Sustainable Water Fund - FDW

The Sustainable Water Fund programme (FDW) is a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) facility that aims to contribute to developing countries' water safety and water security in developing countries. In 2012, 2014, and 2016-2017, the FDW programme was opened for subsidy applications. A total of 42 projects received a subsidy. Projects that started in 2012 and 2014 have been completed or ended in 2021-2022. Most of the 2016-2017 projects will continue until 2025-2029.

Consult our advisors

Would you like to learn more about FDW or one of its projects? Although the facility is closed, we are happy to share relevant information and advice. Please email us, and one of our advisors will contact you.

Sustainable Development

FDW contributes to the following Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):

• SDG 6: clean water and sanitation;
• SDG 8: decent work and economic growth.

To achieve these goals, we need to cooperate. FDW works with public-private partnerships between governments, businesses, NGOs and knowledge institutes. All partners contribute to inclusive, sustainable and scalable projects. Since 2012, FDW has granted a subsidy budget of 150 million euros. We have used this budget to support 42 public-private collaboration projects in 24 countries. These projects deal with drinking water and sanitation (WASH), agriculture water efficiency, and integrated water resource management (IWRM). Through PPPs, FDW projects contribute to sustainable economic growth, self-reliance and poverty reduction.

We call upon those working towards SDGs, especially governments, businesses and investors, NGOs, and knowledge institutes, to further explore joint public-private collaboration in the water domain.

Driving sustainable water management

Are you interested in finding out more about our results on water management? See our infographic Driving Sustainable Water Management below. Download the infographic for more information.

FDW in practice

FDW carries out 42 projects in 24 countries. Let our water security and water safety projects in developing countries inspire you. Watch the following videos, or read user stories about our projects via

• our showcases and
• the Development Cooperation Project database.

For inspiration, watch our videos on YouTube:

• A coastal protection project in Java, Indonesia;
• An integrated water resource management project in Ethiopia;
• A drinking water project in Mali;
• A sanitation project in Kenya;
• A water supply project in the Philippines.

Project partner community

Are you an FDW project partner? And would you like to share knowledge and cooperate with others? Then join the Partners in Sustainable Development Community. This community is for entrepreneurs, NGOs, knowledge institutes and government organisations that want to expand their network, share knowledge and best practices, learn from others and create future partnerships. All with the same goal: to work together to increase their impact and reach the SDGs. Sign up for the Partners in Sustainable Development Community.

Project management

Every year, the organisation that leads the project has to report on the progress. We will reimburse the subsidy contribution in predetermined instalments. Initially, all payments are advance payments. Read more about reporting:

• Report on R1 - inception phase
• Annual progress report
• Request for a change
• Buying hardware
• Final report

FDW COVID-19 support subsidy

The deadline for applications closed on 27 August 2021. You can no longer apply for FDW COVID-19 support.

Laws, regulations and publications

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Netherlands Enterprise Agency set up the FDW programme. Read about the FDW policy framework and Dutch policy rules in the publications below:

• Official notices;
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs grant decree;
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs grant regulations 2006;
• Official notices;
• Publications.

Official notices FDW

You can download the Official Notices of the FDW calls for 2021, 2017, 2016, 2014 and 2012 below.

2021

Official notice in the Government Gazette 'Staatscourant' (in Dutch).

2017

Official notice in the Government Gazette 'Staatscourant' (in Dutch).

2016

2014

2012

References

The policy frameworks and rules refer to various other documents. These references can be found under the following links:

• A world to gain
• FMO exclusion list
• ILO convention
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs Grant Decree (see downloadable file below)
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs Grant Regulations 2006 (see downloadable file below)
• Multi-annual Strategic Plans embassies (in Dutch)
• OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises 2011 (pdf)
• Small enterprise: an enterprise in the private sector as described in Commission Recommendation 2003/361/EC of 6 May 2003 concerning the definition of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (OJ 2003 L 124/36)
• World Bank exclusion list

Communication and using logos

Cooperating partners that publish articles, videos, and projects can use the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' logo. Contact your programme advisor for more information.