KIWI's off to a good start

Boosting climate adaptation in international water projects is what KIWI climate game changers are all about. KIWI stands for Climate and Innovation Program for International Water Authorities. It is a training program by the NWB Fund for water management professionals who will contribute to international water projects. The focus is on climate adaptation through integrated water management, preferably using natural solutions and involving local communities. Hence the nickname climate game changers.

On Thursday, September 8, the second cohort of KIWI's was launched at Deltares in Delft. A second cohort? Yes, indeed. The first cohort was trained over the past years, with many challenges due to the coronavirus crisis, and travel has only recently become possible again. The NWB Fund plans to run the KIWI program several times and thus build a community of expert water professionals who can be deployed abroad. The international work of water authorities is still in its early stages compared to 800 years of experience in the Netherlands, and it too could use a boost.

At the kick-off, the new KIWI's got to know each other and the training program. It's a diverse group with various ages and backgrounds, from climate experts to environmental managers and project leaders. This diversity was intentionally chosen in the selection process, as it is needed to have an impact abroad and to foster innovation.

When asked about their motivation, the participants often mention seeking adventure and professional challenge. After all, working in a different culture cannot be done by routine—it challenges you to calibrate differently and look for creative solutions. They also mention knowledge sharing with countries in the Global South and wanting to learn abroad. This aligns with the desire of water authorities to make international cooperation more equal and reciprocal. Due to climate change, the Netherlands is facing issues that other countries have already dealt with, such as droughts, as this summer clearly demonstrated. The KIWI’s will also contribute to knowledge development for the Netherlands.

After the introduction, the group attended a lecture on climate adaptation by climate expert Jaap Kwadijk from Deltares. He explained the climate reports from the IPCC, which are used internationally; Deltares contributes significantly to this work. Kwadijk further explained how to deal with climate challenges in practice. In short, there are two routes. The theoretical route involves thorough research on the impact of climate change on a region, followed by setting standards and implementing the right measures (top down). The pragmatic route involves working interactively with stakeholders to determine how climate change affects their lives, what critical tipping points are for livability, and creating an action plan together to anticipate those (bottom up). Both routes have advantages and disadvantages. The KIWI’s will learn, among other things, when to follow which route.

Over the next two years, there will be monthly training days, webinars, and workshops. The KIWI’s will also be linked to an international water project and will go on missions abroad. Finally, they will develop a water-related issue that is relevant in multiple countries, including the Netherlands. It is expected that the KIWI's will develop project proposals, which may be funded by the NWB Fund or other investors.

The KIWI program of the NWB Fund is part of the international learning program for water authorities. This also includes training from the water authorities themselves and from the Blue Deal program office of the Union of Water Authorities. Some activities are broadly accessible, so keep an eye on the NWB Fund’s website.

Where possible, collaboration will be sought with the YEP program, a learning program for foreign Young Expert Professionals in Blue Deal projects, which will also start this fall.