Water, climate and energy: the Netherlands and South Sudan

Water management

The Dutch delta has the world’s best flood defences. 70% of the Dutch population lives below sea level. That’s why the Netherlands has so much expertise in flood control and clean water.

The Netherlands works together with other countries to tackle water-related issues around the world, like irrigation, safe river banks and clean drinking water. Our country also contributes to transboundary management of 7 international river basins in Africa, the Middle East and Asia.

A Special Envoy for International Water Affairs has been appointed to promote Dutch knowledge and expertise in the area of water management.

Climate and energy

The Netherlands wants to promote the use of sustainable energy.

The Netherlands endorses international agreements on reducing CO₂ emissions and the depletion of natural resources.

Water, climate and energy: the Netherlands and your country or region

Since independence, water has come high on the agenda in order to develop and manage water resources for social and economic use by both pastoralist and sedentary communities.  Next to provision of rural drinking water, more emphasis is now being put on water for productive activities. The national water management agenda also includes integrated water resources management and wetlands ecosystems conservation, water for agriculture and water for animal production. International reports emphasize that South Sudan is more likely to be affected by climate change and rising temperatures than other countries, which means that efforts as to adaptation are strongly needed.

Since 2013 two five year bilateral programmes, Water for Lakes and Water for Eastern Equatoria, have been successfully developed in close collaboration with the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation (MWRI). These programmes are part of broader ‘Programme for the Water Sector between South Sudan and the Netherlands’. The two programmes focus mainly on the themes of water for productive uses (agriculture, livestock and fisheries), and sustainable water supply and improved sanitation (SWIS) within an Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) approach.

The Netherlands and South Sudan have agreed to focus interventions on the former States of Eastern Equatoria, Jonglei, Lakes and Warrap, but in view of both the scale of these areas as well as security reasons the two programs began in the former States of Lakes and Eastern Equatoria.

In 2017 under both programmes a total of 135.000 people were reached with safe drinking water sources, 85.000 got access to and use improved sanitation facilities and 100.535 were reached with hygiene education messages. Knowledge products on available water resources was produced for Lakes while river flow models have been developed for the two projects that will inform decisions on utilization of the targeted rivers. Five (5) water yards for cattle watering have been completed in Lakes while one Hafir (valley dam) will be finalized in 2018 to provide drinking water sources for cattle that is aimed at mitigating water related conflicts. Over 3,000 people are actively involved in agriculture production (mainly vegetables) through the projects’ interventions with about 80 percent being women.