The Blue Deal programme in Colombia is called InspirAgua. The programme aims to improve water quality for 15 million Colombians in the Rio Magdalena basin by 2030. InspirAgua is actively working in 5 clusters, with 5 different topics.
Among others, we are involved in developing governance plans for river basins, assisting with setting up a professional strategic crisis organisation, gaining knowledge and insight based on data, purifying wastewater, and prevention and enforcement of pollution. Furthermore, we try to interconnect the different topics in order to learn from each other. The programme is about mutual cooperation and knowledge exchange, for clean, safe and sufficient water in both Colombia and the Netherlands.
5 clusters
InspirAgua operates in 5 clusters spread across Colombia: the Macrocuenca Magdalena-Cauca, Santander, Valle del Cauca, Caldas and Huila. Every area has its own challenges, where Dutch and Colombian water experts share their knowledge and inspire each other to find sustainable solutions. InspirAgua also stimulates knowledge transfer between clusters, from regional to (inter)national level and vice versa.
Tailor-made approach
Colombia is a varied country, with big differences between regions. This also creates a specific need per area. InspirAgua responds to this as best as possible by working with a tailor-made approach. We work demand-driven and then look for the best possible solution. Learning smartly from each other is paramount. Knowledge that we gain in one cluster can also be applied in an adapted form in another cluster. So that we all ultimately become better water professionals.
Collaboration in various ways
Collaboration within InspirAgua takes place in various ways. Primarily, we organise work visits to both Colombia and the Netherlands. In addition, we maintain digital contact in between work visits to guarantee the progress of joint projects. The combination of live visits and digital contact works well and offers the project the desired progress.
Alvaro Hernán Roldán Álvarez, Director of Planification, Corporación Valle del Cauca (CVC): “The collaboration is not a consultancy, but an exercise based on a free methodology. At no time do the Dutch impose models – instead it is a dynamic process that enables us to know ourselves better and to find solutions to various issues through reflection.”