KIWI originals and climate game changers working internationally on water management.

KIWIs are water professionals who are trained to work on international water management projects. KIWI stands for "Kennismakings- en Introductieprogramma Waterschappen Internationaal" (Introduction and Familiarization Program for Water Boards International). The program lasts for two years and was established by the NWB Fund in 2019. All water boards are allowed to provide a participant (there are 21 water boards in the Netherlands). This week, the first and second cohort of KIWI participants met at Waterschap Zuiderzeeland in Lelystad for an inspiring gathering.

The first group of KIWIs started in 2019 but faced delays due to the COVID-19 crisis. Trainings had to be conducted digitally, and field visits were canceled due to travel restrictions. This group has now traveled to various countries to participate in projects and learn in practice how water management challenges are addressed elsewhere in the world. Nearly all of these KIWI originals, as they proudly call themselves, have now joined a project team. This allows them to apply what they have learned, often within a Blue Deal partnership. The Blue Deal is a collaboration program between the water boards and the Ministries of Infrastructure and Water Management and Foreign Affairs, aiming to provide 20 million people worldwide with sufficient, clean, and safe water between 2018 and 2030.

The second group of KIWIs started this autumn. This time, the focus is on climate adaptation, so they are called the KIWI climate game changers. The abbreviation KIWI now stands for "Klimaat- en Innovatieprogramma Waterschappen Internationaal" (Climate and Innovation Program for Water Boards International). These KIWIs will no longer be exploring various countries, but will be directly linked to a specific project from the beginning. In three foreign field visits, they will work on climate adaptation:

1. Exploration: Inventory and context analysis of climate change and climate adaptation in the selected area.

2. Deepening: Further research into relevant climate issues based on a risk analysis, investigating possible solutions.

3. Concretization: Setting up a (sub)project to address a specific climate issue, including securing support and (external) funding.

This week's training focused on step 1. The participants learned how to conduct an area scan based on documents and fieldwork. “Very useful, it makes things concrete,” said the KIWIs. “You’ll realize that a lot of information is missing, so you’ll have to dig deeper and ask around. There are also implicit assumptions in plans, such as thinking water management will improve once you have measurement data; but is that really the case?”. They left with more questions than answers, and that’s a good thing, according to trainer Ronald Hemel from Waterprof: “ANNA must travel with you, meaning Always Check, Never Assume!”

During the meeting in Lelystad, both groups of KIWIs shared their experiences. The KIWI originals had plenty to share about their travels: “When working together abroad, you truly get to know a country and its culture, and you encounter your own unconscious biases, such as starting a meeting on time; in other ways, you also find a way to reach your goal.” And: “The Dutch technical approach doesn’t always work abroad, you often have to look more broadly, for example, at socio-economic aspects. And you need to be more pragmatic because not all resources are available.”

The group quickly agreed that flexibility and an open mindset are essential to operating effectively in other countries. And that you learn a lot abroad. “In Colombia, the communication with residents is really much better than here,” one KIWI noted. “Ownership of the rivers is quite normal in Peru; in the Netherlands, we need an OECD report for that,” said another KIWI. Safety is also a point of attention, as all participants must undergo safety training. And for good reason; one of the KIWIs has already experienced an armed robbery.

In short, it was a valuable day, which made the KIWIs even more enthusiastic about their projects. The NWB Fund hopes to build an ever-growing community of water professionals who are active internationally through the KIWI programs. Because water management – and especially climate adaptation – knows no boundaries; it affects everyone and is a shared responsibility. Working beyond your own borders also results in better water managers, according to the KIWIs.