Tag: Argentina

Cross-regional collaboration in Latin American Blue Deal partnerships

In May, partners from the Blue Deal programmes in Argentina, Colombia and Peru came together in La Plata (Argentina) for a week of exchange, reflection and collaboration at the second regional conference for the Latin American Blue Deal partnerships.

Multi-annual plans in the making

The first days were dedicated to developing the multi-annual plans of Colombia and Argentina for the final phase of the programme (2027–2030). The focus was clear: not doing more, but working more and better together – strengthening results, increasing impact and ensuring sustainable change.

MAP session
During the multi-annual plan session, the team members looked ahead at the last phase of the Blue Deal programme.

In the second half of the week, the programme expanded into a regional conference, additionally bringing in partners from Peru. Together, we explored key themes such as data-driven decision-making, participatory monitoring, water funds, collaboration with knowledge institutes, and the power of regional networks. There were also presentations of two of the chairs of Dutch water authorities involved in the Latin American Blue Deal partnerships: Erik de Ridder (Chair / watergraaf of water authority de Dommel) and Joris Bengevoord (Chair / dijkgraaf of water authority Brabantse Delta).

Erik de Ridder, Chair (watergraaf) of water authority De Dommel presents at the conference

Alongside the technical sessions and strategic discussions, the conference also highlighted the important role of the Young Expert Programme (YEP) in strengthening water sector capacity across the region.

Active involvement from the Young Experts

Six Young Experts (YEP: Young Expert Programmes) from Argentina, Colombia and Peru played an active and highly visible role throughout the conference, demonstrating how young professionals are helping to shape the future of sustainable water management in the region. The Young Experts not only connected, exchanged experiences, and reflected on challenges and progress in their respective regions, but also helped shape the event through a range of substantive and practical contributions.

Beyond this formal contribution, the Young Experts helped energise and animate the event. They took on the role of Blue Deal Sports reporters, bringing a dynamic and engaging perspective to the programme. In addition, they supported the facilitation of the serious game on Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM), guiding teams and stimulating discussion.

Their involvement extended beyond the event itself. During the reception hosted by the Dutch Ambassador in Argentina, the Young Experts showcased to the embassy the impact of their participation in the YEP programme, sharing personal stories about what they have learned and accomplished and how they are contributing to sustainable water management in their countries.

YEPs with ambassador
The Young Experts meet with the Dutch Ambassador in Buenos Aires, Argentina

The week builds on earlier regional exchanges, including the Blue Deal LATAM meeting in Peru (October 2025). These moments of learning and connection are essential for tackling complex water challenges — from basin governance to stakeholder engagement.

Together towards lasting impact

The week in La Plata demonstrated how the Latin American Blue Deal partnerships are evolving from individual country programmes into a stronger regional network. By working together on multi-annual plans, exchanging knowledge across borders and investing in the next generation of water professionals, partners are laying the foundations for lasting impact beyond the programme period. From basin governance and stakeholder engagement to innovation and capacity development, the challenges facing the water sector are complex and interconnected. Addressing them requires collaboration, trust and continuous learning. The regional conference showed that these elements are firmly in place, strengthening not only individual partnerships but also the wider Blue Deal community across Latin America.

group photo
Leadership from Blue Deal and local Blue Deal partners came together at the regional conference

Dutch-Argentinian partnership reaches milestones in water management

In November 2025, the Blue Deal team visited their Argentinian partners to discuss the development of an integrated water system analysis and their approach to one of the region's most pressing challenges: managing the dramatic swings between devastating floods and severe droughts.

A Strategic Partnership in Action

From November 3-12, Dutch Water Authorities (DWA) experts worked alongside their partners at Autoridad del Agua (ADA) of Buenos Aires province, furthering a collaboration that has strong support from the Dutch embassy. Ambassador Mauritz Verheijden, who met with the team in Buenos Aires, emphasised the value of this long-term partnership between the Netherlands and Argentina.

