Category: Mozambique

Working visits shape the next phase of water partnership in Mozambique

In April and May of 2026, four separate teams from the Dutch Water Authorities (DWA) visited Mozambique as part of the ongoing Blue Deal programme. Together, they covered the whole country, working side by side with the Mozambican Water Authorities (ARAs) and the National Directorate of Water Resources (DNGRH).

Each team focused on a specific theme: long-term programme planning, water quality and licensing, asset management, and urban drainage. Here’s an overview of what each working visit delivered.

Planning for the next phase (2027–2030)

A team consisting of Marijke Jaarsma, Nila Taminiau, Oscar van Zanten and Germain Bakker visited ARA Norte, ARA Centro and ARA Sul to gather input for the Multi-Annual Plan (MAP) for the next phase of the Blue Deal programme. The plan introduces a shift from working with “components” to “tracks”, each focused on clear outcomes such as improved data management or more effective water licensing.

At each location, the team facilitated interactive workshops in which ARA staff identified priorities, realistic targets and the activities needed to reach them by 2030. Engagement was strong at all three locations.

Map plan
Planning for the next phase with ARA staff

In Maputo, the visit concluded during Mozambican Women’s Day celebrations, offering a memorable moment as DWA colleagues joined the festivities.

A draft Multi-Annual Plan will be discussed during a partnership meeting in July or August.

Water quality and licensing workshop


Bert Jager and Robert Boonstra focused on water quality regulation, licensing and the enforcement of effluent discharge—one of the most complex issues in Mozambique’s water sector.

In Maputo, a two-day workshop at DNGRH brought together staff from all ARAs, DNGRH and partner organisations. Participants exchanged experiences on implementing Decree 52/2023, which governs effluent discharge standards, and discussed gaps in current licensing and enforcement practices.

The team then travelled to Nampula to meet ARA Norte and partners to explore the creation of a taskforce to address the impacts of artisanal gold mining upstream of Murrupula, which is causing sedimentation and water quality issues. A field visit to the mining area provided valuable first-hand insights.

ARA Norte will temporarily lead this taskforce, with support from the Blue Deal programme.

Urban drainage and aquatic plant control in Beira

Another DWA team visited Beira to collaborate with SASB (the Beira Autonomous Sanitation Unit) and the NGO FACE.

Ytzen Faber, Martin Bos and Jan den Besten focused on practical challenges in managing Beira’s urban drainage system, which faces ongoing pressure from flooding, solid waste and invasive aquatic plants.

A working session with Dutch water expert Ytzen Faber and NGO FACE and SASB Beira.

The team attended a community meeting in the Inhamizua neighbourhood, where a short play highlighting the risks of emptying pit latrines into drainage channels attracted strong public engagement.

FACE is now developing a proposal for floating barriers to capture waste before it clogs drainage infrastructure, building on an earlier Red Cross pilot. SASB presented its mapping of the city’s canal network and outlined plans for ditch cleaning ahead of the 2026–2027 rainy season.

A dedicated workshop explored two approaches to controlling aquatic plant growth in retention basins: raising water levels to limit reed growth and introducing controlled seawater inflow during dry periods. This resulted in three pilot proposals for canals and basins across the city.

Asset management training

In Maputo, a four-day asset management training took place at DNGRH, bringing together participants from ARA Norte, ARA Centro, ARA Sul, DNGRH and ISPS.

Asset management focuses on planning and maintaining water infrastructure—such as dikes, small dams and canals—in a structured, data-driven way that balances costs, risks and performance over time.

The participants of the Asset Management training

Trainers Pier Schaper and Jan den Besten introduced the core principles before participants worked in mixed groups to develop initial Operation & Maintenance (O&M) plans for small dams within each ARA.

These draft plans will be further refined and validated. At the same time, the ARAs are developing a tool to collect and store small dam inspection data via tablet or phone, synchronising it with a central cloud database.

