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Focal Point Nature-Based Solutions Continues into 2nd Phase of Blue Deal

  • mwierda6
  • Aug 21, 2024
  • 4 min read

Updated: Apr 8

The Focal Point Nature-Based Solutions Continues in 2nd Phase of Blue Deal


The Focal Point Nature-Based Solutions started in 2021 with financial support from the NWB Fund. The objective of this central point of contact has been, and continues to be, building knowledge about nature-based solutions for water issues and actively making it available to Blue Deal partnerships, in which water authorities collaborate with foreign water managers. Based on the results of recent years, the NWB Fund has decided to continue supporting the Focal Point Nature-Based Solutions in the 2nd Phase of the Blue Deal until 2026.


Nature-Based Solutions: “Actions to protect, sustainably manage and restore natural or modified ecosystems that address societal challenges effectively and adaptively, simultaneously providing human well-being and biodiversity benefits. They use the power of nature and functioning ecosystems as infrastructure to provide natural services to benefit society and the environment."


Review

An important success factor for building, expanding, and implementing knowledge is that there must be focused attention and sufficient time and funding. These conditions are met at the Focal Point Nature-Based Solutions. It has proven valuable to have a dedicated coordinator:


  • Who has an enthusiastic sounding board group of pioneers (the so-called Leading Group),

  • Who can act as a resource and stimulator within the Blue Deal partnerships,

  • Who provides direction for the setup and content of the Community of Practice (CoP) where knowledge and experiences are exchanged between water authorities and their international partners.


Over the past three years, this approach has led to the collection, building, and documentation of knowledge; support for a large number of project proposals; the dissemination of knowledge through six CoP meetings per year; the identification of potential funding sources; the development of an external network; and further increasing the visibility of the subject in various media. In short, the Focal Point model works! As a result, nature-based solutions are now higher on the agenda.


The Focal Point Nature-Based Solutions has also served as a model for the Focal Point Social Inclusion, which started in early 2024 with support from the NWB Fund. Social inclusivity is another cross-cutting theme of the Blue Deal. With this, the Fund fulfills its role as a driving force for the Blue Deal.

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Outlook


The Focal Point Nature-Based Solutions is far from finished. The measures taken so far are not yet fully embedded in some Blue Deal partnerships, and that is the goal. A gap remains between exploratory studies and small projects on the one hand, and the implementation and scaling up of these projects on the other. Financing options for scaling up have proven to be limited. For this reason, the NWB Fund has decided to support the Focal Point Nature-Based Solutions for another three years in the second phase of the Blue Deal, until 2026.


In the upcoming phase, the focus will be on embedding nature-based solutions in the Blue Deal plans, the actual implementation of the measures, and securing structural funding. This is crucial for further increasing the effectiveness of nature-based solutions and deploying them on a broader scale.


End Goal:


The ultimate goal of the Focal Point Nature-Based Solutions is to make itself redundant. This will happen when the concept has been fully adopted by the Blue Deal partnerships and their foreign partners. Only when there is structural attention and budget available for these solutions, because their added value is recognized as an alternative to traditional water management measures involving steel and concrete, will the goal be achieved.

Concrete Results of the Focal Point Nature-Based Solutions


In 2023, a Community of Practice (CoP) was established within the Blue Deal to share knowledge about nature-based solutions (NbS). This provides water management professionals and their international partners with the opportunity to meet digitally, exchange knowledge and experiences on various topics such as water purification, water safety, and water distribution. Several meetings were organized around key themes. Some of the relevant topics discussed included:


  • External Funding and NbS in the Blue Deal

  • Financing Nature-Based Solutions

  • Future Design Camp, Kenya

  • Workshop Nature-Based Solutions, Romania

  • Special on Water Hyacinth: Presentations from Burkina Faso and South Africa

  • Constructed Wetlands as NbS for Wastewater Treatment, Ethiopia

  • Feasibility Study on Carbon Credits, Peru

  • Global Standard on Nature-Based Solutions


The meetings and presentations can be listened to again via the SharePoint site of the Union of Water Boards.


Support and Pilots:

The Focal Point Nature-Based Solutions has not only shared knowledge but has also actively supported partnerships in drafting applications for pilot projects. Additionally, funds have been provided for studies and pilots in various countries, such as Romania, Ethiopia, and Indonesia. Some of the videos produced from these projects include:


  • Romania: Training Video Nature-Based Solutions, May 24 2023 (YouTube link)

  • Ethiopia: Supporting Green Legacy Initiative (YouTube link)

  • Indonesia: Vertical Helophyte Filter System at Pekalongan City (YouTube link), Enhanced Hybrid Constructed Wetland at Pekalongan City (YouTube link)


Want to Know More?

Jaap Bos is the coordinator of the Focal Point Nature-Based Solutions. For further questions or ideas, he can be contacted at: jaap.bos@waternet.nl.

Herbebossing in verschillende stadia.

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