Collaborative water expertise supports disaster response and resilience worldwide
As water- and climate-related disasters intensify worldwide, rapid access to reliable information is becoming critical for effective response. Through the Dutch Disaster Risk Reduction and Surge Support (DRRS) programme, public, private and humanitarian partners combine water expertise, data and modelling to support decision-making during crises. Recent flood events illustrate how this collaborative approach translates analysis into action under severe time pressure.
Recent large-scale flooding in Southern Africa highlighted the crucial role of DRRS. After prolonged and intense rainfall, water levels rose rapidly in parts of Mozambique, particularly in the provinces of Gaza and Maputo. To support decision-making, the United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) requested analytical support from the DRRS Near Realtime Modeling team to assess potential flood impacts and explore how forecasted rainfall might affect the situation.
Through the Dutch DRRS network, water experts from different Dutch organisations, such as IHE Delft, HKV, Fast Hazard, and FloodTags, were mobilised to provide near real-time flood impact assessments. The team focused on identifying priority areas, estimating affected populations and buildings, and assessing the implications of additional forecasted rainfall.
Within hours of the request, the first analytical outputs were delivered. These included maps of the expected flood impact and estimates of the number of people and buildings likely to be affected. A second update of the flood outlook was produced later in the weekend, including additional information from media reports and social media analysis.
Reflecting on this way of working, Frederik Hutthof, Associate Professor of Hydraulic Engineering at IHE Delft and member of the DRRS team, explains: “On request, we provide rapid and focused technical support to organisations dealing with water-related disasters. Whether estimating flood arrival times, assessing affected populations or evaluating risks to critical infrastructure, we combine expertise with an understanding of local conditions. Operating remotely allows us to concentrate fully on the analysis and deliver timely, targeted support without adding pressure on response teams.”
Dutch disaster risk reduction expertise
This type of rapid analytical support, as provided for Mozambique, is embedded within the Dutch DRRS programme. DRRS was launched in 2023 as a multi-year programme running through 2027. It builds on the earlier Dutch Risk Reduction Team, established in 2013, and responds to the growing global need for integrated support across the full disaster management cycle.
The programme is commissioned by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management. It deploys water-related expertise worldwide to help prevent and reduce the impacts of water- and climate-related disasters, while strengthening the resilience of affected regions.
Its objective is to provide foreign governments and humanitarian organisations with rapid access to water-related expertise. Support can range from early risk identification and preparedness, through emergency response, to recovery and reconstruction. Interventions are always request-based and tailored to the local context. Depending on the challenge, teams are assembled from a broad network of Dutch and local experts.
The need for such expertise is growing. Over the past fifty years, the number of weather-, climate- and water-related disasters has increased five-fold. At the same time, their impacts tend to be longer-lasting and more complex, particularly in rapidly urbanising or resource-constrained environments.
Moving beyond emergency response in Brazil
While rapid response is essential during a crisis, long-term resilience depends on what happens before and after an event. Experiences from different parts of the world show that effective disaster risk reduction requires an integrated approach to response and recovery. One that strengthens resilience rather than simply restoring previous conditions.
Brazil offers a clear example of how disaster response can be linked to longer-term risk reduction. In 2024, extreme rainfall led to severe flooding in Rio Grande do Sul, affecting cities, schools, homes and critical infrastructure across the region. While emergency response was essential, attention extended beyond immediate relief towards reducing vulnerability to future events.
Working alongside local authorities, engineers and communities, the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) and the Dutch DRRS programme supported the integration of disaster risk reduction across different phases of response and recovery. Rapid risk assessments helped guide life-saving measures, while damaged infrastructure was repaired with future resilience in mind. Flood-prone areas were mapped to inform spatial planning decisions, and real-time water monitoring systems were introduced to strengthen early warning capabilities. Throughout the process, international expertise was combined with local knowledge to ensure that solutions were both technically robust and grounded in the local context.
Watch the video on how Brazil is rebuilding after the 2024 floods.
Urban development and flood risk in Bali, Indonesia
Southeast Asia offers another example of how integrated approaches can support disaster risk reduction beyond emergency response alone. In this region, flood risk is increasingly shaped by rapid urbanisation and land-use change. In Bali, for example, decades of development have significantly reduced green space, particularly in and around Denpasar. Former rice fields have been converted into urban areas, reducing infiltration capacity and increasing surface runoff.
As a result, flooding can now occur within hours after heavy rainfall upstream. In September 2025, the area experienced severe flooding, with significant damage and fatalities. These events underline the importance of effective early warning systems with actionable information for emergency services and authorities.
Recent disaster risk reduction missions in Bali carried out through the Dutch DRRS programme have focused on strengthening data availability, hydrological modelling and the translation of model outputs into actionable information. In doing so, near real-time flood modelling supports both preparedness and response by indicating where and when impacts are likely to occur.
Collaboration as a cornerstone
Across all these examples, collaboration emerges as a central theme. Disaster risk reduction is not the responsibility of a single actor or discipline. Utilities, government agencies, engineers, data specialists, humanitarian organisations and local communities all play a role. Such collaboration enables faster mobilisation of expertise, closer alignment with local priorities, and more resilient outcomes over time.
Hutthof explains: “Our strength lies in bringing together public, private and academic expertise within a single, flexible team. Private and academic partners contribute technical depth, local experience and the intelligent use of technology, while public-sector partners offer established relationships with authorities and insight into decision-making processes. In every situation, we remain adaptable in how we assemble our teams and organise our approach, tailoring it each time to the circumstances at hand.”
As hydrological extremes become more frequent and less predictable, the demand for timely, reliable and context-specific water expertise will continue to grow. Experiences from Mozambique, Brazil and Indonesia show that near real-time data and modelling can make a tangible difference during crises, while integrated approaches remain essential for building long-term resilience.
