Blue Deal partnership Kenya was an active partner in the economic mission that took place in March. The aim was to strengthen collaboration between Kenya and the Netherlands as strategic and economic water- and agriculture partners. The visit was combined with a state visit from their Majesties King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima.
Dutch King and Queen plant a tree at Thogoto forest at the source of Nairobi’s Mbagathi river, Kenya
World Waternet and the Water Resources Authority in Kenya have been working together in the Blue Deal programme since 2018 on various topics. The collaboration covers water allocation, water quality, river basin management, flood protection and innovative stakeholder engagement. The economic mission provided opportunities to accelerate investments for sustainable water solutions in these fields.
The economic mission was led by Ms. Reinette Klever, Minister for Foreign Trade and Development. The water track lead was being guided by Netherlands Water Partnership (NWP). World Waternet presented all the work they are doing in Kenya to the participants of the economic mission. Moreover, it was able to establish a relationship between WRA and the Dutch businesses as well as Kenyan and international investors.
Blue Deal partnership coordinator Simon Kamuyu Muturi participated in a tree planting ceremony in Thogoto forest at the source of Nairobi’s Mbagathi river with their Majesties King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima. Simon is part of a larger team of World Waternet based in Kenya, led by Peter de Koning.
Peter de Koning explains: “It was clear that investments in the catchments, among others through sustainable partnerships in building governance through the Blue Deal programme, are critical. Furthermore, taking an integral watershed approach through Blue Deal spin-offs such as the Njururi initiative and the Mathare River initiative, are essential along the value chain up to the highly needed WASH investments. Such was noted by one of the participating credit facilities. It recognised World Waternet as one of very few working throughout the entire water cycle. It was very valuable to showcase and discuss the Blue Deal work with the Dutch government and trade partners, exploring and strengthening partnerships in smart metering and flood management.”
Partnership Blue Deal Indonesia, Tangerang, focuses on stakeholder engagement in the development of a water retention project. Since September 2024, the partnership has Young Expert Adithyar Rachman in its team who led a significant stakeholder meeting.
Blue Deal partnership Indonesia, Tangerang
Over the past six months a stakeholder workshop took place, which aimed at engaging local communities around the planning of the Tandon Puri Tigaraksa. Tandon means ‘reservoir’ in Bahasa. It is one of the most significant activities in the YEP Programme of the Young Expert Adithyar in Indonesia, in collaboration with the Blue Deal Tangerang project. It is currently being developed in two phases. The first phase focuses on constructing the flood prevention reservoir, to help manage excess rainwater and mitigate flood risks. Once this stage is completed, the second phase involves designing the surrounding area to serve as a green open space with recreational facilities for the local community.
Recognising the importance of community participation, they actively engaged local residents to determine the best ways to utilise the space to meet their needs. This inclusive approach ensures direct benefits to the community from the project. In addition, it fosters a sense of shared responsibility. Residents are actively involved in the planning process to encourage long-term maintenance efforts, and the reservoir remains clean and well-preserved. To facilitate this engagement, a workshop was held at the reservoir site. The community was able to share their ideas through this hands-on opportunity.
Workshop process and community participation
The goal of the workshop was to gather insights from the community regarding their expectations for the reservoir area. A total of 15 participants from the local community attended. The discussions proved highly productive, and it generated important input to shape the next phase of the project.
The participants were divided into small groups. They focused on three key questions:
What is needed to bring this plan to life? – Identifying essential infrastructure, facilities, or resources required to successfully develop the area.
How can it be maintained? – Exploring strategies to ensure the space remains clean, functional and sustainable over time.
How can the community take responsibility for maintenance? – Encouraging residents to take an active role in maintaining the space through community initiatives, local regulations, or organized efforts.
These discussions provided a platform for community members to have their thoughts and concerns heard. Also, it fostered a sense of ownership over the project’s future.
