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New insights and encounters on Dutch Water Authorities networking day 2026

A day full of inspiration, new insights, stories, encounters. During the Dutch Water Authorities’ Network Day on 23 March, the water authorities gathered at Villa Jongerius in Utrecht to reflect on the importance of international work. The full breadth of this work, from governance to the power of communities and the future of water management, came together just one day after World Water Day.

Setting the course in a changing world

The day began with a meeting for water authority executives, chaired by Luzette Kroon, Board Member International of the Dutch Water Authorities. Two external experts shared their views on the changing international context. Ben Bekkering (former Head of the Permanent Military Representation to NATO and Senior Associate at the Clingendael Institute) outlined how geopolitical relations are shifting. Conflicts, climate change and pressure on water resources are increasing the need for collaboration. He emphasised that stability and water management are becoming ever more intertwined.

Next, Renske Steenbergen (Deputy Director, VNG International) offered insights into how municipalities and water authorities work together internationally. She reflected on how we can organise international work so that it aligns with our core tasks while remaining agile in a rapidly changing world. The morning concluded with a discussion on how both experts’ pitches could feed into the continuing development of the DWA vision.

Plenary programme: from drinkable rivers to global cooperation

Piebe interviews Li An Phoa
DWA Coordinator and host Piebe Hoeksma interviews Li An Phoa

Moderator and DWA Coordinator Piebe Hoeksma opened the plenary session with around 150 participants, followed by a reflection from Luzette Kroon on an intensive international year. Currently, more than 250 Dutch water authority professionals are involved in international water projects. It’s clear that the European context is increasingly embedded in the DNA of the water authorities, and water is and remains internationally relevant.

The Dutch water authorities have much to offer their international partners. A strong example from the past year was the European Week of Regions and Cities in Brussels, where 18 water authorities were represented. Another highlight was Stockholm World Water Week, which provided an excellent platform to showcase our international water partnerships, with both local partners and Blue Deal colleagues contributing to key sessions. Looking ahead, the UN Water Conference in December 2026 will offer yet another opportunity to present DWA’s expertise on the global stage. Luzette Kroon emphasised that water resilience and climate adaptation will remain core priorities for the water authorities in 2026.

Li An Phoa: Drinkable Rivers: small steps matter

With calm and conviction, Li An Phoa took the audience along on her river walks across the world. Her goal: to restore rivers to such a state that their water becomes safely drinkable again and ecosystems remain healthy. In 2018, Phoa walked 1,061 km along the River Meuse – from source to sea – to raise awareness about water quality. Later journeys included the Scheldt, the Thames and the Danube, amongst others. Initiatives have also arisen along the Vecht, Berkel and Amstel river basins.

“From residents and farmers to mayors – everyone loves water and wants drinkable rivers. Make drinkable rivers the indicator for granting permits,” Phoa suggested. Rather than monitoring how polluted water is, she suggested: “Turn it around – wouldn’t that be much more powerful?”

Her presentation was an inspirational reminder highlighting how local knowledge, communities and long-term partnerships form the foundation of healthy ecosystems.

Blue Deal impact – cooperation that makes a difference

Blue Deal presentation
Marieke van Nood shares examples of Blue Deal impact

Blue Deal Programme Manager Marieke van Nood was a fitting next speaker, as Li An’s stories closely align with the core of the water authorities’ international work in the Blue Deal programme: cross‑border cooperation, good governance and strong local engagement as the foundation for sustainable water management. Marieke highlighted several Blue Deal partnerships in Kenya, Ethiopia, Argentina and Ghana, demonstrating that involving local users is essential for achieving impact on the ground. “Blue Deal results are strongest when local users and communities not only participate, but truly have a role and a platform.”
From enforcing water abstraction rules in Kenya to engaging farmers as co‑water managers in Argentina: everywhere the same principle applies – local ownership works.

NWB Fund – 20 years of investing in international water work

Finally, Bert van Boggelen reflected on 20 years of the NWB Fund. Established to enable international cooperation by the water authorities, the fund invests more than €800,000 annually in Blue Deal projects, with a focus on climate adaptation and social inclusion. It has laid the foundation for many long‑standing partnerships. Participants of the day already received their next invite for the upcoming anniversary event in October, at which they will also give out the annual NWB Award.

