WISA2018: South Africa and the Netherlands prologue cooperation in the water sector
The South African Department of Water and Sanitation and the Netherlands Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) during this year’s WISA 2018 conference.
The MoU was signed by South African minister Gugile Nkwinti (left on top photo) of Water and Sanitation and Dutch special water envoy Henk Ovink in Cape Town on 25 June.
By signing the MoU, both parties pledge their commitment for the continued and joint effort in the collaboration in the water sector.
South African water minister Gugile Nkwinti visiting the Netherlands Pavilion at the WISA conference.
Long standing relationship
The Netherlands and South Africa enjoy a long and productive relationship in the area of water management and sanitation. The first bilateral agreement was signed in 2013.
The MoU is also an extension of the commitment and contribution to the 2030 UN Agenda, which seeks to ensure the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.
‘South Africa and the Netherlands have a longstanding and constructive relationship in the water sector’, said Henk Ovink, first Special Envoy for International Water Affairs for the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Ovink: ‘Guided by the UN Sustainable Development Goals 6 and 11, we look forward to the opportunity of continuing this fruitful relationship and finding innovative solutions together’.
Groundwater management
A Joint Steering Committee on Water Resources consisting of both parties will ensure the implementation of the goals of the MoU.
The committee will follow a holistic approach in membership to include representations from the private sector, non-governmental organisations and knowledge institutions.
Other areas of cooperation mentioned in the MoU are:
● Strengthening water governance
● Climate change adaptation
● Urban water management
● Water management in river basins
● Water efficiency
● Water re-use
● Use of alternative water resources
This news item was originally published on the website of CocreateSA.
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More information
WISA2018
www.wisa2018.org.za
Dutch-South African design platform CocreateSA
c/o Ministry of Foreign Affaires
The Hague, the Netherlands
www.cocreatesa.nl