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In November, the Mozambican regional water authorities (ARAs) successfully completed the third and final phase of a training programme on dike management, alongside representatives from the National Directorate of Water Resources Management (DNGRH) and the Higher Polytechnic Institute of Songo (ISPS). This training initiative forms part of a long-term collaboration that began with ARA-Sul in 2021 and has since expanded to include other partner organisations under the Blue Deal programme.

Understanding administrative and legal frameworks

While the previous two phases focused on developing hard engineering skills, this concluding phase focused on the administrative and legal frameworks necessary for project execution.

This training course covered the key concepts of the national legislation related to service contracting, cost estimates, and the drafting of terms of reference. This approach ensures that Mozambican technicians are able to design dikes and also manage the procurement processes required for their construction.

Building on practical skills

The training in Nampula followed the technical foundation that was established earlier this year. In April, the second phase of the training took place in Tete, with a focus on geotechnical and topographic skills.

During that phase, participants engaged in fieldwork, including topographic surveying, volumetric processing, among other tasks. These field activities were complemented by laboratory demonstrations of essential soil testing methods, providing the technicians with the practical data analysis skills necessary for diagnosing dike stability.

From training to implementation

With the training cycle now complete, the focus has now shifted to practical application. With support from the Blue Deal, the three ARAs have already conducted visual inspections of some dike systems to identify critical vulnerabilities.

Currently, the ARAs are implementing a World Bank-funded programme dedicated to repairing major dike systems across the country. As part of this effort, ARA-Sul is collaborating closely with the Dutch Water Authorities (DWA) experts. Together, they are revising the rehabilitation projects to ensure that the proposed engineering solutions comply with safety standards and offer long-term protection against flooding.

In November 2025, a team from the Dutch Water Authorities (DWA) concluded a working visit to Mozambique. Led by Lucas-Jan Hooijkaas and Henriët Bremer, the mission focused on strengthening the organisational backbone of the regional water authoritiesARA-Centro,IP and ARA Norte, by helping them to achieve financial sustainability and improve their internal processes.

A compass for the future

A key part of the mission involved collecting information to finalise a strategic plan for ARA-Norte. During a workshop, the DWA team and ARA Norte reviewed their SWOT analysis and identified key activities to prioritise in the coming years.

The development of a strategic plan is vital for ARA-Norte as it will ensure consistency in decision-making and align all departments towards common goals. This approach transforms complex challenges into manageable, prioritized actions, ensuring long-term growth and sustainability.

Stepping toward digital efficiency

At ARA-Centro, the DWA team looked at ways to modernise operations by improving document management and ICT. With physical archives suffering from space constraints and security risks, the move toward digitalization is critical.

During the visit, the team identified and described the key processes involved in generating and managing critical documents.

By securing data and streamlining how information flows, ARA-Centro will be able to build an organization that can withstand physical disasters and improve daily collaboration.

Strengthening the financial backbone

Beyond the November mission, the partnership made significant progress throughout the year by promoting professional development and cooperation between different ARAs and departments.

In October, as a continuation of the efforts initiated in Phase 1, ARA Sul professionals participated in Primavera ERP system training. Using a 'learning by doing' approach, the training focused on the practical implementation of the current stage of the decentralised financial system. This activity has enhanced the team's confidence and their ability to execute complex financial operations, ensuring the decentralisation strategy is put into practice.

In addition, an important knowledge exchange on financial management took place between ARA-Centro and ARA-Sul in September. This interchange was designed to help ARA-Centro select the most suitable bookkeeping system for their needs. Through discussions, the teams explored the practicalities of the software used by ARA Sul, as well as how to organise financial information according to cost centre and cost unit principles.

Building sustainable institutions

Together, these steps, ranging from strategic planning and digitalization to robust financial management, demonstrate the Blue Deal’s commitment to building resilient organizations. By strengthening these internal pillars, the DWA and the ARAs are building a solid foundation for sustainable and efficient water management across Mozambique.