NWB presentation
Bert van Boggelen reflected on the 20 year anniversary of the NWB Fund

Break‑out sessions: from Europe to the food–water nexus

In the afternoon, participants spread across four interactive breakout sessions, each with its own angle but united by one central theme: how do we strengthen our international effectiveness going forward?

  • The Food–Water nexus (Blue Deal)

A session on the crucial relationship between water management and food production, with practical examples from Dutch organisations such as Netherlands Food Partnership, Holland Greentech, Practica Foundation, ECCD-Gire and Blue Deal Peru. Participants had the opportunity to join the discussion in the ‘fish bowl’. A key insight: moving from insight to action requires collaboration between water authorities, individual farmers, knowledge institutions and private partners, and a flexible approach, taking into consideration climate extremes.

  • Social inclusion and co‑creation (Blue Deal)

Led by Liliane Geerling (Partners for Water) and Blue Deal Social Inclusion focal point Tanah Meijers, this session showed how projects become stronger and more sustainable when local communities are engaged from the start. Examples from Africa and Latin America illustrated how participation from all levels and stakeholders leads to better management and broader support. Participants were given a co-creation assignment to put what they learned into practice.

  • What’s happening in Europe (Bureau Brussels)

Bureau Brussels representatives Jan van der Steen and Annelle van der Wel gave an update on European legislation, new funding opportunities and the growing need for cross‑border coordination. It was a reminder that Brussels is part of all water authority work and inspiring for everyone working at the intersection of policy and implementation.

  • The European Knowledge Agenda

How can we organise and share our knowledge more effectively within Europe? Led by Paul van den Berg (Hoogheemraadschap Hollands Noorderkwartier) and Marina Gatón González-Anleo (Waterschap Zuiderzeeland), this interactive session addressed data, monitoring, knowledge exchange and the role of water authorities in European research programmes.

Networking in the plenary session
During sessions and breaks, the day offered plenty of opportunity to exchange experiences with other water professionals

Stronger together as we look ahead

The DWA Network Day 2026 once again demonstrated how rich, diverse and meaningful the international work of the Dutch water authorities is, and how important it is to exchange experiences and learn from each other. From geopolitical insights to river walks, from governance to community action – the work of Dutch water professionals makes a global difference, and has the potential to scale its impact further.

Leading for cleaner waters in Mali

In October 2025, three experts from Waterschap Rivierenland visited Bamako to support ANGESEM in strengthening its operational and organisational management.

Group photo ANGESEM

Through an interactive workshop, ANGESEM staff reflected together on the organisation’s values, teamwork, and leadership practices, with the goal of turning shared principles into concrete actions in daily work. The exchanges encouraged dialogue, mutual understanding, and team cohesion.

The workshop was enriched by the participation of a global SNV manager, who shared practical examples of values-based leadership. The mission also included discussions on future priorities and plans for 2026, helping set the direction for continued collaboration between the Blue Deal and ANGESEM. 

This initiative marks an important step toward stronger, more effective management at ANGESEM, contributing to better public services and sustainable water management in Mali. 

Cleaner dyeing for a healthier Niger river 

Artisanal dyeing is an important source of income in Bamako, Mali, especially for women. However, wastewater from dyeing activities is often discharged directly into the environment, contributing to pollution of the Niger River. 

To address this challenge, the “Teinturerie” Pilot Project was launched by ANGESEM, in partnership with the Blue Deal programme, the Dutch Water Authorities, and SNV Mali. The initiative is financially supported by the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) and NWB Fund. 

The Teinturerie project aims for environmental friendly approaches to managing wastewater from the dyeing factories.

The project works to reduce pollution, promote simple and sustainable wastewater treatment solutions such as helophytes, and support dyeing communities in adopting better environmental and hygiene practices. Field activities included mapping dyeing sites across Bamako, identifying pilot locations, and holding participatory workshops with dyers, local authorities, and technical partners.  

In addition to the technical aspects of treating the polluted wastewater from the dyeing activities, the project also focuses on including the female entrepreneurs in the pilot. It is important that the entrepreneurs are involved in finding solutions that are sustainable from both the economic , social and environmental perspectives. 