Stakeholder discussion in Indonesia
The role and contributions of Yepper Adithyar Rachman
Adithyar is part of the Young Expert Programme and started in September, 2024. He played a key role in facilitating communication between various stakeholders, including representatives from the Blue Deal Team Tangerang, local village leaders, and community members. Furthermore, government officials from the Planning Agency, the Public Works and Water Resources Agency, and the Head of Tigaraksa District were present. The role of Yepper Adithyar was to assure that the community’s feedback was effectively integrated into the planning.
Adithyar shares: “My participation in the Young Expert Programme was instrumental in this process. The skills and experience I gained, particularly in stakeholder engagement and effective communication, helped me navigate the complexities of balancing technical feasibility with community interests. YEP strengthened my abilities in active listening, summarizing and digging deeper (LSD) in the discussions. All of which were crucial in making the workshop a success.”
By involving the community early in the process, it was ensured that the reservoir serves as a flood mitigation measure. Furthermore, it becomes a shared space that residents actively maintain and take pride in. Therefore, this collaborative effort strengthens community ownership and lays the foundation for sustainable water management in the region. Many more Blue Deal partnerships pay attention to taking the local approach as a basic foundation for any development, by including communities and water users in every step of a planning process. They are supported in this by a dedicated Focal Point for Social Inclusion.
Adithyar concludes: “Besides the valuable teamwork within our Blue Deal partnership, in this occasion I wish to express special thanks to the Blue Deal Tangerang team members ibu Mia and ibu Thiresia together with Michelle Cornelissen from the Dutch Water Authorities. They undoubtedly contributed in making this stakeholder meeting a success.”
Mangrove can play a crucial role in the storage of carbon and Ghana focuses on this particular solution through Blue Deal partnership. The Songor mangrove project in the lower Volta basin in Ghana, continues to make steps in addressing climate change and improving local livelihoods. A successful workshop was held in October 2024, and the project has seen further developments since.
Stakeholder meeting to encourage citizen science
A successful stakeholder meeting was held in Ghana, to encourage support for integrating citizen science into the ongoing mangrove restoration efforts. The meeting brought together key local stakeholders, including representatives from the district assembly, the Ghana Wildlife Division, the Volta Resilient Foundation, and teachers from two schools in the neighbourhood. The discussions focused on both the opportunities and challenges of implementing citizen science in the restoration project. The active participation and insightful contributions of attendees illustrates how the community is committed to manage and care for the environment.
Engaging future generations in Ghana
Engaging future generations: school visits on mangrove conservation
The following day, the team of Blue Deal Ghana visited two schools to introduce students to the benefits and importance of mangrove ecosystems. These students play a crucial role in the citizen science initiative. This visit is the beginning of a series of educational engagements to deepen their involvement. During the sessions, students learned about the various benefits of mangroves, including:
Coastal protection – Acting as a natural barrier against storms and erosion.
Air & water quality – Enhancing environmental health by filtering pollutants.
Biodiversity – Providing habitat for diverse marine and bird species.
Carbon storage – Helping combat climate change by withdrawing carbon from the air.
Livelihoods – Supporting local fisheries and economic activities.
The enthusiasm and curiosity of the students highlighted the importance of continued education and engagement in mangrove conservation. More visits and interactive sessions will follow, to ensure sustained learning and participation in the citizen science programme.
The Songor mangrove project is an inspiring example of sustainable development in the region, with the focus on environmental and economic benefits through carbon credits and community involvement.
Students are introduced to the benefits of mangrove ecosystems
Senior staff of the partner organisation in Mali - the National Agency for the Management of Wastewater Treatment Plants of Mali (ANGESEM)- came together in February 2025 for a leadership workshop through the Blue Deal partnership.
Partnership Blue Deal Mali
During three days, the ANGESEM staff defined step-by-step the core values of ANGESEM. Paula Dobbelaar (DWA Rivierenland) and Caroline Figueres supported this workshop as part of the Mali partnership. The workshop also resulted in drafting a managerial charter aiming at strengthening governance and enhancing ANGESEM’s organisational culture.