In November of this year, the Blue Deal Partnership held a strategic meeting in Maputo to analyse the programme's new organisational structure and discuss the 2026 annual plan. This meeting was a continuation of the consultation process that began in the middle of the year regarding the programme's restructuring and improvement of its efficiency.

A new organisational setup

During the meeting, the partnership reviewed a new organisational structure designed to work on specific “tracks”. The aim of this reorganisation is to make the focus clearer, improve the alignment between all partners, and optimise how activities are coordinated in the future.

The 2026 annual plan

A preliminary version of the 2026 plan was presented and discussed. Under the new "tracks" framework, most of the activities proposed for the upcoming year are direct continuations of initiatives started by the partnership in previous years.

Partnership introspection and cooperation

The partnership meeting served as a moment of reflection on the program's results. It was agreed that the component leaders ( DWA representatives) will continue to work closely with the Mozambican water management entities to identify areas of success and areas for improvement within the programme.

The meeting also provided an opportunity to strengthen the ties between the Blue Deal and other Dutch interventions in water resources management in Mozambique.

Mr Ivo Van Haren, the representative from the Embassy of the Netherlands, attended the meeting and provided an update on the planned actions of the Dutch Commission for Environmental Assessment (NCEA) in Mozambique. This was an important announcement for the water sector, as some of the Commission's actions aim to improve environmental impact assessments and reduce pollution at the Chicamba dam caused by gold mining — an issue that the Blue Deal partnership has been addressing for a few years.

Ensuring Regular Dialogue

The partnership meeting in November reinforced the need for constant consultation with local partners in order to assess progress, gather suggestions for improvement, and ensure better implementation of the programme.

The Blue Deal programme organises these partnership meetings regularly to ensure transparency and consistent progress. The event in November follows one held in June of this year. Further strategic meetings are planned for the upcoming year to monitor the implementation of activities scheduled for 2026.

A delegation from the Blue Deal Program Office in The Hague and Dutch Water Authorities (DWA) visited Mozambique last November. The team, comprising Marieke van Nood (Blue Deal Programme Director), Martin Bos (Blue Deal Mozambique Partnership Director), Jan den Besten (Hunze en Aas), and Ytzen Faber (Wetterskip Fryslan), went to Beira to see how working with the Autonomous Sanitation Service of Beira (SASB) was going and to take part in the REMCO Conference, where important discussions about transboundary water management took place.

Partnering with SASB for financial sustainability

A part of the mission in Beira focused on discussing the financial future of the SASB. The discussion covered a wide array of topics in this regard, such as the increase in operational costs as new infrastructure becomes operational, the strong push towards professionalisation through good governance and the establishment of a new regulatory framework. These are just a few of the actions that would lead SASB in becoming a sustainable company.

Decentralizing the sanitation chain

The Blue Deal, DWA, and SASB teams also looked at the really important issue of decentralised sanitation in Beira.

A survey done in May 2025 showed that 65% of sludge lacks proper treatment.

To combat this environmental and health hazard, the partnership is launching a subsidy pilot project (by the FACE Association). The plan is to improve the sanitation chain by giving the city residents a reason to properly empty latrine pits and make sure the sludge is put in the right places, which are run by SASB.

Canal cleaning and infrastructure expansion

Flood prevention remains a top priority for the city of Beira, and currently 20-metre-wide canals are being constructed to improve the city's drainage.

At the SASB premises, the delegation planned the yearly drainage canal cleaning operation. The Blue Deal has been providing support to SASB (and FACE) on this matter for a few years and will continue to do so.

During the visit in November, the team explored alternative solutions to combat the rapid regrowth of vegetation, including the possibilities of using a mowing boat for the maintenance of the (new) retention basins and possibly also for the wider canals.

REMCO 2025

The mission concluded in Maputo with the REMCO 2025 conference, held from November 3 to 7.