Entrepreneurial women at the heart of wastewater treatment from artisanal dyeing

Early 2026, female entrepreneurs attended a workshop as part of the “Teinturerie” Project to raise awareness and get engagement for this project, a spin-off of the Blue Deal activities in Bamako. 

They shared water quality data results from ANGESEM’s laboratory highlighting the environmental and health impacts of untreated dyeing wastewater. Participants also learned about environmental regulations, their responsibilities, and the penalties for non-compliance. The session was highly participatory with dyers exchanging practices, suggesting solutions, and helping shape a future best practice manual while also discussing the project’s business plan. 
 
What stood out most? Behind every dyeing basin are courageous women feeding families, creating jobs, and supporting the local economy. This was a strong first step in the collaborative approach of safeguarding traditional practices while preserving the environment and human health. 

NWB Fund supports hydrological restoration pilot in Ghana’s Songor region

The NWB Fund has approved a €24,500 financing request from Blue Deal Ghana to launch a hydrological restoration pilot in the Songor region of southeast Ghana. The initiative marks a significant step toward large-scale mangrove recovery and climate-resilient water management under the international Blue Deal partnership.

Restoring a degraded ecosystem

The project focuses on the Luhuese Creek, a 13-kilometer watercourse within the Songor Ramsar Site and UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Years of sedimentation, growth of vegetation and blockages have severely restricted freshwater flow to the Songor Lagoon, leading to rising salinity, declining water quality and loss of biodiversity including the loss of mangroves.

The southeast coastal region of Ghana
Ecological restoration will be done in the Luhuese Creek within the Songor Ramsar Site

Ground-truthing carried out at the end of 2025 confirmed that the creek is “severely silted along its entire length,” making hydrological recovery essential for ecological restoration and community livelihoods. The pilot will mechanically dredge the waterway, stabilise its banks, and improve water quality through continuous monitoring.

Linking nature restoration to climate finance

Once freshwater flow is restored, the area is set for the recovery of roughly 800 hectares of mangroves, a critical ecosystem for biodiversity, coastal protection and carbon storage.

The first 200 hectares will be planted during the pilot phase. The remaining expansion is planned to be financed through a new Blue Carbon Credit business model, enabling long-term funding for both restoration and maintenance activities.

Strong local ownership

Local partners in Ghana
Ghana’s Water Resources Commission is the local partner in Ghana

The project is led locally by Ghana’s Water Resources Commission (WRC), supported by community structures organised through the CREMA method for participatory landscape governance. Twenty-seven surrounding communities stand to benefit from improvements in fisheries, freshwater availability and sustainable income opportunities linked to forestry and carbon credits.

A scalable blueprint

The pilot contributes to the broader goals of the Blue Deal: improving water security for 20 million people worldwide. Lessons learned in Songor will be shared with Ghanaian institutions and can be applied to similar degraded mangrove systems in Keta, Avita and other regions across Africa and Southeast Asia.

The project also provides innovative insights for the Netherlands, especially regarding landscape governance, community collaboration and the development of carbon-based financing models.

NWB Fund gives green light

Following review on 18 February 2026, the NWB Fund’s program committee approved the financing request. With this decision, the pilot can begin in March 2026, led by a local contractor under WRC supervision. Mangrove planting will follow in April, with monitoring continuing throughout 2026.

The approval marks a major milestone in building a climate-resilient, community-supported and financially sustainable restoration strategy for the Songor region.

An inclusive approach towards climate-resilient water allocation in the Awash basin

At the end of January, members of the Blue Deal Ethiopia Awash project team travelled to Ethiopia for a working mission aimed at strengthening water governance in the Awash Basin. The Dutch team members were accompanied by their Ethiopian colleagues of the local Blue Deal Project Office. The visit included a three‑day field excursion to Samara and surrounding areas in the Afar Region, where the team met with representatives of farming communities and local government officials.

Lake Tendaho – a freshwater storage reservoir used for irrigation water allocation

During the field visit, the Awash River appeared calm. However, in the rainy season the river can rapidly transform into a violent current, flooding extensive areas of farmland. Due to climate change, such extreme events are occurring more frequently. When dykes breach, local residents often attempt to close the gaps themselves to protect their land and livelihoods.

