KIWI's as game changers for climate adaptation

They are here again: KIWI's. Not seasonal fruit, but water managers who are going to work on climate adaptation abroad. This fall, the NWB Fonds is launching a two-year training program for water managers under the name KIWI: Klimaat- en Innovatieprogramma Waterschappen Internationaal (Climate and Innovation Program for Water Boards Internationally). The new program has been named ‘KIWI Climate Game Changers’. This time, the focus is on climate adaptation in a nature- and human-inclusive manner, meaning using nature-based solutions and involving (marginalized) communities. This aligns with the new direction of the NWB Fonds (see website www.nwbfonds.nl). The fund aims to boost the approach to water-related climate problems in countries that have contributed little to climate change but are suffering its consequences.

The program is a mix of theory and practice; participants will receive training, get involved in an international project, and work on innovations. The three central themes are climate adaptation, environmental management, and project development.

(1) Climate adaptation, because the local effects of climate change on water management must be identified, along with sustainable solutions to address them. Participants will seek local knowledge, scientific research, and best practices from elsewhere. A good example is the restoration of mangrove forests as coastal defense in Ghana.

(2) Environmental management, because various stakeholders are concerned with sanitation, drinking water, water supply, irrigation, etc. All parties need to be heard, and their diverse interests should be considered in decision-making. Stakeholders also play a role in the implementation of water management when the government cannot do it alone. A thorough analysis of the socio-cultural context is necessary to work effectively abroad; you can’t just "play water board."

(3) Project development, because change doesn’t happen by itself. In addition to a well-founded plan, commitment and financing are needed to realize a project. Where do you find investors? Which partners can you involve? How do you ensure that infrastructure is managed and maintained after it’s built? These are all factors that determine whether a good idea will fade away or have lasting impact.

In addition to solving local water issues in developing countries, the KIWI program aims to contribute to the renewal of water management. The goal is for the KIWI’s to develop innovations that can be applied in multiple locations, both in the Netherlands and other countries. Consider managing peak rainfall without massive damage, water use during extreme drought, combating erosion, and alternative agriculture in areas affected by salinization due to sea level rise. These problems are not only present in the Southern Hemisphere; we are increasingly experiencing them in the Netherlands as well. The KIWI’s will be drivers of international solutions to such problems, true game changers.

Each water board may nominate one participant for the KIWI program; 20 out of the 21 water boards have already submitted a candidate, with the last expected this month. The NWB Fonds invests in the capacity for international water management. It also does this by co-financing local Young Expert Professionals (YEPs). The YEP program and the KIWI program will be linked wherever possible, so both groups can learn from each other optimally.