Focal Point Social Inclusion launched

Since the beginning of this year, the NWB Fund has been supporting the Focal Point Social Inclusion: a group of water professionals committed to involving marginalized groups in international water projects. Lead coordinator Tanah Meijers explains:"Climate- and water-related challenges often have the greatest impact on vulnerable people and the communities they live in. As water experts, we tend to see these people as the ones who benefit from 'our solutions', but we often fail to involve them as partners in developing those solutions. That’s a missed opportunity."

Solutions Go Beyond Technology

Within the water authorities, challenges in the field of integrated water management have traditionally been approached through a technical and practical lens—looking for a solution, preferably as concrete as possible. However, in international projects, the context is far more complex. Addressing these challenges requires extensive collaboration.

More Than Just Engaging Stakeholders

It’s no surprise that talking to stakeholders is essential for the successful implementation of a project. But to achieve the broad support that water professionals are aiming for—and to ensure interventions truly reflect the needs of those most affected by climate and water issues—we need to look beyond the usual stakeholders.Meijers passionately states: "You have to think about who you might be forgetting to include, who are the voices that aren’t being heard—but who are deeply affected by the work you choose to do, or not do. How do you ensure those people have a say in the decision-making? That’s what it means to work in a socially inclusive way."

Social Inclusion

Although the term social inclusion is now widely used in the water sector, it does not have a single, clear definition. For some, it means promoting gender equality within the organization; for others, it refers to involving marginalized groups in decision-making processes—and everything in between. The definition used by the Focal Point is as follows:"Each individual has the ability, resources and opportunity to participate and influence."

A key word here is influence: it’s not just about being present, but about having a real voice in decision-making. For specialists, this can sometimes be a challenge. It may feel risky to share decision-making power with people other than the ‘experts’—those who are assumed to know it all. But of course, no one knows everything. Everyone holds a piece of the puzzle that leads to solutions for the (water-related) challenges we face. It’s about actively listening to diverse voices, fostering dialogue, and translating the outcomes into practical action.

Growing International Recognition

This way of thinking is not new. The importance of social inclusion and engaging all stakeholders is increasingly recognized in the (international) water sector. This is reflected, for example, in the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals—such as SDG 5.5 (promoting women’s participation in decision-making), 6.1 and 6.2 (ensuring equal access to safe and affordable drinking water and adequate sanitation), 6b (supporting and strengthening the participation of local communities in improving water and sanitation management), and 10.2 (empowering and promoting the social, economic and political inclusion of all).

Bringing all voices to the table is not only desirable from a social justice perspective—it is also essential to the success of international water projects. But that’s far easier said than done.t.

NWB Fund Gives a Boost

To give this important challenge a boost, the NWB Fund is financing the Focal Point Social Inclusion. A motivated group of water professionals has come together to form this initiative. The goal of the Focal Point is to spark and support actions that promote social inclusion within the Blue Deal—the international programme of the Dutch water authorities and the Ministries of Infrastructure & Water Management (I&M) and Foreign Affairs (BuZa).

The members of the Focal Point help design and implement initiatives in all 15 Blue Deal partner countries, and aim to significantly scale up awareness and knowledge on this theme across the water sector. Sharing knowledge is essential, also from outside the water authorities, to ensure the topic is approached with a broad and expert perspective. Naturally, this is a theme that stimulates collaboration—and one where Dutch water authorities also have much to learn from our international partners.

That’s why the Focal Point organizes webinars and workshops several times a year.

Want to know more?

The lead of the Focal Point Social Inclusion is Tanah Meijers. She would love to hear from you if you have ideas or questions: tanah.meijers@waternet.nl