Dutch and Mozambican partners collaborate during the session

Common threads and next steps

While the four working visits addressed different themes, several shared priorities emerged: the need for a functional national water database, stronger coordination between institutions, and a clear pathway for sustainable progress beyond the Blue Deal programme, which concludes in 2030.

Next steps already underway include a HydroNET training in June, a hydrometry blended learning programme from August to October, continued licensing reforms with DNGRH, and a partnership meeting in July or August to agree on priorities for the 2027–2030 Multi-Annual Plan.

Joining forces on cross-border water management in Mozambique and Eswatini

At the end of April, technical staff from ARA-Sul, IP (Mozambique) and JRBA (Eswatini) came together to address the challenges posed by the transboundary Umbeluzi River, in an initiative facilitated by the Blue Deal Mozambique and Eswatini programmes.

interchange during work visit
The Blue Deal teams from Mozambique and Eswatini came together to address the challenges posed by the Umbulezi river

The meeting focused on exchanging experiences and best practices in hydroclimatological monitoring systems, while strengthening technical and institutional capacities in hydrological data management and response mechanisms to extreme events. This is increasingly important as climate variability intensifies and severe hydrometeorological events occur more frequently.

Reinforcing regional transboundary cooperation

The meeting focused on exchanging experiences and best practices in hydroclimatological monitoring systems, while strengthening technical and institutional capacities in hydrological data management and response mechanisms to extreme events. This is increasingly important as climate variability intensifies and severe hydrometeorological events occur more frequently.

This meeting forms part of the second phase of both Blue Deal programmes, which also support initiatives such as the REMCO conferences, the GLOW project, and communities of practice (CoP) aimed at the integrated and sustainable management of shared watercourses.

The first session of this cooperation focused on assessing the current state of hydroclimatic monitoring networks in the Umbeluzi Basin. It identified key operational challenges, as well as the need to rehabilitate and modernise priority monitoring stations to enable joint data collection.

meeting interchange between mozambique and eswatini teams
Team members of the Blue Deal Eswatini and Mozambique partnerships exchange knowledge during their meeting

Participants also explored opportunities to improve interoperability of the HydroNET platform and to strengthen data-sharing mechanisms between the two institutions.

In addition, the session laid the foundations for developing a joint action plan, including priority intervention areas, institutional responsibilities and the next steps for implementing agreed activities.

The agreements reached are expected to contribute to more efficient water management in both countries, with a particular impact in the Maputo region, where the Umbeluzi River serves as both a vital water supply source and an area prone to flooding.

Blue Deal at the REMCO conference in Mozambique

This week, the 8th International REMCO Conference is taking place in Maputo, Mozambique. The event brings together over 150 participants from Mozambique, Eswatini, and South Africa - three countries that share the Incomati–Maputo basin - to strengthen resilience and governance in transboundary water management.

group of people at the tabel attending the REMCO conference
REMCO conference 2025

At the heart of REMCO lies the technical and operational exchange between the three catchment management authorities: 

ARA-Sul IP (Administração Regional de Águas do Sul – Mozambique) 

JRBA-PB (Joint River Basin Authorities Project Board – Eswatini) 

IUCMA (Inkomati-Usuthu Catchment Management Agency – South Africa) 

Marieke van Nood presents at REMCO
Marieke van Nood presents at the REMCO conference

Together, they collaborate on real-world water management challenges, such as: 

  • Improving flood early warning systems, especially after the flash floods in the Incomati Basin in 2023 
  • Implementing equitable water pricing 
  • Sharing hydrological data and models to improve forecasting and preparedness 
  • Jointly developing cross-border projects that benefit local communities 

Blue Deal’s role 

The Blue Deal partnerships in Eswatini, Mozambique, and South Africa actively support these authorities on these topics. During the conference, they facilitated knowledge exchange, helped shape discussions and committed to following up on the agreements made. Blue Deal’s Ethiopia Awash partnership also joined the conference, sharing key insights during a discussion on Basin Information Systems. This makes REMCO a powerful regional platform for co-learning, innovation, and inclusive decision-making. 

