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.
