NWB Fund supports Blue Deal congress

In June, the first Blue Deal conference on international water management was held. Delegations from all 15 Blue Deal countries came to Amsterdam for a professional exchange. It was a great success. The conference demonstrated that collaboration between water managers from the Netherlands and other countries is valuable, necessary, and also very enjoyable. The NWB Fund is proud to have contributed to this on behalf of the Dutch Water Boards. Three "lessons learned" stand out.

Water management is about money, because without money, little can be achieved. That is why the NWB Fund co-finances projects and activities within (and outside) Blue Deal partnerships focused on climate adaptation, with attention to nature-based solutions and inclusivity. Many of the showcases presented during the conference were co-financed by the NWB Fund. These often involve explorations that initiate the implementation of large projects. In this way, the fund serves as a bridge between ideas and investments. Proposals for new initiatives and projects from the Blue Deal are welcome.

Water management also requires a different currency: not euros or dollars, but trust. Strong relationships are essential for bringing about the changes needed for effective climate adaptation in integrated water management. This became clear during a session on intercultural communication. After all, how do you truly understand each other across language and cultural boundaries? This is an additional challenge in international collaboration. During the conference, everyone enthusiastically engaged with this topic, and a lot of networking took place. Blue Deal countries established contacts, and further knowledge and experience exchange will take place in the follow-up. However, sharing meals and celebrating together is the ultimate form of team building... That’s why the NWB Fund was happy to sponsor the closing party of the Blue Deal conference.

Finally, this Blue Deal conference marked a historic moment. As water managers, we have traditionally focused primarily on our own areas of work, each within our own country and region, because there is always plenty to do. However, after 800 years, Dutch water authorities are increasingly looking beyond borders and seeking international cooperation. Climate and water do not recognize borders, and only together can we solve complex issues. Moreover, there is a wealth of expertise in other countries, many of which have been grappling with the climate challenges that are coming to the Netherlands. Participants in the Blue Deal are pioneers of this movement. They are clearly committed to making this new development a success: the enthusiasm was palpable! They are already looking forward to the next Blue Deal conference in two years and all the wonderful work to be done along the way.

The following video gives an impression of the Blue Deal conference: https://youtu.be/cO9mKebkHd8

For more information about co-financing initiatives and projects by the NWB Fund, you can contact the program manager, Marion Wierda (mwierda@uvw.nl); also see the information elsewhere on this website.