Spotlight on inclusion 

To support the topic of inclusive decision-making, the first day of the conference centered around women and youth in water management. Climate and water-related challenges often have the greatest impact on vulnerable people and the communities they live in. Tanah Meijers, Focal Point of Social Inclusion within the Blue Deal, emphasised that these individuals should not only be seen as stakeholders in solutions, but should be actively engaged as partners in designing those practical solutions. 

As highlighted by Marieke van Nood, Blue Deal’s Programme Manager during her speech on the final day of the conference: “Together, we make transboundary water management practical and operational. And that is key for a future-proof Incomati – Maputo river basin”. 

Innovative drone technology demonstrated to Mozambican Blue Deal delegation

As part of the international Blue Deal programme, a delegation of eleven water experts from Mozambique visited the Netherlands this week to explore innovative approaches to water management. The visit, hosted by the Dutch water authorities Wetterskip Fryslân and Waterschap Rijn en IJssel, focused on sharing expertise in dike monitoring, water conservation, data management, and flood risk mitigation.

A highlight of the visit was a drone demonstration on June 12 at the Wadden Sea dike near Ferwert. The demonstration illustrated how drone technology can be used to inspect dikes and water barriers quickly, accurately, and safely – even in hard-to-reach areas, as can be the case in Mozambique. The Mozambican delegation observed how drones equipped with cameras can map dike height, alignment, and potential damage. This technology, already in use by Wetterskip Fryslân, will soon be deployed in Mozambique with support from the World Bank.

A Global Mission for Water Security

Wetterskip Fryslân plays a leading role in the Mozambique Blue Deal partnership, working closely with regional water authorities (ARA’s – Administrações Regionais de Águas) and other institutions. Their collaboration focuses on five strategic themes:

  • Strengthening budget and asset management
  • Enhancing flood forecasting and protection
  • Improving water allocation during droughts
  • Monitoring and managing water quality
  • Upgrading sanitation and drainage systems, especially around Beira

Mutual Learning and Innovation

Luzette Kroon, chair of Wetterskip Fryslân highlighted the importance of exchanging knowledge and experiences from both countries: “The Blue Deal is not just about offering each other support – it’s about learning from each other. Today we’re sharing our experience with drone inspections, but we’re also inspired by how Mozambican partners develop effective water solutions with limited resources. That exchange of knowledge is at the heart of the Blue Deal programme.”

This news item is reposted as a translation of the original article of Wetterskip Fryslân.

Post-election tensions and instability in Mozambique

On 9 October, elections were held in Mozambique to select the country's next president, members of parliament, provincial assemblies, and governors. Since the announcement of the election results, which gave an advantage to the party currently in power, the country has faced a period of political and social tension, with opposition parties contesting the election results. This also has an impact on the Blue Deal partnership and planned activities.

The electoral irregularities identified by opposition parties, international observers, and members of civil society resulted in a wave of protests that gave rise to heightened levels of polarisation, violence, and repression.

Impact on the Blue Deal partnership and planned activities

The country’s political, social, and economic situation rapidly deteriorated. Resulting in significant disruptions to transportation infrastructure, business operations, and the movement of people and goods. This scenario is adversely affecting the implementation of activities planned by the Blue Deal partnership in Mozambique. The current security situation, resulting from the protests and police action, is negatively impacting the ability of local partners to work, both in their offices and in the field. As a result, several activities planned by the partnership for the last quarter of this year have been cancelled or postponed until next year. Additionally, travel to the country by experts from Dutch Water Authorities has also been banned, limiting the exchange of experiences between the 2 countries for an unknown period.

Uncertainty

It is not possible to ascertain the direction the protests may take until the official results have been announced by the highest justice body in Mozambique (the Constitutional Council). Consequently, it is uncertain to which extent the Blue Deal programme can be implemented over the next time. In the meantime, we are continuing to coordinate activities which are still possible, while respecting all possible levels of security. It is our hope that the situation does not escalate.

