Collaboration with The Nature Conservancy (TNC)
- mwierda6
- Apr 4, 2024
- 2 min read
NWB Fund partners with The Nature Conservancy to unlock additional financing for nature-based solutions in international water projects of Blue Deal and WaterWorx
On March 28, the involved parties signed an agreement to explore how this collaboration can take shape and content.
The global water sector is increasingly challenged by too much, too little, or too polluted water – and climate change is exacerbating these problems. Nearly half of the world’s drinking water sources are degraded, threatening the quality and quantity of water for communities, cities, farmers, and businesses.
Nature forms the foundation of water security. Nature-based solutions are therefore a promising way to address the dual crises of water and climate. Think of reforestation to prevent erosion, a sand motor or mangrove forests as natural coastal defense, or sand dams to retain water in rivers. Programs that invest in natural watershed management lead to climate-resilient infrastructure, but they are also complex and require significant expertise. That’s why we’re joining forces.
The Nature Conservancy (TNC) is a U.S.-based organization that supports climate adaptation and nature restoration through private philanthropic funding. The Blue Deal and WaterWorx programs consist of international water operator partnerships (WOPs), involving respectively the Dutch water authorities and drinking water utilities. The NWB Fund supports climate adaptation in both programs, with a focus on nature-based solutions and inclusivity. The fund often finances the initial step to move a promising idea toward implementation – for example, through a pilot, a business case, or a preliminary study. However, additional financing is needed to take the next steps. Experts from all participating organizations will now join forces to strengthen global water security.
The overarching ambition of the collaboration is to make nature-based solutions the standard approach for water authorities and utilities. The Nature Conservancy will provide its expertise to help develop, finance, and implement nature-based solutions in the Blue Deal and WaterWorx programs. Ideally, this collaboration will result in a climate-resilient watershed investment program for water security.