Boost for laboratory activities Blue Deal Mali
The year 2025 has started off successfully for the Blue Deal Mali partnership. In January, a working visit to ANGESEM took place by a team from water authority Hunze and Aa’s, led by Geert-Jan ten Brink, the president of the water authority.
The main objective was to improve the operations of the water laboratory. Since the Mali partnership focuses on improving wastewater treatment for the city of Bamako, the ANGESEM laboratory plays a crucial role in better monitoring and enforcement of water quality.
Robert Boonstra, head of the Hunze and Aa’s laboratory, and chemical physical analyst Manon Schaap, worked together with the highly enthusiastic colleagues from ANGESEM during the visit to improve water analyses, protocols, database usage, and on better reporting of laboratory results.
People working together in laboratory
The visit strengthened relationships with the embassy, the Ministry of Environment, Sanitation and Sustainable Development, and ANGESEM’s management. All parties are pleased that the Blue Deal restarted in 2024. This happened despite Mali’s challenging geopolitical situation, which makes cooperation difficult. Collaboration with SNV, which has a large local office, has shown that the partnership is safely and effectively structured. Therefore, the partnership is very meaningful and relevant.
Since 2018, the Blue Deal programme is working on drought management in the partnership in Romania. This was noticed by water managers in Portugal. In February, a team of experts of Blue Deal partnership Romania were invited to travel to Mértola, Portugal to provide insights and recommendations on how to address challenges posed by drought and water scarcity in this region. They did not only bring in knowledge and expertise from the Dutch perspective, but also from the Romanian perspective.
River in Mértola, Portugal
The Blue Deal partnership in Romania focuses on several key activities to combat droughts, including restoration of irrigation systems, stakeholder collaboration for joint water management solutions, monitoring and promoting sustainable groundwater usage and developing strategies to manage water resources amid climate change.
These topics were also highlighted during the expert session in Portugal.
Advising regional stakeholders
During the visit to Mértola (Mértola has the size of the Province of Utrecht), various regional stakeholders were advised by the experts on different approaches to manage the Guadiana River. Representatives from the municipality of Mértola were also present. The river forms the border between Spain and Portugal and faces severe drought conditions. As a result, there is less water available for agriculture and nature. The team was invited by the Dutch embassy and consisted of Johan Remijn and Joost van der Zwet from water authority Rijnland, Silvia Mosterd from water authority Noorderzijlsvest. Experts from Nyenrode University (Tineke Lambooy and Antoinette Hildering) and the University of Murcia, Spain (Eduardo Salazar Ortuno) were also present.
Collaborative efforts
The team was joined by Eduardo Salazar Ortuno. He is involved in advocating for the ecosystem’s voice as a legal entity. Also present was the deputy mayor of Mértola, Rosinda Pimenta, who emphasized the importance of thinking about the future together.
Furthermore, the team collaborated with Gotlieb Basch from the University of Evora. Gotlieb is passionately involved in the impact of soil on water quality. He is, therefore, strongly against ploughing and advocates for covering the soil with organic material to prevent it from drying out. This reduces the need for pesticides and fertilizers.
For them, it would be beneficial if Brussels adjusted subsidy rules to encourage farmers to work this way. Therefore, to have more influence in Brussels, the advice to Mértola is to form a coalition with other European municipalities that face similar problems.
Partnership Blue Deal Romania working in Mértola, Portugal
Expert conclusions
Manuela Moreira da Silva from the University of Algarve, highlighted innovative solutions for local water retention: it can reduce water consumption by 50%. Farmers in the region prefer small, irrigated areas to have their grass grow, favouring multiple dams over a single large dam. However, the experts concluded that new dams should not be constructed. Namely, the assumption is that more irrigated land could lead to large agricultural companies threatening the quality of the Parque Natural do Vale do Guadiana.
Stone bridge in Mértola, Portugal
Student perspectives
Three students, Emilio Munos Guerrero, Alba Gimeno, and Willemijn Lodders, emphasized the importance of making Mértola attractive to children and young people. They also argued that future space users should not be easily offered a cheap alternative. They highlighted the importance of health in relation to sustainable production. Rosinda Pimenta concluded by pointing out that it makes little sense to start running if the people around you are not yet doing so. “Involve them, take them along, and inspire them.”
