Tag: YEP

Blue Deal and YEP launch special edition of the YEP Effect magazine

A special edition of the YEP Effect magazine was launched today, dedicated entirely to the collaboration between the Young Expert Programme (YEP) and the Blue Deal. Developed jointly by the communication teams of YEP and the Blue Deal - and shaped by the current group of Young Experts themselves - the magazine offers a look into the work and impact of young water professionals in Blue Deal partnership countries.

YEP and Blue Deal magazine
Jelmer Klinkenberg (YEP) and Nienke Swagemakers (Blue Deal) with the new YEP Effect Blue Deal edition

Young Experts take the lead
This issue showcases stories written by our own Young Experts currently halfway through their YEP Blue Deal experience. Part of their training includes communication – and this magazine gave them the opportunity to put those new skills into practice. Some conducted interviews, others provided photographs, and many shared their personal YEP and Blue Deal journeys. Together, they have created a rich and varied magazine filled with insights from water projects around the world.

A natural match with real impact

Young Expert Programmes (YEP) and the Blue Deal are a natural match. The involvement of young professionals through the YEP Programme has been a major success: their energy, hands‑on mentality and fresh ideas bring tremendous added value to the Blue Deal partnerships around the world. The YEP Global Network has also sparked lifelong connections — whether through learning from each other at regional Blue Deal conferences, as highlighted by Young Experts in Latin America, or through ongoing exchange with YEP alumni who continue to work in local water organisations.

Powered by the NWB Fund

The YEP Tailor-made programme for the Blue Deal is made possible thanks to the support of the NWB Fund. The fund plays a fundamental role in strengthening and supporting Blue Deal partnerships, through cross-cutting themes, including climate adaptation and social inclusion, both of which feature prominently in the stories presented in this special edition.

The Blue Deal Learning & Development programme

This collaboration fits within the broader Blue Deal Learning & Development (L&D) programme, which aims to strengthen the next generation of water professionals working internationally. YEP is an integral part of this approach, alongside other initiatives such as the KIWI programme. Together, they help build technical expertise, leadership skills and cross‑cultural collaboration across our global partnerships.

group photo YEP BD 2
The Young Experts of Blue Deal batch 2

What’s inside this special edition?

  • Mentorship in action: A story from Colombia shows how Young Experts and mentors from Dutch Water Authorities learn from and support one another within the Blue Deal context.
  • Life after YEP: Alumni describe how their Blue Deal and YEP experiences continue to shape their careers and impact.
  • Themes that matter: Articles focusing on climate adaptation and social inclusion — two cross‑cutting themes supported by the NWB Fund – with practical examples from Blue Deal partnerships around the world.
  • And much more!

Read the magazine:

Want to explore all the stories? You can read the digital edition of the YEP Effect special here.

Return training for Blue Deal Young Experts: learning, leading and taking action

Last week in Nairobi, Kenya, the second batch of Blue Deal Young Experts came together for their second-year return training - a week designed to reflect, grow, and connect.

Exploring strengths and leadership

Throughout the week, the Young Experts focused on identifying their personal values, exploring how these relate to their future goals, and how to apply them in their (personal) leadership. Sessions on facilitation skills, delegation, and responding vs. reacting helped participants sharpen their leadership toolkit.

One key insight was the magic of delegation – not just assigning tasks, but ensuring the right support is in place. Sometimes, this even means delegating upward: asking your manager for the resources or backing needed to succeed. Another powerful takeaway was the difference between reacting impulsively and responding thoughtfully – a subtle shift that can make a big difference in how leadership is perceived.

Pictured: Focused on the tray in front of them, a group of Young Experts is identifying insects in the water. Other Young Experts measure the dissolved oxygen and pH of the water. The Blue Deal Young Experts take part in a river health assessment at Twin Falls near Thika Dam, together with the local community as part of the excursion in their second year return training.

Hands-on learning at Twin Falls

Midway through the programme, the Young Experts headed out for a hands-on river health assessment at Twin Falls near Thika Dam. Together with the local community, they identified aquatic insects, measured dissolved oxygen and pH levels, and discussed how to make such assessments inclusive and impactful.

The group reflected on questions like:

  • How do we involve local communities meaningfully?
  • What criteria should guide participant selection?
  • How are results shared and used?
thika RHA

Pictured: The Young Experts perform a river health assessment with the local community

This fieldwork brought theory into practice and sparked important conversations about community engagement and environmental monitoring.

Climate action with ClimateFresk

On the final afternoon, the group participated in a ClimateFresk workshop, exploring the causes and consequences of climate change. They brainstormed actions that could be taken at different levels; from personal choices to organisational strategies to mitigate and adapt to climate impacts within the Blue Deal programme.

Pictured: The Young Experts brainstorm ideas to mitigate climate change in the ClimateFresk workshop

Connecting with the network

The training week closed with a networking dinner with Young Experts based in Nairobi and representatives from the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Kenya, including YEP alumnus Jelmer van Veen, now First Secretary for Water, Food Security and Climate at the Embassy.

Ready to influence

Whether the discussions were about personal strengths, leadership, or climate action, one Young Expert summed it up beautifully: “I have more control than I think. And I can influence in different ways.”

With these insights, the Young Experts are ready to continue growing and making meaningful contributions to their organisations and to the ambitions of the Blue Deal programme.