As is customary, this year's conference – hosted by ARA Sul,IP and supported by three Blue Deal partnerships (Mozambique, South Africa and Eswatini) – focused on transboundary water management cooperation between these three countries.

Approximately 200 attendees were present, including representatives from the Blue Deal Office at Hague and Blue Deal delegations from Ethiopia, Mozambique, Eswatini, South Africa, Germany and partner organisations in the field of water management.

The Mozambican partnership was represented at the event by the aforementioned DWA representatives and Marijke Jaarsma (Waterschap Vallei en Veluwe), who moderated two sessions: one on digital cooperation among riparian states and one on the Blue Deal programme and African partnerships.

The conference concluded with a field visit, during which participants had the opportunity to learn more about the efforts of REPENSAR, an organisation developing several environmental conservation actions in the Maputo Basin.

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The mission effectively connected operational improvements on the ground in Beira with high-level strategic discussions in Maputo.

The visit to Beira and Maputo provided a valuable opportunity for key personnel to meet in person and share their wide-ranging experiences. From the programme director to representatives from the Blue Deal partnerships and other entities, both cities were viewed as places offering valuable and memorable experience.

The Licungo river basin in Zambézia Province is a region of concern due to its high flood risk. To address this issue, the Blue Deal programme — a long-term partnership between the Dutch and Mozambican water authorities — organised a meeting with stakeholders in the village of Maganja da Costa in October. This meeting aimed to reduce the region's vulnerability to flooding by aligning technical expertise with local requirements and encouraging participatory land use planning.

Shared responsibility as key to combatting flood risks

The meeting in Maganja da Costa was an important step forward in discussing water and land use management in the region. Led by the General Director of ARA-Norte and the District Administrator of Maganja da Costa, the primary goal of the meeting was to sensitize the four key actors - central and local government authorities, private sector users, civil society, and local communities - about their shared responsibility in this matter.

During the meeting, Jan Den Besten, a representative of the Dutch Water Authorities ( DWA), shared the Netherlands' experience in managing land use and flood risks. Despite the differences in climate, geomorphology and other factors between these two countries, this insight will allow ARA Norte and its key stakeholders to develop an effective strategy for planning and coordinating activities in this flood-prone area.

This occasion equally presented an opportunity to start shifting from a reactive disaster response to a proactive approach based on current and future scenarios.

Incorporating data into decision-making

A key moment from the Maganja da Costa meeting was the presentation of new flood risk maps for the Licungo river basin. These critical tools are the direct result of technical capacity building within the Blue Deal programme in Mozambique.

The maps were developed following a specialised training course that ARA-Norte technicians received from their ARA-Centro,IP. This knowledge transfer enabled ARA-Norte professionals to start using advanced platforms to model flood risks more precisely.

These maps are essential instruments for land use planning, as they provide data that, when combined with land use plans, will allow stakeholders to identify “no-build” zones and safe areas for agricultural activities in the Licungo river basin.

The development of these technical capacities directly supports the implementation of Mozambique’s land law, ensuring that land use and benefit rights (DUATs) are granted in accordance with hydrological conditions and preventing the establishment of settlements in areas at high risk of flooding.

Reactivation of the Nante Dike Committee

During the same meeting at Maganja da Costa, the proposal to reactivate the Management Committee for the Nante Dike was also discussed. This infrastructure is vital for protecting the local communities and plantations in Nante Village from the floodwaters of the Licungo river. However, maintaining it requires social mobilisation.

Based on a participatory management model, the new committee structure has been designed to ensure representation from each of the four distinct stakeholder groups. This ensures that the maintenance of the dike is seen as a collective responsibility, not just a government burden.

By engaging the private sector and residents, the committee aims to ensure regular monitoring of the dike's structural integrity and to coordinate rapid mobilisation during the rainy season, ensuring that the flood defences are maintained by a vigilant and organized community.

