Film for the NWB Award 2023!

Create a captivating video about 'smart collaboration with stakeholders' in your international water management project, and win the NWB Award 2023. The winner will receive a cash prize, a publication, and eternal fame on the Wall of Fame at the Union of Water Boards' office. Participate and submit your video by October 1st to the NWB Fonds.

Once again this year, the NWB Award will be presented: a prize from the NWB Fonds for the most compelling video about international water management work. The water boards do great work, not only in the Netherlands but also abroad, and the world deserves to know about it. The NWB Award brings attention to this.

Last year, the NWB Award was presented for the first time. The theme was "Proud of Water." The winner was a video about combating water hyacinth in Blesbokspruit, South Africa. Not only is water quality improved, but products made from the green waste also provide local residents with an income. Anyone who has seen the video will remember the images of endless fields of green water hyacinth.

The theme for the 2023 submissions is: smart collaboration with stakeholders. In all international projects, stakeholders play an important role. As polluters and users, as wasters and conservers of water. As businesses or residents, as governments or NGOs. And every time, it’s a challenge to engage stakeholders in the right way in water management, taking into account the country and culture. This is also true for the Netherlands, so we can learn from international projects for our work here.

A professional jury will select a shortlist from all submissions. They will mainly look at whether the video tells a compelling story—something you want to keep watching and easily share with enthusiasm. Of course, there must also be an interesting content message about how to successfully collaborate with stakeholders. We ask for videos of up to 5 minutes. These should be amateur videos (no professional productions), although some professional support in areas like editing is allowed. This spring, you can attend a film training through the Blue Deal program office to increase your chances.

Finally, all water board staff will be able to choose the winner from the nominated videos through an online vote. Instructions will be sent via email at the appropriate time. This way, the "wisdom of the crowd" will be used, and the videos will receive more attention within the sector.

The award ceremony, just like last year, will take place during the annual Dutch Water Authorities networking day in November (date and program to be announced later). The winner will receive a cash prize of 5000 euros for the winning project, a photo on the Wall of Fame at the Union of Water Boards office in The Hague, and a publication in the magazine Het Waterschap.

Want to participate? You can submit your video until October 1st to the program office of the NWB Fund (via program manager Marion Wierda, mwierda@uvw.nl). Feel free to reach out here for any questions.