Working together in challenging times

Over the years, we have built a strong and lasting relationship with our partners, and we truly empathise with them. Especially in these challenging times, we maintain close contact and collaborate to find solutions for the programme. We remain as flexible as possible and actively contribute to ensuring progress. Wherever possible, we move activities online and strive to keep everyone engaged.

Blue Deal Regional Meeting Africa

From 7 to 10 July, a Regional Meeting will take place in Kenya, gathering Blue Deal partnerships from 7 countries. This event serves as a follow-up to the Blue Deal Congress held in Amsterdam in June 2023.

A workshop during the Blue Deal Congress, where the idea for the regional meeting originated

Topics in Amsterdam were, among others, water pricing and nature-based solutions. During the meetings in this congress week, mutual exchange proved promising on a number of water themes. One thing in particular was shared among the participants: to further deepen these initial contacts, and to share and learn from each other’s experiences. The result is the Blue Deal Regional Meeting in Kenya.

Countries and themes

Kenya, Ghana, Burkina Faso, South Africa, Ethiopia, Mozambique, and Eswatini have indicated that they will participate in July 2024 in this Regional Blue Deal Meeting. Blue Deal Kenya is gracious enough to host the event in Mombasa. The following 3 issues will be part of the exchange:

  1. Water pricing
  2. Funding for water projects
  3. Funding and governance for nature-based solutions

Advantages of exchange

The partnerships participating in the event foresee many advantages of the exchange:

  • Facilitate the exchange of knowledge and best practices at the international level;
  • Discuss challenges of water management through intervision;
  • Explore the advantages of international cooperation;
  • Deepen and share insights on elevating the importance of water on the political agenda;
  • Strengthen the consortia of Blue Deal/Waterworx (a similar programme to the Blue Deal, initiated by the Dutch drinking water companies) and National Entities.

The regional meeting in Africa can also provide valuable input for the broader Blue Deal programme’s learning activities, such as the Communities of Practice.

Signing for Phase 2 of Blue Deal Partnership Mozambique

Dutch Water Authorities (DWA) and the Regional Water Administrations (ARAs) in Mozambique signed Phase 2 of the Blue Deal programme 2023 - 2030.

The memoranda of understanding (MoUs) were signed by Luzette Kroon, chair of the Blue Deal programme, alongside the directors of the 3 ARAs. The signing strengthens cooperation between the Netherlands and Mozambique in Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM), focusing on water quality, availability, flood and drought risk management, and climate change.

The MoUs signing ceremony was attended by Luzette Kroon, Geert-Jan ten Brink, president of the Dutch water authority Hunze en Aa’s, Ivo van Haren, the First Secretary for Water and Sanitation of the Dutch embassy in Mozambique, as well as the directors and technicians of the ARAs. During the ceremony, Kroon highlighted the challenges and successes of the first phase, including capacity building, staffing of the ARAs, and the development of hydrological models.

ARAs’ satisfaction and support

The ARAs expressed satisfaction with the progress of the partnership and confirmed their support for the shared goals and objectives. As key stakeholders in water resources management in Mozambique, they recognise the importance of continuous collaboration, planning, and communication for the success of Phase 2 of the Blue Deal partnership.

Cooperation with Dutch embassy and new IWRM programme

The ceremony also highlighted cooperation between the Blue Deal programme and the Dutch embassy in Mozambique, particularly through its new IWRM programme. As the second phase of the Blue Deal unfolds, the signing of the MoUs represents a significant milestone in strengthening cooperation between the Netherlands and Mozambique in the field of IWRM.

Insights from the visit

The ceremony took place during a work visit by a DWA delegation in January, providing insights into infrastructure management and activities of ARA Sul and the SASB. The delegation learned more about the activities being developed by these 2 partners with the support of the Blue Deal. After this visit, they gained a deeper understanding of the challenges and the measures undertaken for water quality control, flood and drought risk management, sanitation, and climate change adaptation.

