The race for the NWB Award 2026 has begun. This week, an expert jury reviewed all eleven entries and selected a shortlist of three videos in which this year’s theme, ‘reciprocity’ in international cooperation, comes across most strongly. Until Tuesday 6th October, all water authority employees and international partners around the world can vote for their favourite. Three nominees The shortlist, in no particular order: Seeds of reciprocity: Romania and the Netherlands growing

Lead: Aa en Maas & Programbureau Blue Deal In Mombasa, ideas were exchanged with seven African Blue Deal countries and Dutch Blue Deal partners on sustainable financing of integrated water management. Topics such as water pricing, Nature based Solutions and financial opportunities were discussed. An interesting excursion gave insight into the challenges of a local WRUA (Water Resources Users Association) and a mangrove restoration project. Link: Report Regional African Blue D

November 2025 Lead Partner: Waterschap Aa en Maas (Blue Deal Ghana) During 2 days, under the guidance of the Water Resources Commission, various representatives of governments, NGOs and other stakeholders discussed how Ghana can transition to nature-based solutions and ecosystem approaches. The conclusion of the Dialogue was that the time to start with the NbS project is now. All stakeholders must incorporate this action into their work to make it a reality. NbS solutions off

Lead partner: Waterschap Aa en Maas (Blue Deal Ghana) This feasibility study aims to determine the feasibility of developing an NbS voluntary carbon project in the Upper East Region and Northern East Region of Ghana, with a focus on watershed restoration through tree planting. It was carried out in 2021/2022 with financial support from the NWB Fund. The study found that a viable business case was feasible, making it possible to approach investors. Recently (2025), an investor

Lead Partner(s): Waterschap Zuiderzeeland (Blue Deal Awash) DWA and partners support the implementation of NBS in the Awash basin, Ethiopia. There is a need to assess the impact of these measures. So far, the DWA and partners lack the knowledge to carry out a quantitative impact assessment. Quantitative knowledge about the impact of NBS measures enables DWA to raise funds, by adding an extra dimension to dialogues between Ethiopian partners on selection and prioritisation of

Lead Partner(s): Waterschap Amstel, Gooi en Vecht (Waterworx Tanzania project). This study was commissioned by Focal Point Nature-Based Solutions through the NWB Fund. It supports parties in the choice of crops in the implementation of NbS measures. The market study examines the market demand and market opportunities for selected fruits and spices cultivated by a group of smallholder farmers in the districts of Morogoro Urban and Mvomero in Tanzania. It is recommended that pa

Lead Partner(s): Waterschap Limburg (Blue Deal Zuid-Afrika) The Blesbokspruit wetland, a Ramsar-protected site of international importance, plays a crucial role in supporting biodiversity, regulating water runoff, and maintaining livelihoods in Ekpurhuleni, South Africa. However, the wetland is experiencing serious ecological degradation due to increasing pollution from mining, a dysfunctional sewer system, and faulty wastewater treatment plants. These challenges are exacerba

Study on the hydrological, agronomic and economic performance of Chrysopogon Zizanioides (vetiver) in reducing erosion and improving soil quality in a context of environmental degradation in Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso)." Lead Partner: Amstel, Gooi and Vecht (via World Waternet), Blue Deal Burkina Faso Knowledge about Vetiver as an effective anti-erosion agent is currently unknown to the relevant authorities in Burkina Faso. Through this project, we can ensure that this valuab

Lead partner: Waterschap Aa en Maas (Blue Deal Ghana) This study was commissioned by Focal Point Nature-Based Solutions, carried out through the NWB Fund. The study, performed by FarmTree BV, investigated the hydrological effects of tree planting specifically in semi-arid areas such as the White Volta river basin in Ghana. Using literature review, field evidence and the FarmTree Platform, tree planting scenarios and Farmer-Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR) systems were anal

Lead partner: Waterschap Aa en Maas (Blue Deal Ghana) This project, which was initiated by Blue Deal Ghana, is funded by the Trees for All Foundation (NL) and carried out by Tree Aid Ghana. The aim is to prevent erosion and improve the functioning of the water system by planting trees in the upstream areas of the VEA Dam in the northeast of Ghana. The project is being carried out with the help of 20 communities, with a total of more than 220,000 trees planted from 2021 to 202

Are you involved in an international water management project? Then this is your chance to compete for the NWB Award 2026. Capture in a compelling video what ‘reciprocity’ means for your project and contend for the NWB Fund’s prize. The winner receives 5,000 euros for the winning project, a place on the Wall of Fame at the office of the Dutch Water Authorities in The Hague, and a feature in Waterkracht magazine. International work in the spotlight The NWB Award is the NWB Fun

The NWB Fund has approved a new project to improve the watermanagement of the Mlali River in Tanzania. It is part of a long term collaboration between partner organisations MORUWASA, Wami Ruvu Basin Water Board and World Waternet within the WaterWorx programme. This collaboration focuses on strengthening water security by improving drinking water availability and adressing the underlying causes of water problems. Like soil degradation and erosion that make the area more vulne

The Netherlands/Pekalongan – Through the KIWI Climate Game Changers program, various climate-adaptive opportunities have been identified within Blue Deal partnerships, including in Pekalongan, Indonesia. To achieve greenhouse gas and cost reduction the University of Semarang UNDIP in collaboration with the local Blue Deal team has conducted a feasibility study into the use of solar energy for the pumping stations in the city. Pekalongan is threatened by a combination of lan

A lot of great things are happening in international projects of the Dutch Water Authorities, and this deserves to be seen! That’s why the NWB Fund will once again award a prize for the most inspiring video on this topic: the NWB Award 2026. What can you win? You can win a cash prize of 5,000 euros for your project, a spot on the Wall of Fame in the Unie office in The Hague, and a feature in the magazine Waterschapspiegel . What do you need to do? Create a short video abo

Amsterdam, 16 February 2026, World Waternet, Yarmouk Water Company and the Greater Irbid Municipality have launched a rainwater harvesting initiative in Irbid, Jordan, supported by the NWB Fund. The project builds on a recent Memorandum of Understanding and responds to severe water scarcity and increasing urban flooding caused by groundwater depletion and climate-driven rainfall extremes. Figure 1: Potential implementation location for a Rainwater Harvesting System (RWHS) in

In the summer of 2023 Ingo van Lohuizen and Joyce Tentij entered the Klimaat- en Innovatieprogramma Waterschappen Internationaal (in short: KIWI programm) of the NBW Fund. They became members of the Blue Deal eSwatini team. During two years they travelled to southern Africa to work on a bankable proposal for small scale farmers in the Lomati catchment of eSwatini. Essence of their project is to support these farmers with installing drip irrigation energized by solar panels.

Climate change is a reality in Ghana. The sea level is rising and coastal protection is becoming increasingly important. The NWB Fund supported a study on the use of mangrove as a natural coast protection. Partners and stakeholders This study was initiated by Blue Deal Ghana together together with the Water Resources Commission, in collaboration with local partners such as the Volta Revival Foundation and the Focal Point Nature-Based Solutions. Almost 300 inhabitants particip

In Ethiopia a massive reforestation initiative takes place. It’s the Green Legacy Initiative (GLI). This nationwide reforestation campaign is initiated at Prime Minister level and cascades down to local level. However, the process is highly top-down and local characteristics are insufficiently taken into consideration. Both the local geohydrological characteristics as well as community interests require more attention. At the same time the water system is under pressure by