The Awash River is the lifeline of the Afar Region, where agriculture is only possible through irrigation in this hot and arid landscape. In the dry season, water availability regularly falls short of the needs of all users. To address these challenges, the Ethiopian government aims to strengthen its policies for the distribution of irrigation water.

With support from the Dutch water authorities, Ethiopia has developed a water allocation planning process in recent years. Farmers and authorities in the Afar Region have expressed strong interest in applying this approach in their part of the Awash Basin. A workshop with local experts explored the steps needed to introduce water allocation planning in Afar.

The Awash river in the Afar region

Capacity building and prioritisation planning in Addis Ababa

Following their visit to Afar, the project team travelled to Addis Ababa to deliver a two‑day workshop on developing a methodological framework for a Socio-Economic Benefit Study. This study is required to underpin a prioritisation sequence for water users. In periods of drought, such a sequence guides how limited water resources are distributed among different user groups.

During the workshop sessions, participants worked together to create an initial methodology and test it using data collected during the visit. The next step involves refining the approach and applying it fully in a designated pilot area. High-level decision-makers have expressed their commitment to supporting this work, ensuring it can be taken forward in the coming years.

The workshop focused on validating the results of an extensive study into exclusion factors in water allocation planning experienced by both water users and authorities. Participants then jointly explored potential solutions and prioritised actions. These insights will be integrated into the water allocation planning project over the coming years, supporting the inclusion of the cross-cutting theme Social Inclusion within the Blue Deal programme.

The social inclusion workshop with local water users

Major validation workshop on a social inclusion pilot

The team also organised a large validation workshop in Addis Ababa for the Social Inclusion Pilot, funded by the NWB Fund. This workshop was well attended by around 65 participants. These included smallholder farmers, Irrigation Water User Associations, private investors, state farms, government-owned irrigation schemes, and representatives from federal, regional and local governments, both upstream and downstream. Universities, other Blue Deal partnerships and embassy programmes also took part.

Preparations for future work

The working visit concluded with preparatory activities for the KIWI assignment on e‑learning modules and discussions with Ethiopian partners on the preliminary findings of the Mid-term Review. These insights will contribute to the development of the Multi-Annual Plan 2027–2030.

Partnership manager Rens Huisman in front of the local Blue Deal partner office

Blue Deal and YEP launch special edition of the YEP Effect magazine

A special edition of the YEP Effect magazine was launched today, dedicated entirely to the collaboration between the Young Expert Programme (YEP) and the Blue Deal. Developed jointly by the communication teams of YEP and the Blue Deal - and shaped by the current group of Young Experts themselves - the magazine offers a look into the work and impact of young water professionals in Blue Deal partnership countries.

YEP and Blue Deal magazine
Jelmer Klinkenberg (YEP) and Nienke Swagemakers (Blue Deal) with the new YEP Effect Blue Deal edition

Young Experts take the lead
This issue showcases stories written by our own Young Experts currently halfway through their YEP Blue Deal experience. Part of their training includes communication – and this magazine gave them the opportunity to put those new skills into practice. Some conducted interviews, others provided photographs, and many shared their personal YEP and Blue Deal journeys. Together, they have created a rich and varied magazine filled with insights from water projects around the world.

A natural match with real impact

Young Expert Programmes (YEP) and the Blue Deal are a natural match. The involvement of young professionals through the YEP Programme has been a major success: their energy, hands‑on mentality and fresh ideas bring tremendous added value to the Blue Deal partnerships around the world. The YEP Global Network has also sparked lifelong connections — whether through learning from each other at regional Blue Deal conferences, as highlighted by Young Experts in Latin America, or through ongoing exchange with YEP alumni who continue to work in local water organisations.

Powered by the NWB Fund

The YEP Tailor-made programme for the Blue Deal is made possible thanks to the support of the NWB Fund. The fund plays a fundamental role in strengthening and supporting Blue Deal partnerships, through cross-cutting themes, including climate adaptation and social inclusion, both of which feature prominently in the stories presented in this special edition.

The Blue Deal Learning & Development programme

This collaboration fits within the broader Blue Deal Learning & Development (L&D) programme, which aims to strengthen the next generation of water professionals working internationally. YEP is an integral part of this approach, alongside other initiatives such as the KIWI programme. Together, they help build technical expertise, leadership skills and cross‑cultural collaboration across our global partnerships.

group photo YEP BD 2
The Young Experts of Blue Deal batch 2

What’s inside this special edition?