Key takeaways
The following five points are worth considering:
Holistic approach: To tackle drought, it is important to zoom out rather than zoom in. By looking at other aspects such as ecology, land use, water recycling, and local water retention, more can possibly be achieved.
Soil management: Drought is not just a challenge that can be solved by bringing in more water. Soil management and use are closely linked to it.
Stakeholder engagement: Involve current and future users in planning more than ever before. Pay attention to the distribution of young and old, different educational levels, and cultures.
Interdependence: Drought and spatial planning are interdependent.
Beyond technical measures: To interest all users, more is needed than presenting technical measures.
Added value
Drought becomes increasingly problematic in Europe and is an important topic on the knowledge agenda of Dutch Water Authorities. The outcomes of the visit to Mértola emphasize once again how special it is, that Dutch Water Authorities conduct extensive research on drought and create plans that even look ahead to 2100.
Guadiana River
Dutch ambassador visits Blue Deal Romania
In the meantime, capacity building and knowledge exchange on drought management continued in the Romanian Blue Deal partnership.
The Romanian Dăbuleni pilot area – which suffers from great droughts – was visited by the Dutch ambassador Willemijn van Haaften. She met the Jiu Water Basin Administration (Jiu WBA) in Craiova, Romania, along with a team from the Embassy. Representatives from the National Administration “Romanian Waters” (ANAR) and Jiu WBA presented projects developed under the Blue Deal initiative.
The delegation explored key sites in the Dăbuleni pilot area that deals with severe drought challenges. Highlights included:
The Dăbuleni Research Institute – Director Aurelia Diaconu presented research on drought-resistant plant species.
The Museum of Plants Adapted to Sandy Soils – showcasing plant species adapted to the arid conditions of the Oltenia region.
Izvor Ascunsa – Hidden Spring rehabilitation – a Blue Deal mini-pilot project demonstrating sustainable water management solutions.
Field visits to strategic sites such as Jieț at Ostroveni, Jiu at Zăval, the Jiu-Jiet reconnection project, and the Danube at Bechet, highlighting practical approaches for drought mitigation and ecosystem restoration.
The visit reinforced the strong partnership between Romanian and Dutch water authorities and the support of the Dutch Embassy. It showcased successful interventions in combating drought and the improvement of regional water management.
In 2025, Blue Deal Eswatini works towards achieving sustainable water through decentralized integrated water management. Over the years, the importance of water management has become increasingly evident. While policy makers often lead these initiatives, also technicians play a vital role in sharing knowledge. This principle was highlighted through a recent collaboration between Dutch and Eswatinian technicians, demonstrating the value of practical, on-the-ground experience in addressing water management challenges.
Field workers at pumping station Eswatini
Earlier, technicians working in the field in Eswatini had made a request to Marga Oosterveld, partnership manager of Blue Deal Eswatini, for sharing and learning on the job with their Dutch colleagues. This possibility arose last summer, when Marga came in touch with two field workers from water authority Vechtstromen. At that moment, one of the trainers was unable to join Marga on her next work visit to Eswatini. Therefore, with the request of her Eswatinian counterparts in mind, Dries Zekhuis (technical maintenance specialist) and Wiljo Dracht (work preparation coordinator) were able to join.
Fieldwork and insights
While Marga conducted training sessions with the staff in the office, the field workers concentrated themselves on the practical aspects of water management. Their visit underscored the significance of practical knowledge in managing water resources effectively. They observed the intricate system of reservoirs and canals that sustain Eswatini’s economy, which is largely based on sugar cane. This crop needs a lot of water to grow, while the water availability varies in Eswatini. Fluctuating water levels in the reservoirs show the importance of effective water management, especially during periods of drought and heavy rainfall.
