Management cooperation
In South Africa, nine Catchment Management Agencies (CMAs) – the equivalent of water authorities in the Netherlands – are being set up under the new National Water Act. This process is being supported by Dutch knowledge and experience.
Since 2004, Dutch Water Authorities have been exchanging knowledge with the South African Department of Water Affairs and the first two CMAs in a number of areas.
These include decentralisation and the political, strategic and operational aspects of water management, permits and enforcement, cross-border water management and how to involve external stakeholders in decision-making.
Based on positive experiences with this collaboration, the South African Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs has asked Dutch Water Authorities to extend the exchange project to all nine CMAs from 2014. In 2014, this extended cooperation was formalised in a strategic agreement.
The Kingfisher programme is partly financed by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through VNG International’s Local Government Capacity Programme (LGCP), and the NWB fund.