DWA delegation visits Mozambique for the Blue Deal programme

In January 2024, a delegation from Dutch Water Authorities (DWA) visited Mozambique to witness the progress of the Blue Deal partnership in the country. This visit marked a crucial milestone in strengthening water management and climate change mitigation efforts in the country. By fostering partnerships and sharing knowledge, countries can work together to develop sustainable water management solutions for the benefit of present and future generations.

Visit to ARA Sul Infrastructures

On January 16, the delegation had the opportunity to explore the Goba telemetry station and the Pequenos Libombos Dam. The visit to these 2 infrastructures shed light on the challenges faced by ARA Sul when working with regional entities and the adjustments needed to respond to climate change.
The flaws in the regional agreements between Mozambique, Eswatini and South Africa, inconsistent data sharing (particularly during drought and rainy seasons), and limited resources were identified as primary hurdles towards sustainable water management in the region. It is evident that the Blue Deal programme’s support, alongside organisations and conferences such as REMCO and INMACOM, can play a pivotal role in strengthening the cooperation between the 3 countries and ensure reliable flood and drought risk management.

Visit to ARA Sul headquarters

On January 17, the DWA delegation engaged in a meeting with ARA Sul’s management team. This water authority is actively involved in various topics within the partnership, such as water quality management, flood risk management (including dike management and early warning systems), groundwater modelling, and licensing of water users. Through ARA Sul and the other partners, the Mozambican partnership draws attention to the need for proactive measures to mitigate the devastating impact of floods in the country.

Signing of MoUs

On January 18, the Mozambican partnership celebrated the signing of the Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) for Phase 2 of the Blue Deal programme. This MoU solidifies the commitment of all parties involved to continue working together towards water-related challenges and climate resilience.

Meeting with the Mozambican Minister of Public Works, Housing and Water Resources

In order to reinforce the Dutch support for Mozambique in water management, sanitation, and climate change issues, the DWA delegation had a meeting with the Mozambican Minister of Public Works, Housing and Water Resources (Carlos Mesquita), the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Mozambique (Elsbeth Akkerman), and the First Secretary for Water and Sanitation of the Dutch embassy in Mozambique (Ivo van Haren). This meeting highlighted the shared vision of both nations in addressing critical water management issues and reaffirmed the Dutch commitment to provide technical expertise, financial aid, and capacity-building support to Mozambique.

Impact of climate change and sea level rise in Beira

The delegation’s work visit concluded with their travel to Beira, where they worked with the Municipality of Beira. Through the SASB (Beira Autonomous Sanitation Service), the partnership is assisting the Municipality of Beira in addressing issues concerning the operation and maintenance of the drainage system and cleaning of the urban canals. These actions are of great importance at a time in which the city is severely affected by the impacts of climate change and sea level rise.

The Blue Deal partnership is facilitating a continuous exchange of knowledge between the 2 countries that started almost 10 years ago through the partnership of the Dutch water authority Hunze en Aas with the Municipality of Beira.

7th REMCO conference in Eswatini: transboundary cooperation is a must

From November 6 to 10, more than 200 water managers and water loving professionals gathered in Mbabane, Eswatini, to attend the 7th edition of the REMCO conference. And for the first time, it was hosted by the Joint River Basin Authorities together with Blue Deal Eswatini.

REMCO stands for River and Environmental Management Cooperation. It is a conference that is held every 2 years in one of the 3 Blue Deal countries in southern Africa: Eswatini, Mozambique and South Africa. These countries share the Maputo and Inkomati river basins. Climate change impacts the region through the greater frequency and severity of floods and droughts. In order to meet these growing challenges, transboundary cooperation is a must.

