Severe drought

“The last day in Piura, we attended the Climate Cafe. As part of this, we visited the Poechos dam and reservoir. The reservoir is nearly empty and no water flows through to feed the river. This was a reality check for me. I could understand the current news about the difficult situation of many farmers in the region, who are afraid to lose their production due to severe drought. Thus, the regions are not only affected by floods but also suffer extreme droughts as consequences of climate change.”

“Next to those impacts and together with the students, we also learned about the struggles a community faces due to the building of another dam. Some interviews were conducted by the students of the Climate Cafe with the community members. Although my Spanish was not good enough to completely understand their stories, this certainly gave me an insight in the most important party: the local inhabitants, who we, civil servants, work for.”

Sharing experiences

“Looking back at this work visit I can surely check the boxes of my proposed objectives. It was a great experience. The most valuable: the time spent in between and on the road with colleagues from ANA and Dutch Water Authorities, sharing experiences and insights.”

Interview Marieke van Nood: a visit to Blue Deal Colombia

Marieke van Nood, Programme Manager at the Blue Deal Programme Office, recently visited the COP16 on biodiversity and combined this with a field visit to InspirAgua, the Blue Deal partnership in Colombia. During her visit, she explored the progress and impact of the partnership on the ground, engaging with local teams and partners to strengthen ties and exchange valuable insights. Below, she reflects on her experience and shares her observations.

Participative monitoring during the field trip in Rio Las Ceibas, Colombia

What stood out most to you about your visit to the InspirAgua programme?

“When I had the chance to spend a few days with the InspirAgua team in Colombia at the end of October 2024 for the COP16 and for a field visit, I was particularly curious about how the local partner organisation values the collaboration. My curiosity was immediately rewarded when I met the technical director of the regional water authority in Cali, Paola Patiño, upon my arrival. She has a comprehensive view of the value of InspirAgua, from strategic to tactical levels. This was further confirmed by her colleagues in Cali and especially in Huila.”

“The lively and open discussions about improving monitoring and information management there highlighted for me that InspirAgua addresses unique and essential topics in knowledge exchange. Of course, I would have loved to see even more of the other work InspirAgua is involved in, such as crisis or wastewater management. That’s something for next time!”

How would you describe the collaboration between the Dutch and Colombian colleagues?

“The collaboration is warm and cordial. The trust that has been built forms the foundation for diving deep into substantive topics and sometimes having challenging discussions. A special compliment also goes to the new Young Expert colleagues. In Huila, Laura Camila was an excellent translator – not just linguistically, but also in terms of content and cultural nuances.”

What would you like to share with the colleagues of InspirAgua and other Blue Deal partnerships?

“The commitment of all the experts is incredibly high. I noticed this during the preparatory meetings as well as in the field teams. I hope you can pass on this dedication to future experts of Dutch Water Authorities.”

“I was also impressed by the efficiency of splitting into small groups of 2 or 3 people focusing on specific topics. This makes excellent use of everyone’s time and knowledge, including colleagues at the regional water authorities. I realise this involves significant logistical and coordination efforts for the partnership management, but the results are truly fantastic.”

Read more about Marieke van Nood

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.

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.”

African Regional Meeting Blue Deal

From 8 to 11 July, a Regional Meeting took place in Mombasa, Kenya, gathering Blue Deal partnerships from 7 African countries. They discussed and developed their knowledge on sustainable financing of Integrated Water Resources Management.

blue-deal-kenia

The 4-days programme covered topics on Integral Water Resources Management (IWRM): water pricing, finances, and nature-based solutions, which were discussed during workshops, interactive sessions, plenary discussions, break-out groups and a field visit. Furthermore, the cooperation focused on bringing in external funding for water management.

Why an African Regional Meeting?

The African Regional Meeting was organised to further exchange knowledge after a few African Blue Deal partners discovered their mutual challenges in sustainable financing at the first Blue Deal Congress in June 2023 in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The seeds were planted for the idea to further explore possibilities to share knowledge to improve their current strategies on sustainable financing of IWRM. As a result, the African Blue Deal Regional Meeting was drawn up. 

7 countries

Blue Deal partnerships from 7 countries all over Africa joined the meeting: Burkina Faso, Eswatini, Ethiopia Abbay and Ethiopia Awash, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique and South Africa. Representatives of Nature for Water, the Global Water Partnership, and the international Association of Netherlands Municipalities (VNGi) were present as partners during the event and shared their expertise.

Results

During the week, the 40 participants shared their best practices, creative ideas, common challenges and important lessons that they learned in establishing their own route towards sustainable financing. Some general conclusions and valuable insights are drawn up from the African Regional Meeting in Kenya, Mombasa, that covered the discussions on sustainable financing of IWRM. These are, among others:

  • Insight in and knowledge of water users, regulations, licensing and enforcement are essential to achieve sustainable financing of catchment management.
  • In-country funding and fundraising experts and expertise are needed in the Blue Deal partnerships to attain external funding.
  • We cannot realise water management on our own: we need the community, the partnerships and other institutions outside of the water sector to join forces.
  • The employees of the Dutch water authorities who attended gained knowledge about community-based working, involving the public in decision-making processes and they gained insights in working methods around water pricing.

Plans for improvements

The partnerships that were present are committed to improve their actions when it comes to:

  • stakeholder engagement (water users) in the pricing concept;
  • the exchange of data collection and working methods between countries, as it is essential to set tariffs and fees;
  • awareness creation and communication in a social inclusive way, around the advantages and the value of water;
  • lobbying within the countries: to become more visible at national and local government level to advocate for water within overlapping sectors/policies.

