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.