The water is stored in large reservoirs that have been created to retain and distribute the water. When the field workers arrived, the water in the reservoir had already dropped 15 meters. Winter had only just begun. In December, there was drought and water scarcity, whereas in January the precipitation levels were high. It had resulted in completely filled reservoirs within only two weeks, with spillage over the edge. The amount of precipitation that had fallen, stresses the importance of the management and control of this water.
After these reservoirs, the water runs inland through small canals and large pipes. A great system that goes up and down mountains, without the need for too many pumps.
Collaboration with JBRA
The field workers collaborated with the Joint River Basin Authorities (JRBA) in Eswatini, gaining insights into land use mapping and water allocation. They traveled to farmers in remote areas to understand their water requirements and the impact on water distribution. Such collaborations are essential for developing governance structures that define the tasks and responsibilities of key stakeholders in the water sector.
Technical observations
During their visit, the technicians inspected various measuring points, including locations equipped with Dutch technology. These observations emphasized the importance to continuously monitor and exchange knowledge between the countries. The presence of Dutch equipment in Eswatini was a practical example of the ongoing partnership. It illustrates the shared commitment to improving water management.
Learning and sharing
The experience in Eswatini was invaluable for the field workers from Vechtstromen. They shared their knowledge, and they were able to assist their Eswatini counterparts particularly in the usage of an online application of similar technical solutions in water management. This exchange of ideas and practices contributes to the institutional and organisational development of JRBA at various levels. It leads towards a more established and effective organisation within Eswatini’s water sector.
The exchange highlights the importance of collaboration, learning, and sharing in achieving sustainable water management. Technicians, alongside policy makers, play a role in this process. Their practical insights and experiences are essential for developing effective water management strategies. By ensuring knowledge exchange at all levels, we can ensure a more comprehensive and resilient approach to managing water resources. The workers state: “You want to share your own knowledge and experience. It is very interesting to experience how the work of managing water is being done in a different country and how colleagues operate. This is sometimes very different, but also sometimes very similar.”
The past year, Blue Deal Indonesia has worked on various pilots and projects in several areas. Now, in 2025, the Blue Deal partnership in Indonesia looks back at 2024 and at what they accomplished in the various projects.
The past year 2024 drew particular attention to various personnel changes at the DWA-side of the partnership. Even though this takes time for coordination and building trust, the content in the various regions fortunately continued unabated.
The Blue Deal team invested in strengthening relationships, both between the regional partners and with provinces and the national government in Indonesia. Various meetings led to a great deal of enthusiasm and willingness for participation by the higher authorities in future training programmes of the Blue Deal.
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:
Pekalongan: water quality challenges in the production of Batik textile
Pekalongan is famous for its production of Batik textile. However, the Batik industry in Pekalongan is responsible for a large part of the groundwater abstraction and produces wastewater which is discharged mostly untreated to the surface water. The Blue Deal team helps the local government with advice on the treatment of the Batik wastewater.
The NWB (bank of the Dutch water authorities) recently provided a fund to realise a pilot demonstration project for small-scale treatment of Batik wastewater with a nature-based solution (NbS).
In the spring of 2025, the Blue Deal team will design and construct an optimised vertical flow wetland system for treatment of the Batik wastewater, a so-called Mikro IPAL. The community of Batik producers have the ambition to become more sustainable in the Batik production to achieve the Green Batik label.
The Blue Deal team will monitor the Mikro IPAL for one year and will train the Batik producers and local government for the operation and maintenance. When successful, there is a possibility for wider implementation.
Tangerang: flood protection
As part of flood protection in the Puri Tigaraksa area, Kabupaten Tangerang is creating a larger retention basin, a so-called tandon. In the densely populated area it will be a challenge to maintain the tandon in the future. With the help of Blue Deal we want to create awareness and a sense of shared responsibility to keep the tandon and the surrounding area safe and clean by involving the local community. For this, the idea is to create a recreational area around the tandon, to let the local community enjoy the public area. We organised a workshop to start developing this awareness and connection with the community. In preparation for this workshop, we worked together with stakeholders, such as community leaders and villagers.