  • Mentorship in action: A story from Colombia shows how Young Experts and mentors from Dutch Water Authorities learn from and support one another within the Blue Deal context.
  • Life after YEP: Alumni describe how their Blue Deal and YEP experiences continue to shape their careers and impact.
  • Themes that matter: Articles focusing on climate adaptation and social inclusion — two cross‑cutting themes supported by the NWB Fund – with practical examples from Blue Deal partnerships around the world.
  • And much more!

Read the magazine:

Want to explore all the stories? You can read the digital edition of the YEP Effect special here.

Blue Deal partnerships join forces at first regional Latin American conference

On October 2–3, Blue Deal Peru, together with the Dutch Embassy and Peru’s National Water Authority (ANA), hosted the inaugural Regional Blue Deal Meeting in Lima.

This was a key highlight in a series of impactful activities between September and November, marking a significant step forward in regional collaboration for the Peru partnership. The regional meeting brought together delegations from Argentina, Colombia, and Peru for an unprecedented knowledge exchange event. The key objective was to share experiences on sustainable water management, citizen participation, information and climate adaptation.

meeting room with Peru audience

A milestone in regional collaboration

Organised in partnership with the Dutch Embassy and Peru’s National Water Authority (ANA), the event represented a milestone in South-South cooperation within the Blue Deal programme, and celebrated 200 years of Peru-Netherlands relations. Over two days, participants explored critical themes for sustainable water management, including:

  • Data-driven water governance for informed decision-making
  • Participatory governance to strengthen integrated water management
  • Climate change adaptation as a pillar of resilience
  • Water funds to ensure long-term sustainability
  • Youth engagement as a driver of change
  • ClimateCafé – Learning by Doing workshop to foster experiences’ exchange (read more about this below)
  • Learning networks and international cooperation to scale solutions

The delegations also visited key sites such as the Rimac River near Lima, addressing key issues such as water availability, spatial planning, and water safety.

group of people studying a map
The delegation visits the Limac river

Aside from the fruitful outcomes of the conference, Q4 provided multiple opportunities for knowledge exchange and progress within the Peru partnership.

Water for agriculture and information for decision making

During visits to Piura and Tumbes, the DWA team, led by Roeland van der Schaaf (dijkgraaf of Noorderzijlvest) -Blue Deal Peru coordinators visited key water infrastructure: Poechos and San Lorenzo dams in Piura, discussing challenges like drought-related water distribution and sedimentation. In Tumbes, they visited La Peña intake, vital for regulation and international irrigation. The team also reviewed promising results from local research on water-saving techniques for rice production and the institutional collaborations built around these studies.

In both regions, DWA teams worked with local partners and the modelling working groups to advance W-flow hydrological models for the Alto-Piura and Zarumilla watersheds. The DWA team and local partners who guide these trainings acknowledge the development of the working groups on further working independently with the models and proudly presenting their results. Data generated in these workshops supports decisions on water distribution and allocation plans led by the Chira-Piura and Tumbes water councils.

Caring for the river and youth for climate adaptation

“Caring for rivers” was the theme of the 2025 Climate Café workshops in both regions. University students from diverse backgrounds learned and collaborated on river care mechanisms, including water biodiversity analysis, deep mapping, and exploring community actions and ancestral practices in a changing climate. In Tumbes, the DWA team joined cleanup and reforestation efforts in the Cabuyal creek. These workshops aim to learn by doing, exchange perspectives, and raise awareness of local climate challenges—especially in vulnerable ecosystems like wetlands and dry forests in Tumbes and Piura.

The working visit also visited a reforestation project in Tumbes

Working on Water safety

In November, the DWA team collaborated with the water councils of Tumbes and Piura and local organisations on water safety. The two-day workshops focused on operating and maintaining riverbank flood protection structures. DWA stressed preventive actions, identifying risks of infrastructure failure and planning for risk management. Group analyses ranged from organisational strategies to technical approaches. Participants included binational projects, the National Infrastructure Authority (ANIN), ANA, and local governments. DWA also joined the regional meeting of northern water councils organized by ANA in Piura, gathering authorities and partners. Using Dutch examples, DWA addressed risk and crisis management to reduce flood disasters.