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Through the combination of flood risks mapping and social endorsement from local stakeholder committees, ARA-Norte has been working to establish a robust flood risk reduction system. The Blue Deal will continue to work closely with ARA-Norte and the other ARAs on these initiatives.

As part of the ongoing Blue Deal partnership, water authorities in Mozambique are gaining access to advanced tools and developing a strong network of expertise on flood risk management. This commitment has been demonstrated through two significant activities this year: a training session on flood risk mapping and the implementation of a new forecasting system.

Development of flood risk maps for flood-prone basins across the country

In October, a training session in Maputo marked a significant milestone for the "Train the Trainer" initiative within the Blue Deal. Celso Muima and António Melembe, experts from ARA-Centro,IP (Pungue division), led a two-day training course about the development of flood risk maps using satellite images for professionals from the National Directorate of Water Resources Management (DNGRH ) and ARA-Sul.

This action reinforces the continuous cycle of knowledge sharing between the Mozambican water authorities. Having previously trained colleagues from ARA-Centro in 2023 and ARA-Norte in 2024, the same facilitators have passed on this vital expertise to colleagues in southern Mozambique.

The four entities responsible for water management in Mozambique can now work together to develop flood risk maps and make data-driven decisions across the catchments they manage. ARA-Centro began this work in 2023, developing flood maps for the Buzi and Pungue river basins with support from the BUPUSA project. In 2024, ARA-Norte began developing flood maps for the Licungo river basin. ARA-Sul will start developing flood maps for the Umbeluzi river basin.

Supporting the implementation of the BUPUSA-FEWS system

As part of the partnership's training initiatives, the Blue Deal and the BUPUSA Commission also organised a technical workshop at the DNGRH in April of this year. The primary goal was the installation, commissioning, and user training for the BUPUSA-FEWS – an Early Warning System for Floods based on the Delft-FEWS platform for the Buzi, Pungue and Save (BUPUSA) river basins. The workshop was attended by technicians from Mozambique and Zimbabwe.

The ability to run live simulations and manage real-time data significantly improves the BUPUSA-FEWS system's capacity to predict floods and mitigate flood-related risks for communities in both countries. This further strengthens regional efforts to improve transboundary cooperation.

Looking Ahead

The progress in knowledge sharing activities and the operational integration of the BUPUSA-FEWS system underscore an ongoing commitment to strengthening Mozambique's water management network. The Blue Deal will continue to follow these developments closely as all ARAs develop their flood maps and standardised forecasting models are further refined under the BUPUSA project.

In August 2025, a team of experts from the Dutch Water Authorities (DWA) returned to Mozambique to continue their work on improving water quality and enforcement. This mission was part of Component 2 of the Blue Deal programme, which focuses on water quality, licensing and enforcement of effluent discharge. The main purpose of this visit was to address the urgent challenges posed by gold mining in central Mozambique.

Approaching an old problem through local collaboration

A central theme of this visit was the ongoing collaboration aimed at mitigating the environmental impact of gold mining in the Buzi and Pungwe river basins. This initiative is part of a long-term strategy involving the DWA, ARA-Centro,IP, and many other stakeholders.

Under the Blue Deal, the cooperation to address this issue began in 2023 with an initial meeting that brought together government entities, universities and mining companies. This was followed by a second major meeting in 2024, which led to the establishment of a dedicated “Gold Mining Taskforce” in the first half of 2025.

During the last visit in August, two meetings were held in Chimoio (ARA-Centro Buzi Division) and Gorongosa (ARA-Centro Pungwe Division), which brought these stakeholders together again.

Moving from planning to action

The focus has now shifted decisively from strategic meetings to practical actions. The “Gold Mining Taskforce” is nurturing and implementing its action plan to regulate mining activities and protect water quality, especially in the Buzi river basin where the situation is alarming. To ensure continued coordination among all local stakeholders, ARA-Centro will temporarily take the lead in the group's operational activities.