The next steps will be to embed community participation in the upcoming milestones regarding the layout design and development of the tandon. The given input will be processed and, together with the Kabupaten Tangerang, we will plan more community meetings or workshops to increase engagement and awareness around waste- and water management in Puri Tigaraksa.
Semarang: water beyond boundaries
The Blue Deal Semarang team has been working on drawing attention to better cooperation between the operational departments in order to tackle major challenges regarding the drainage of water.
During our work visits, we realised it was not enough to solely focus on the various pumping stations. It was necessary to have more interaction and familiarity with colleagues from other operational departments. In various working sessions, the DPU employees discussed their challenges related to the drainage of water. Both in the session with policymakers and in the session with operational employees, we asked how you could help other departments with their challenges. This resulted in many applicable and creative solutions, which shows that water is a subject that transcends departments.
Based on the same philosophy, we noticed that the various Blue Deal Indonesia projects are also increasingly contacting each other to exchange information. The local Semarang team is increasingly receiving questions about activities and actions carried out in other affiliated projects.
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.
At the beginning of October, the city of Adama, Ethiopia, celebrated a major milestone: the inauguration of a newly constructed wetland. This initiative has improved the living conditions of 700 residents, offering enhanced safety, hygiene, and a cleaner environment.
The wetland – a natural alternative for wastewater treatment – contributes to public health and strengthens the local ecology in a sustainable way. This project was supported through additional funding from the NWB Fund for the Blue Deal Wastewater Ethiopia initiative.
Wastewater treatment vs. wetlands
In some countries, wastewater treatment facilities are scarce. An alternative is a wetland, which mimics natural processes to purify water. This approach, also known as constructed wetlands or helophyte filters, utilises plants, soil, and bacteria to remove pollutants from wastewater. The treated water can be pumped using a hand pump and reused for flushing toilets or watering vegetable gardens. Through the Blue Deal, World Waternet (of which the Dutch water authority Amstel, Gooi en Vecht is part of) is supporting Adama’s local water utility in monitoring the water quality, ensuring safe and responsible reuse by the community.
A blessed opening
The opening ceremony was blessed by the Abagadda, respected elders of the community, whose support symbolises strong local involvement. The State Minister of Water Supply and Sanitation, H.E. Dr Asfaw Dingamo, emphasised the importance of sanitation for effective water management: “Sanitation is a crucial component of the water cycle that must not be overlooked.” During the event, project leader Tanah Meijers was honoured with a new Oromo name, Bagatú, meaning ‘resourceful’.
A community-based solution
This project goes beyond being a nature-based solution; it is also a community-based solution. The residents of Denballaa were involved in the development of the wetland from the very beginning and will now manage it themselves. They will receive support from the Blue Deal partner, Adama Water Utility, ensuring long-term sustainability. By involving the community, the project fosters a sense of pride and responsibility among the residents.
Linking water management
Jelmer van Veen, First Secretary for Water Affairs at the Dutch Embassy in Ethiopia, underlined the importance of a holistic approach to water management: “We often focus on water supply, but sometimes forget what happens to wastewater. Untreated wastewater has significant consequences for health and the environment. Everything is interconnected.”
More wetlands in the future
World Waternet’s CEO Frodo van Oostveen thanked everyone for their perseverance and concluded the ceremony with an energetic message: “Next year, we hope to see the Dembela wetland flourishing. We aim to establish more wetlands in other cities. Today should be celebrated as Ethiopia’s Wetland Day, and I look forward to seeing you next year to share experiences from the Dembela wetland and celebrate the opening of a new one.”
Broad impact in Ethiopia
This project in Adama aligns with similar initiatives, such as those in Shashemene, where 2 wetlands were previously constructed by partners WASTE and BBBC. Blue Deal Wastewater, along with the Shashemene Water Utility, monitors water quality with wastewater specialists from (World) Waternet, the Municipality of Groningen, and Urk. Together, they ensure that wetlands become an integral part of the water utilities’ asset management.
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.