Successful visit to World Water Forum Indonesia

From 18 to 25 May, the World Water Forum took place in Indonesia. Dutch Water Authorities (DWA) and the Blue Deal attended the forum with a small delegation. Luzette Kroon, Chair of the Blue Deal Steering Committee, led the delegation. She closely coordinated her agenda with Meike van Ginneken, the Dutch Water Envoy. They participated in various sessions and made arrangements with (potential) new cooperation partners.

Luzette Kroon (in the middle with microphone) is presenting during a session with The Nature Conservancy

Kroon: “During the World Water Forum, the Netherlands was able to convey the necessity of joint action. Drought, extreme rainfall, and water pollution pose significant challenges worldwide. We have positioned ourselves with the Blue Deal programme, as a strong partner to address international water challenges.”

She continues: “We discussed the importance of cooperation across the entire water (supply) chain and sustainable financing for operation and maintenance. During various sessions, we also emphasised the importance of preventing pollution at the source, local implementation, and the execution of the Water Action Agenda (the outcome of the UN Water Conference last year). I look back on a successful forum.”

Blue Deal contributes to continuity of regional water management

We spoke with Blue Deal staff from the Palestinian Territories, South Africa, Peru, and Indonesia. They all emphasised how much the Blue Deal, often in combination with the WaterWorX programme of the Dutch drinking water companies, meant to them. The long-term relationship is considered crucial, and the substantive cooperation significantly contributes to the continuity of water management.

Improving and protecting watersheds

Regarding sustainable financing for management and maintenance, we have called for attention to climate-resilient watershed investments. These are investments aimed at improving and protecting watersheds to make them resilient to the effects of climate change, often in the form of nature-based solutions, such as reforestation and planting vegetation to prevent erosion and retain water. Recently, we entered into a collaboration in this area with The Nature Conservancy, VEI (WaterWorX), and NWB Fund. We officially announced this collaboration during the forum.

Potential cooperation with development banks

The delegation also met with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Islamic Development Bank. These development banks aim to promote the economic development of Asian and Islamic countries. During the discussions, it became clear that the approach of climate-resilient watershed investments aligns well with their goals. Additionally, there is growing interest in investing more in water governance. The approach of the Dutch water authorities has also attracted the interest of the banks. The Blue Deal and the development banks will further discuss this during International Water Week in Stockholm at the end of August.

Compensating water footprint

During the UN Water Conference in 2023 in New York, Blue Deal was involved in the launch of the Water Footprint Compensation platform. During the World Water Forum, there was renewed attention for this. The Water Footprint concept aims for a ‘water-safe’ world where water users take responsibility for restoring a healthy water cycle. For example, companies that use a lot of water can compensate for their water footprint. This money can be used for investments in water-saving or restorative measures. This is actively pursued by the Blue Deal in the Palestinian Territories (with BluElephant) through a pilot. Discussions are also underway with Blue Deal South Africa. Additionally, there is significant potential within other Blue Deal partnerships.

What works and what doesn’t work in water governance?

One of the Blue Deal’s solutions is in the OECD Handbook of What Works. This handbook is all about actionable solutions for improving water governance.

This handbook was presented on May 23, during a session at the World Water Forum in Indonesia. Luzette Kroon, Chair of the Blue Deal steering committee, was one of the speakers for this session.

The Blue Deal’s solution is featured at #52. Here you can find more information about monitoring the progress in water governance

> Read the handbook

Dutch water delegation active at World Water Forum

From 18 to 25 May, a delegation from the Dutch Water Authorities (DWA) and the Blue Deal programme will attend the World Water Forum in Indonesia. The goal is to emphasise the importance of collaboration within the entire water (supply) chain in the international water sector.

What do we aim to achieve?

During the World Water Forum, stakeholders from the entire international water sector come together. They collectively determine the global water agenda and share knowledge with each other. The Forum takes place every 3 years, each time in a different country. The delegation of DWA and Blue Deal highlights the importance of cooperation within the entire water cycle. This means that all partners in the water chain within a specific catchment area collaborate to address the broader interests of water. Local service providers (utilities, water authorities, municipalities, etc.) play a particularly significant role in this. It is therefore crucial that their technical, organisational, and financial capacities are in order. Only in this way can the goal of SDG6 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations be achieved by 2030.

Sustainable financing for operation and maintenance

In addition, the Blue Deal will meet up with various financiers within the water sector. The delegation emphasises the importance of long-term cooperation and sustainable financing for operation and maintenance. In this regard, the Blue Deal has recently entered into a collaboration with The Nature Conservancy, WaterWorX, and the NWB Fund. Together, these parties are exploring ways to finance projects around nature-based solutions. In Indonesia, the collaboration will be officially confirmed.

Engaging with international water partners

The delegation will participate as speakers in various sessions, including those organised by the OECD, The Nature Conservancy, UNESCO, The Water Footprint Implementation, and the High-Level Panel Navigating the Source-to-Sea Journey. The delegation will also hold discussions with the Islamic Development Bank and The Asian Development Bank. Additionally, there will be ample opportunity to further strengthen the network of the Blue Deal.

Luzette Kroon represents the delegation of DWA and Blue Deal. She is board member of the Association of Dutch Water Authorities and chair of the Blue Deal steering committee. She aligns her agenda closely with Meike van Ginneken, the Dutch water envoy.

Representatives from the partnerships

Representatives from Blue Deal partnerships will also be present as speakers in various sessions. For example, one of the Young Experts from Blue Deal Peru has been selected to join the 6th General Assembly of the World Youth Parliament. She was selected from 640 applicants worldwide. She will also present her work within Blue Deal Peru in a couple of sessions.