5 trends in international water management
Tika Meijer is a programme advisor for global water issues at the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Based on her expertise, she shares 5 international water management trends for 2024.
An example of a water security and safety project in Sindh, Pakistan.
Water security
The interest in decentralised and modular water solutions is growing, making communities more resilient. Also, the focus on reducing water use, reusing wastewater as a resource, and recycling water is increasing. Water security is under increasing pressure worldwide due to population growth, urbanisation and climate change. Yet, new developments are promising. Digital technologies, such as satellite data, smart meters, artificial intelligence, Internet of Things (IoT) sensors and digital twins, are becoming more important. They facilitate improved decision-making, for example, on the sustainable use of groundwater.
Water safety
Models are getting better at predicting risks and helping reduce the impact of flooding. They are also becoming more important in the water sector. Water storage is also a prominent issue, as is a transition to more nature-based solutions. Sustained, long-term cooperation in partner countries is essential in this context.
An example of a nature-based solution project with locally-led adaptation and a public-private partnership in Indonesia.
Locally-Led Adaptation
A Locally-Led Adaptation (LLA) approach is being used in more and more projects. LLA is extremely important in achieving a more significant and enduring impact. People and communities on the frontline of climate change are often the most active and innovative in developing adaptation solutions. Yet, they also have the greatest need for the means and resources to create these solutions. LLA facilitates this.
Public-private partnerships
Working together is becoming essential to bring about change. In most cases, adequate solutions are not created or implemented by one party alone. Therefore, parties must develop effective collaboration. Public-private partnerships (PPP) offer an effective form of collaboration. In an ideal PPP:
- the private sector provides cost-effective solutions;
- the public sector ensures operational effectiveness through consistency and regulatory certainty;
- NGOs focus on engaging communities and bottom-up accountability; and
- knowledge institutes contribute knowledge and insights.
Valuing Water Principles
Speaking the same 'water language' is becoming necessary to reach effective agreements. Directly or indirectly, most projects deal with water. Yet, parties gauge the value of water differently. So, parties and sectors need to speak the same 'water language'. The Valuing Water Principles provide a basis for dialogue, serving as a guideline for systematic change in how we value water.
The 5 Valuing Water Principles
- Recognise and embrace water's multiple values to different groups and interests in all decisions affecting water.
- Reconcile values and build trust. Conduct all processes to reconcile values in ways that are equitable, transparent and inclusive.
- Protect the sources, including watersheds, rivers, aquifers, associated ecosystems, and used water flows for current and future generations.
- Educate to empower. Promote education and awareness among all stakeholders about the intrinsic value of water and its essential role in all aspects of life.
- Invest and innovate. Ensure adequate investment in institutes, infrastructure, information and innovation to realise the many benefits derived from water and reduce risks.
Water management
These 5 trends will play an essential role in water management this year. Besides these trends, the view of development cooperation is shifting, as is the approach to fostering it. Water management, for example, was long seen as a technical matter and related to infrastructure. Now, we are moving towards a more integrated and systematic approach. Local context and knowledge form the basis. More and more stakeholders worldwide are seeing the benefits of an integrated approach. Also, there is a growing need for cross-sector collaboration; this makes partnerships so important.
More information
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For more information on the Valuing Water Principles, see the Valuing Water Initiative page.
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs
