Colombia Archives - Dutch Water Authorities

Cross-regional collaboration in Latin American Blue Deal partnerships

May 29, 2026

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*

InspirAgua starts 2026 with joint steps towards 2030

March 30, 2026

In 2026, the Blue Deal Colombia partnership - also known as InspirAgua - are deepening collaboration on water governance through river planning, wastewater management, knowledge exchange, and multi-year strategic initiatives, marking a year of intensive cooperation and learning.

*As part of the current working visit, Colombian umbrella organization ASOCARS, environmental authority Cormagdalena, and InspirAgua are meeting up to strengthen their collaboration*

2026 is shaping up to be a dynamic year of collaboration between Colombia and the Netherlands. Not only in water governance, but also in celebrating 200 years of diplomatic relations.

Since March 16, a working visit is taking place. Dutch water experts are working in five Colombian regions on river planning, wastewater treatment, monitoring, crisis management, and strengthening knowledge networks.

Within the topic of wastewater treatment: Dutch expert Andras Koops during the kick-off for a new wastewater knowledge network led by ASOCARS and hosted by Aguas de Manizales. During the presentation, Andras shared practical experiences, with a focus on risks to the environment and opportunities to use licensing, monitoring and enforcement more effectively as a policy instrument.

Additional exchange visits will follow in July and October, and in September a Colombian delegation travels to the Netherlands to explore integrated river‑basin planning.

A major focus this year is developing the InspirAgua multi‑year plan for the period 2027–2030, which is also the final phase of the Blue Deal programme.

During the current mission, partners are sharing their ambitions for the next phase, helping align long‑term goals and deepen cooperation across organisations and government levels.

As part of the ambition to strengthen these regional collaborations, a small group of Dutch and Colombian representatives will travel to Argentina in May 2026, where they will be working with Blue Deal Argentina on a multi-year plan that also explores cross-border opportunities. During the same trip, a 3-day knowledge exchange on data sharing and information utilisation will take place, in which Blue Deal Peru will also participate.

In short: 2026 looks to be a year full of activity, learning, and strengthened collaboration within and across the Blue Deal programmes.

Meeting Inspiragua with ASOCARS — *The Dutch and Colombian partners in meeting*

Third national water summit in Neiva: a milestone for InspirAgua

December 16, 2025

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.

Mariana’s journey as a young expert (YEP) in Colombia

July 3, 2025

As part of the Blue Deal’s commitment to sustainable water management and capacity building, the Young Expert Programmes (YEP) empower young professionals to gain hands-on experience in an international and intercultural environment. Over a two-year period, YEPpers receive a dynamic mix of training, coaching, and mentoring to develop both personal and professional skills. Within the Blue Deal partnerships, local YEPpers take on meaningful roles that contribute directly to water-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

One of these inspiring professionals is Mariana García, a Young Expert working at Aguas de Manizales S.A. E.S.P., the water utility company in Manizales, Colombia. As part of the Blue Deal initiative InspirAgua, Mariana has spent the past nine months contributing to both technical and strategic processes within the organization.

Driving Technical Innovation

Mariana’s work has focused on strengthening asset management and wastewater discharge systems. One of her key achievements is the development of a prioritisation matrix for network optimization projects. This tool supports investment decisions for infrastructure upgrades, especially in vulnerable areas, by assessing community risk and water supply needs.

She also designed a review plan for aging pipelines, targeting those in poor or unknown condition to prevent failures and improve service reliability. Currently, she is collaborating on a strategic replacement plan for asbestos-cement pipelines, aiming to reduce health risks and enhance infrastructure sustainability.

Strengthening Partnerships

Through the knowledge and skills acquired during the YEP programme, Mariana helped establish a new coordination mechanism with Corpocaldas, the local environmental authority, to improve the monitoring of non-domestic wastewater discharges. This collaboration was strengthened by the YEP network, as it included support from YEP alumna Melissa Moreno, highlighting the benefits of this learning network.

Mariana also participated in a technical exchange with Acuavalle S.A. E.S.P., a utility in Valle del Cauca, sharing best practices from Aguas de Manizales to support the early development of their asset management system.

Pictured: Working session with Infrastructure team in Aguas de Manizales, including Mariana’s mentor Robbert Bruin from Dutch Water Authorities.

A Transformative Experience

Beyond her technical contributions, Mariana describes the YEP programme as a transformative journey:

“From the start, I’ve had access to training that gave me the tools to build a solid foundation for my career. I’ve strengthened soft skills like intercultural communication and teamwork, and gained self-awareness through tools like the MBTI. The support from my mentor and coach has been essential in navigating both technical and personal challenges.”

She also highlights the value of participating in online courses, particularly in Change Management, and looks forward to attending the National Public Services Congress (ANDESCO) to expand her network and visibility in the sector.

Building the Future of Water

Mariana’s story is just one example of the impact of the YEP programme. Since the beginning of the YEP programme, 68 YEPpers have graduated within Blue Deal partnerships. By investing in young professionals like Mariana, the Blue Deal is not only strengthening local institutions but also cultivating a new generation of leaders committed to sustainable water solutions.