Sharing knowledge

Water professionals, researchers, policymakers, stakeholders from the Incomati and Maputo River basins and partners from 7 countries, European and African, were all present. They exchanged ideas, talked about innovations and discussed past, present and future challenges in water management. This conference had a focus on improving collaboration on operational water management challenges. Topics discussed included:

  • the participation of women and youth
  • data management and exchange
  • and the importance of water for a growing economy and vibrant communities (agriculture, tourism, industry, energy, etc).

The Blue Deal teams of all 3 countries participated. Representatives of Dutch Water Authorities were present to support, learn and discuss. Dutch Professor Herman Havekes gave a presentation on Dutch water governance. Other Dutch colleagues shared their experience and knowledge as to how transboundary water management with Germany and Belgium is important for the Netherlands as well.

Keynote from Ministry

Welcome remarks were delivered by each country. The keynote speech and official opening of the REMCO conference was done by host country Eswatini. Ms Dorcas Dlamini spoke warm words as Principle Secretary of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy. On behalf of the European participants, Ms Ellen Hemmers, head of the delegation from Dutch Water Authorities and Executive Board member of Dutch water authority Vechtstromen, shared the welcome and high expectations for the coming days.

National elections

During the week the results of the national elections in Eswatini became clear. Ms Ellen Hemmers congratulated the newly appointed Prime Minister Russel Dlamini, saying that she understands that the Prime Minister was well versed in issues of water and the importance of sustainable water management. The week after, the JRBA and Waterschap Vechtstromen congratulated the new Minister HRH Prince Lonkhokhelo with his appointment to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy which includes water resource management.

Next location: Mozambique

The last day of the conference is always set aside for a field trip. Tourism was included this year as a topic for both opportunities and sustainable water management. Delegates travelled to the cultural village of Mantenga. However, for those who had missed water after 4 days of inside conference, there was a water option to visit Maguga Dam in Eswatini. The next REMCO will be in 2 years in Mozambique as the previous was 2 years ago in South Africa.

Working towards a climate-resilient Mozambique

From November 13-17, a work visit took place in Nampula, Mozambique, focusing on climate adaptation. We took important steps towards more long-term thinking and started setting our priorities for the next period.

Throughout the year, Blue Deal Mozambique has been dedicated to the theme of climate adaptation. Our focus has been on the northern water authority, ARA-Norte, headquartered in Nampula.

Long-term thinking

While the impacts of climate change are already visible in day-to-day activities, there has been limited attention towards long-term preparations. To initiate thinking about climate adaptation, we collaborated with ARA-Norte, taking cues from the Dutch Delta Programme on Spatial Adaptation, and we took several significant steps.

Risk matrix for setting priorities

During the visit, our initial reflection was on the consequences of climate change, both in the long term based on future scenarios, and on practical experiences in the present. Subsequently, we mapped out areas where these consequences of climate change (such as floods, droughts, and water shortages) occur prominently. We then delved deeper into the risks and impacts at the watershed level, examining their interconnectedness. By creating a ‘risk matrix,’ we gain a better understanding of potential priority areas.

Collaboration with the agricultural sector

Recognising that climate adaptation cannot be tackled alone, we engaged in dialogue with a primary stakeholder: agriculture. Agriculture stands as an immensely significant sector in Mozambique, with approximately 75% of the population involved. Food security is crucial and unfortunately more vulnerable due to climate change. Agriculture heavily relies on sound water management. Therefore, collaboration becomes even more imperative amid climate change. Our local colleagues found this initial stakeholder dialogue both enjoyable and enlightening.

Climate adaptation action plan

In the next phase, we plan to focus more specifically on an area around the city of Cuamba. Several themes converge in this region, including (drinking) water scarcity, erosion from drought, and floods. Based on satellite data, we’ve potentially identified areas suitable for creating upstream water buffers. By conducting field visits and continuing stakeholder dialogues with local authorities and communities, we take significant strides towards an integrated ‘climate adaptation action plan’ for prioritised catchment areas.