Third national water summit in Neiva: a milestone for InspirAgua

The third Cumbre por la Gobernanza del Agua in Neiva, Huila, marked a significant step forward for water governance in Colombia. From 29 to 31 October, regional environmental authorities, national institutions, and international partners came together to strengthen integrated water management.

The summit led to the signing of the Declaration of Neiva – a milestone agreement that ensures regional experiences will be embedded in future national water policy. This commitment aims to make policy not only sound on paper, but effective in practice for communities across Colombia.

group photo at the 3rd national water summit in neiva
InspirAgua and partners at the Third National Water Summit in Neiva, Colombia

The programme was designed to combine strategic dialogue with practical insights:

Day 1 – Updating the National Water Management Plan (PNGIRH)
Discussions focused on revising Colombia’s national water management plan. Ahead of the summit, online sessions with all CARs (regional environmental authorities) prepared joint recommendations for the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development. These proposals reflect lessons learned from regional implementation and will guide future policy updates.

Day 2 – Technology, Data, and Information
The second day explored how technological innovation and data-driven decision-making can improve water governance. Experts from InspirAgua contributed their knowledge on monitoring, information management, and smart solutions for sustainable water systems.

Day 3 – Field Visit to Las Ceibas
The final day brought theory into practice with a visit to the Las Ceibas river basin. Participants examined climate adaptation, spatial planning, crisis management, and monitoring in action, concluding with a cultural programme that highlighted the connection between water and community life.

The meeting, co-organised by partners ASOCARS and Corporación Autónoma Regional del Alto Magdalena (CAM) marked an important moment for collaboration between Dutch water authorities and Colombian partners within the InspirAgua programme. Nearly all regional environmental authorities in Colombia participated, sharing insights on how national water policies work in practice. These lessons – including what does not work – are essential for improvement.

Beyond these sessions, the summit featured keynote speeches and thematic panels with CARs, local communities, development partners, and academics. The resulting technical declaration consolidates successful experiences and lessons learned, supporting the update of the PNGIRH and reinforcing Colombia’s commitment to integrated water governance.

This milestone lays a strong foundation for continued collaboration between Colombian authorities and the InspirAgua partnership. The shared ambition is clear: improved water quality, reduced flood risks, and access to safe and sufficient water for all.

In the video below, listen to InspirAgua’s Ellen Bollen as she explains the significance of this collaboration and the impact of the Declaration of Neiva.

Strengthening Flood Resilience in Indonesia: From Semarang to Pekalongan and Tangerang

Indonesia faces growing challenges from flooding, demanding solutions that combine technical innovation with community engagement. Recent Blue Deal visits - to Semarang, Pekalongan and Tangerang - show how collaboration at different levels can build resilience and shared responsibility.

Semarang: Co-Creating Solutions After the Floods

Semarang’s recent flooding set the stage for a visit focused on co-creating solutions. Field inspections of affected areas and pumping stations provided practical insights into system vulnerabilities, while a workshop on monitoring helped define priorities for data collection and analysis. Meetings between the local water authority and the city’s planning agency laid the groundwork for an Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) pilot, ensuring coordination between implementation, planning, and basin management.

The Blue Deal team learnt that even shallow flooding can cause significant damage. To reduce future flood risks, Semarang is exploring innovative measures. These types of knowledge exchanges demonstrate that effective water governance depends on combining technical expertise with local knowledge and initiative.

motorcycle in flooded area
In Semarang, recent floods have caused water issues in the region

Pekalongan: Building Awareness Through Education and Exchange

In another region, in Pekalongan, mutual learning was at the heart of the visit. Knowledge sharing sessions on crisis management brought together local authorities and Dutch experts to explore strategies for responding to floods and other water-related emergencies. Schools played a key role in raising awareness among the next generation: interactive lessons introduced students to water management, water quality, and the cultural differences between Indonesia and the Netherlands.

men at waterside pekalongan
In Pekalongan, the experts visit a dike that collapsed during recent floods. The breach has been closed using bamboo to seal the gap.