Licensing and enforcement as tools for environmental defence

One of the key takeaways from previous missions and workshops was the critical role of effluent discharge licensing in environmental management. The DWA team continues to emphasize that a license is not just an administrative fee, but a powerful regulatory tool that can contribute to minimize the environmental impact of gold mining.

Field visits to mining sites in Manica in August highlighted the difference this could make. While some operators are investing in water recycling and environmental safety measures, others are lagging behind. By implementing strict licensing and enforcement measures, ARA-Centro can encourage the industry to be aware of the environmental impact of their businesses, thereby ensuring that economic gains do not compromise surface water quality.

Building capacity for the future

Beyond the “gold mining” topic, the visit also focused on institutional development. In both Tete (ARA-Centro,IP) and Nampula (ARA-Norte), the team developed 5-year plans to make water quality laboratories more professional, with a focus on staffing, budgeting and ISO compliance.

The Blue Deal will continue to support the ARAs in implementing these plans to provide clean and safe water.

Effective water resource management encompasses more than just infrastructure management. Transparency, sensitization, and building trust with the people who rely on these vital resources are equally important. As part of their ongoing commitment to fostering stronger relationships with water users, the Regional Water Authorities (ARAs) of Mozambique have been carrying out a wide range of communication activities.

These activities, supported by the Blue Deal Mozambique, aim to transform the way the ARAs present themselves to the public, ensuring their image accurately reflects the critical work being carried out.

Continuously learning together

At the heart of the Blue Deal's communication efforts is an active Community of Practice (CoP), which brings together communication professionals from the three ARAs (and now also the DNGRH) for regular online meetings to share insights about their ongoing and planned activities. In July of this year, the group met in person, in Maputo, to continue sharing experiences and developing their skills.

The live meeting addressed the theoretical and practical challenges of communication in Mozambique's public sector. This prompted the CoP to discuss the role of communication in mergers and crises, how bureaucracy can affect creativity, and to explore strategies for carrying out communication activities on a low budget.

The gathering also served as a practical workshop, in which CoP members participated in a short media training session focusing on interview techniques. They also engaged in practical sessions covering foundational photography techniques and the use of artificial intelligence for content generation.

On the final day of the CoP gathering in July, the CoP visited one of the major water users to discuss groundwater usage and the polluter pays principle.

Building skills in multimedia content creation

In October, following the July meeting in Maputo, one of ARA-Sul's communications experts led an in-depth multimedia training session for  ARA-Norte,IP and  ARA-Centro,IP. Equipped with new skills in graphic design, video editing and photography, these two ARAs are now better able to create content explaining licensing procedures, providing real-time flood warnings and educating the public on water conservation.

Looking Ahead

The ARAs are fostering a culture of transparency and openness, whether by engaging in face-to-face dialogue with major water users or launching communication campaigns for the wider community. The Blue Deal partnership in Mozambique will continue these critical actions, building and maintaining strong and active relations between water managers and water users.

In June, technical staff from the Southern Regional Water Authority (ARA-Sul, IP) and the Northern Regional Water Authority (ARA-Norte, IP) gathered for specialised training sessions focusing on the WE-HARP tool. These sessions, supported by the Blue Deal and facilitated by FutureWater, marked a significant step forward in how water abstraction licenses are currently evaluated in these regions.

Integrating data and modelling

The WE-HARP tool is a custom-built application designed to bridge the gap between administrative data and complex hydrological modelling.

During the training sessions, participants learnt how to use this tool to link the existing Water Resources Information System (SIRHA) with the Water Evaluation and Planning (WEAP) models. They were also shown how this tool can simulate the impact of new water licence requests for agricultural, industrial or domestic use on the water balance of an entire river basin.

Water governance through data-Driven permitting

Adopting WE-HARP enables ARA-Sul and ARA-Norte to transition to a data-driven approach to water management in Southern and Northern Mozambique. This tool enables staff to calculate precise impacts of new abstractions on reservoir levels and existing users, while simulating drought scenarios to protect environmental flows and water supply.