The DWA team visiting the Dutch embassy in Buenos Aires to meet with the ambassador Mauritz Verheijden

Breakthrough in Integrated Water Analysis

The mission achieved a major milestone: completing an integrated water system analysis in concept for nearly half of the Blue Deal catchment area. This comprehensive approach brings together several years of measurement data – collected through both technical monitoring and participatory efforts with local farmers – with advanced surface and groundwater modeling.

The analysis does more than map the current situation. It identifies specific problems, defines what a healthy water system would look like for the region, and charts practical pathways to get there. For ADA, this methodology represents a new approach to their water management.

At the offices of ADA (in La Plata), ADA proudly presents its new monitoring and measurement system for meteorological and hydrological data. On the screen is an image of the modelling of the Tandil – General Lavalle basin (size approx. 1/3 of the Netherlands).

Understanding the Extremes

The urgency of this work is clear in the dramatic conditions facing the region. Currently, 2 million hectares across Buenos Aires province lie underwater due to El Niño-driven heavy rainfall. The flat pampas landscape, including the agricultural fields of Ayacucho municipality, becomes a vast floodplain during prolonged rain events. With slow drainage toward the Atlantic Ocean and rivers unable to handle the massive volumes, water lingers for extended periods.

The team visited Ayacucho with the mayor and key municipal staff to examine critical problem areas firsthand. These flooding issues mirror a larger regional pattern affecting agriculture and livelihoods across the province.

Yet just two years ago, the challenge was the opposite. From 2021 to 2023, La Niña brought severe drought to the same areas, with impacts that continue to reverberate. Livestock farmers are still dealing with reduced cattle fertility – a problem that persists for up to three years following extreme drought conditions.

Aerial view north of Channel 2 near Ayacucho (flooding between August-October 2025)

Building Resilience Through Collaboration

Blue Deal’s integrated approach addresses both extremes, working to make the water system more resilient to climate variability. By combining Dutch expertise in water management with local knowledge and ADA’s regional authority, the partnership is developing practical solutions for a region caught between too much water and too little.

The team visits an important weir that protects the city Ayacucho from flooding

The visit was also an opportunity to connect new members in the Blue Deal partnership: as current partnership manager Simon Hofstra prepares for retirement in February 2026, Udo Perdok is stepping into the role, ensuring continuity in this vital Dutch-Argentinian collaboration.

Blue Deal partnership Argentina formalised during National Water Congress

In August 2025, the National Water Congress of Argentina (CONAGUA) took place in Mar del Plata. Blue Deal Argentina was an active participant in this large event.

Moreover, the currently ongoing partnership (2023 – 2030) was formalised in a framework cooperation agreement signed by Damián Costamagna, President of the Buenos Aires Water Authority (ADA), and Gabriel Katopodis, Minister of Infrastructure, on behalf of the province of Buenos Aires. Representing the Dutch Water Authorities, Simon Hofstra (partnership manager Blue Deal Argentina) and Nadji Bilik (head of economic affairs and deputy ambassador at the Dutch embassy) signed the agreement. A similar previous agreement dated from 2019 and needed update for the ongoing second phase of the Blue Deal (2023 – 2030).

Pictured: Simon Hofstra presents at the National Water Congress of Argentina (CONAGUA)

The signing ceremony was preceded by presentations from Damián Costamagna, who spoke about water management in Buenos Aires province, and Simon Hofstra, who highlighted the achievements of the Blue Deal Argentina partnership and outlined the goals for 2026-2030. The Blue Deal presentation also covered coastal erosion, an issue which is faced by both Argentina (including the town of Mar del Plata) and by the Dutch Water Authorities.

Pictured: Nadji Bilik, head of economic affairs (and deputy ambassador) of the Dutch Embassy, spoke at the congress

CONAGUA is a biennial event that brings together over 1,000 water professionals from across Argentina. ADA staff contributed actively, delivering three presentations and showcasing six posters on the results of the Blue Deal project. Other key speakers included the Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) in Geneva. The atmosphere was very positive, with high expectations for significant progress in water governance in the Rio Salado region in the years ahead.