These sessions sparked lively discussions on how everyday actions – such as waste separation and maintaining drainage – can reduce flood risks. By combining technical expertise with local perspectives, these activities strengthen water governance and empower communities to take action. For Blue Deal, this approach reflects a core principle: sustainable water management depends not only on infrastructure but also on education, collaboration, and shared responsibility.

crisis management workshop pekalongan
During a crisis management workshop, Dutch and Indonesian water experts exchanged experiences

Tangerang: Youth engagement and multilevel collaboration

In Tangerang, flood resilience efforts also bring educstion and community dialogue together with strategic planning. Building on a learning trajectory started during a previous visit, Blue Deal worked with several schools to develop ideas for raising awareness among residents about their role in preventing floods. In the youth workshop, students explored practical measures such as harvesting rainwater for reuse or infiltration, maintaining drainage channels, and separating and collecting waste. The goal is to make these lessons a permanent part of the school curriculum.

The working visit also included a stakeholder meeting with the local community. The Bupati (district head) was so enthusiastic about the Blue Deal partnership, that he wanted to visit the neighbourhood to discuss flood issues. Residents were honoured to share their concerns about flooding in their neighbourhood with the Bupati, but solutions remain complex. In Bogor, located upstream, new construction is leading to increased runoff into Tangerang, requiring coordination on retention measures and compensation for new construction.

Finally, discussions with various agencies introduced the Dutch Multilayer Safety model, focusing on cooperation before, during, and after floods. Given the intensity of tropical rainstorms—often exceeding what Europe considers extreme—these conversations will continue in future visits. With climate change amplifying extremes, learning from these conditions is invaluable.

youth workshop tangerang
During a youth workshop in Tangerang, practical measures against flooding were discussed

A holistic approach

While the Semarang project focuses on technical solutions and system-level coordination, the Pekalongan and Tangerang projects highlight the power of education and community engagement. Together, these efforts highlight a holistic approach to flood resilience: combining infrastructure improvements with behavioural change and shared responsibility.

Blue Deal Romania: Advancing water financing solutions

In October 2025, the second mission under the Blue Deal Economic Mechanism project took place at Waterschap Limburg in Roermond.

This location was no coincidence. Waterschap Limburg has been closely involved with Romania’s water sector since the very beginning of the Dutch-Romanian collaboration in 2006. One of the key figures from that time, Philip Daelmans, remains actively engaged and helped design a diverse and insightful programme together with his colleagues.

Why water financing matters

Financing water management is a challenge faced not only in Romania but across many Blue Deal partnerships worldwide. Sustainable funding is essential for maintaining infrastructure, improving services, and meeting long-term water security goals. The Dutch water authorities have developed a unique tax system that ensures stable financing for water management, an approach that sparks interest from many countries looking for practical solutions.

group of blue deal romania tours waterschap limburg
The Romanian delegation was shown around the Water Authority in Roermond, Limburg

Key themes and discussions

The workshops focused on several pressing topics, with a recurring theme being how Romanian water authorities generate income. Unlike in the Netherlands, revenue collection in Romania is not as straightforward as levying taxes on citizens. While taxes are collected, the process is far more limited and labour-intensive. The challenges, struggles, and potential solutions for improving revenue streams were discussed in depth. A highlight was the presentation by Rianne Janssen, tax specialist at Waterschap Limburg, who explained Limburg’s tax collaboration model – sparking great interest among Romanian participants.

The topic is key, as the European Commission announced a new dialogue with Romania to improve implementation of EU water legislation. Local impact – financial and social – must be delivered through credible water credit systems.

Another major focus was cost reduction. One example is the shift toward digital invoicing and electronic signatures, which can significantly improve efficiency. The Romanian delegation shared their progress in this area, and several participants presented the financial situation of their own water authorities.

Building better financial insights

The mission also addressed the development of a new Management Information System in Romania. This system aims to provide clearer insights into the finances and performance of Romanian water authorities. Progress has been promising, following guidance provided by World Bank on this front.

Looking ahead to 2026, there is plenty to build on. This mission was a success both in terms of content and relationships. Clear action points have been defined for the next mission, scheduled for June 2026 in Oradea, with an interim digital meeting planned for early 2026.

Working with nature: Blue Deal’s NbS pathways in Ghana

As climate change accelerates environmental degradation, Ghana’s water and coastal systems face intensifying risks, from erosion and flooding to salinisation and habitat loss.