By automating complex processes, this tool allows even non-experts at the two ARAs to carry out in-depth assessments and clearly communicate their decisions to stakeholders.

Securing water for tomorrow

The WE-HARP training in June 2025 marks a significant step towards modernising water licensing by ARA-Sul and ARA Norte. By incorporating the WE-HARP tool into their daily operations, the Water Resources Departments of both ARAs are now better positioned to balance increasing water demands with environmental sustainability, thus ensuring a secure water supply in the future.

Effective water management is a global challenge that requires a combination of local expertise and international cooperation. In Mozambique, a country that is vulnerable to both floods and droughts, strengthening the technical capacity of water boards and communities is key to finding a solution to these issues.

As part of the Blue Deal programme in Mozambique, two vital Communities of Practice (CoPs) have been meeting regularly to exchange knowledge and develop skills in water conservation and dike management. This year, the two CoPs, comprising professionals from ARA-Sul,IP, ARA-Centro,IP, ARA-Norte,IP, DNGRH and ISPS , came together for two important occasions: a collaborative meeting in Tete and a working visit to the Netherlands.

From online meetings to gaining on-the-ground knowledge

Early in April, the combined CoPs held a three-day working session in Tete, focusing mostly on the practical realities of water conservation infrastructure in Mozambique.

The sessions were dominated by the experiences of ISPS in building sand dams and the “10,000 Small Dams” initiative of the Mozambican government, which is being implemented by the three ARAs.

The CoPs brainstormed strategies to standardise the development of these small dams and reservoirs, emphasising that these structures cannot be built in isolation. Previous construction projects have shown that strong local community involvement, particularly from women, is important at every stage - from site selection to maintenance. This ensures that these structures meet real needs and have a long lifespan.

Tasks such as creating a centralised database of small dams, developing construction manuals, and organizing training programmes for the local committees responsible for maintaining these structures, among other things, were established as priorities by the CoPs at the end of this meeting.

This collaborative work, alongside previous dike management and water conservation actions under the Blue Deal partnership in Mozambique, culminated in members of the CoPs visiting the Netherlands in June to learn more about water management in practical terms.

Learning from Dutch Water Experts

In June, a delegation of Mozambican water professionals visited the Netherlands. The aim of the visit was to learn how a country that is known for laying below sea level manages its flood defences and water retention.

The visit was an eye-opener regarding dike management. The Mozambican team was particularly impressed by the Dutch institutional model. They found out that, unlike in Mozambique, where maintenance is sometimes outsourced or non-existent, the Dutch Water Authorities  often have dedicated in-house units with their own equipment and personnel. Furthermore, the concept of “beneficiary contribution”, whereby all residents pay a tax specifically for dike maintenance, sparked discussions on how similar financial mechanisms could be adapted in Mozambique.

From a technical perspective, the delegation visited the renowned Dutch sea dikes, where the use of specific vegetation and sheep grazing as a cost-effective, nature-based solution for maintaining grass cover on the slopes, was particularly impressive. The team also received training in using drones for cross-sectional profiling and volume calculations. This is an essential skill for modernising the way Mozambique monitors its dikes.

In terms of water conservation, the group explored techniques to increase groundwater infiltration and reduce surface runoff. The programme also included visits to pumping stations, ecological restoration projects and the “Baakse Beek”, with the aim of finding out how the Netherlands manages water availability during periods of drought, which is an increasingly important issue even in its humid climate.

Looking Ahead

The combination of the Tete meeting and the interchange in the Netherlands outlined a clear path for the coming years.

All Mozambican partners returned with concrete action plans, including establishing dike maintenance units, mapping beneficiaries for potential co-funding, developing annual bulletins about dike conditions, creating a national database of dikes and small dams, and fostering scientific research on these structures, among other things.

The Blue Deal partnership in Mozambique will continue to collaborate closely with these organisations as these actions are carried out through the coming years.