The WaL guidance was officially launched on February 19 during an online IPDC session. This guidance has been designed to help foster transformative and inclusive project development. The guidance features both case studies and practical advice for each stage of project development.
Cities face climate-related challenges, yet they are also crucial in tackling them by promoting urban water resilience. The Water as Leverage (WaL) approach promotes sustainable social, economic, and water climate resilience, serving as a catalyst for development.
Water as Leverage Guidance
Based on the experiences of different Water as Leverage programmes from around the world, and with the support of the IPDC, guidance has been created for stakeholders, including executive agencies, change agents, and contractors. This guidance was formally launched during an online IPDC session moderated by UN Habitat’s Naomi Hoogervorst. UN Habitat plays a crucial role in the global application of the WaL approach.
The WaL Guidance has been designed to help foster transformative and inclusive project development. The Guidance features both case studies and practical advice for each stage of project development.
Stephanie Janssen, who co-authored the WaL guidance, shared her insights on the WaL guidance journey. It takes an inclusive approach, and looks at water as an opportunity rather than a threat. The guidance was drafted drawing on the experiences and expertise of a wide range of partner and stakeholders.
Global WaL application
Speaking as she was presented with the first copy of the WaL guidance, Meike van Ginneken (Water Envoy for the Kingdom of the Netherlands) shared her insights into the importance of the WaL approach. The guidance, she stated, is important to help ensure the WaL approach is accessible around the world. This is facilitated even more by its focus on practical experience and by providing tools for easy implementation.
The guidance also shows how international cooperation can be leveraged to improve urban water management. By adopting an inclusive approach, WaL incorporates a wide range of expertise to further advance urban water resilience.
The online session also included an in-depth look at the experiences of Cartagena, Colombia and Semarang, Indonesia, where the WaL approach has been applied.
Cartagena
Monica Parra, from WaL Cartagena, shared the city’s experience. Surrounded by water, Cartagena increasingly faces the effects of climate change. In partnership with local and national government, WaL Cartagena aims to develop solutions that are innovative, integral and implementable. It does so by providing methodological tools and technical expertise for the formulation of sustainable infrastructure projects. Monica also shared some of the challenges WaL faces, including the fact that the approach can be perceived as “slow”, with the risk of not matching the city’s urgencies and political and administrative deadlines. Early investment, she argued, can help offset these challenges.
Semarang
Professor Matthijs Bouw shared the experiences of the WaL approach in Semarang, Indonesia. The city has a dynamic shoreline; over the past decade, this has shifted at a faster rate as a result of climate change, eroding mangroves, fishponds, villages, and city assets. Urban infrastructure has also expanded due to industrial and population growth. The combination of these factors impacts the most vulnerable communities. As part of the WaL approach in Semarang, stakeholders mapped and analysed the city’s goals and aspirations to gain a better understanding of the city’s current vision and consider future planning for sustainable, integrated, and inclusive urban development.
Matthijs also shared some insights following the approach’s implementation, warning that cities shouldn’t start from scratch as they are not blank pieces of paper. Instead, they are home to diverse populations with many lived experiences, and where many plans have already been applied. For truly successful implementation, cities should incorporate these into the WaL approach by building on the social, governance, physical, and institutional systems that are already in place.
Testimonies
After hearing from speakers, participants were able to share their insights on the WaL principles and ideas on how the guidance can benefit their projects. Key points included moving beyond single projects to drive systems change, investing in early project stages, and ensuring inclusivity from start to end.
Participants were also treated to a video featuring WaL testimonies from partners in Thailand, India, Kenya, Colombia, and the Netherlands.
Festive networking moment
Attendees who joined the webinar in Delft, the Netherlands, attended a festive networking moment following the webinar’s conclusion. Guests of honour Meike van Ginneken and Annemieke Nijhof (Deltares Director) cut a specially designed cake and shared some words of inspiration on the synergies between the IPDC and the WaL programme.
Speakers and participants
Many thanks to everyone who joined us online and in person. A special thank you to our speakers and moderators, including:
- Naomi Hoogervorst, UN-Habitat (moderator)
- Meike van Ginneken, Special Envoy for International Water Affairs for the Kingdom of the Netherlands
- Monica Parra, Water as Leverage Cartagena
- Professor Mathijs Bouw, One Architecture and the University of Pennsylvania
- Stephanie Janssen, Deltares
Resources
Speaker presentations to follow shortly.