In response, Blue Deal, with its local partner Water Resources Commission (WRC), and Ghanaian and international partners, is tackling water-related challenges through an integrated approach that combines a portfolio of Nature-based Solutions (NbS), and decentralised governance that puts communities, ecosystems, and equity to strengthen water management and build resilience against climate risks.

Guided by Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) plans, WRC and Blue Deal collaborate to manage water resources a co-develop NbS that work with nature, not against it.

Lower Volta Basin: Restoring mangroves as a natural buffer

In the Lower Volta Basin, particularly around the Songor Ramsar Site and UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere Reserve (Ada), key challenges include flooding and mangrove degradation. Blue Deal’s activities in this landscape combine ecological restoration with social inclusion and practical risk reduction. Mangrove ecosystems help dampen coastal erosion, reduce flooding, and limit salinisation — risks amplified by climate change.

A pilot combines creek dredging/desilting with mangrove restoration to test integrated effectiveness before upscaling. Because the creek supports domestic water use, fishing, and farming, improved flow and habitat health are expected to deliver tangible livelihood and well-being co-benefits.

trees ready for planting reforestation white volta
In the White Volta basin, trees are planted as part of a reforestation initiative with local communities

Community Resource Management Areas (CREMA): governance from the ground up

Twenty-seven communities are taking a leading role through the CREMA approach: a proven model that places communities at the centre of natural resource governance.

The result: stronger ownership, positive attitudes, and a shared recognition of the social, economic, and ecological benefits of protecting mangroves and related resources. Communities are now seeking continued co-design of next phases and involvement in pilot implementation, reinforcing a key principle of adaptation, as resilience is most effective when it is locally driven.

The Lower Volta work demonstrates how ecological restoration, community participation, and adaptive management can be blended to deliver practical, people-centred outcomes that are both scalable and replicable across similar coastal and wetland settings.

White Volta Basin: Co-developing catchment NbS with local stakeholders

Blue Deal’s NbS portfolio in Ghana also extends to the White Volta Basin, where work is being shaped in close collaboration with WRC and basin stakeholders to align solutions with catchment priorities under IWRM. This includes co-development pathways that look at how NbS can contribute to risk reduction, land–water management, and long-term resilience – ensuring interventions are locally relevant, practically implementable, and institutionally supported. One such example is a tree-planting initiative in close collaboration with the local chiefs in the region, highlighting the importance of working closely with the traditional authorities.

From Dialogue to Delivery: Ghana’s National NbS Dialogue (3–4 November 2025, Accra)

To consolidate momentum, WRC hosted Ghana’s first National Dialogue on Nature-based Solutions in Accra on 3–4 November 2025 — a milestone event bringing together national agencies, research institutions and universities, local communities, and international partners, including Blue Deal counterparts from Ghana and the Netherlands. Focus of the dialogue was on NbS for the coastal region of Ghana.

A few highlights:

  • Local governance and ownership: Co-designing NbS with communities and traditional authorities emerged as essential for long-term success, maintenance, and social licence. Participants also highlighted citizen science and social media engagement as practical ways to broaden participation and awareness.
  • Financing and policy enablers: Discussions covered funding pathways—national budgets, climate finance, and Public–Private Partnerships (PPPs)—and the importance of a dedicated Coastal Management Policy to mainstream NbS. A key message: the sooner NbS are implemented, the more cost-effective they are, because delays magnify climate impacts and costs.
  • Partnerships and hybrid approaches: Experts from HKV, Tree Aid, and IUCN shared enabling conditions and lessons learned, including hybrid designs that combine NbS with hard structures where appropriate. Case insights from neighbouring Togo and Benin showcased how sand nourishment, dune restoration, and adaptive monitoring can deliver sustainable outcomes.
  • Moving to action: Pilot sites have been identified, institutions are gearing up for implementation, and high-level engagements will follow to secure a robust rollout.

A keynote speaker of the dialogue captured the essence of NbS: “Nature, when protected and restored, protects us in return.”  This dialogue underscores Ghana’s readiness to move from ambition to action—protecting  communities and ecosystems by working with nature.

From coastal and mangrove restoration to tree planting and catchment governance, Ghana’s Nature-based Solutions journey is gaining pace. These initiatives share a common thread: working with nature to protect water resources, strengthen resilience, and improve livelihoods.