Asia-Netherlands Water Learning Week 2017
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Asia-Netherlands Water Learning Week 2017 Effective water management for agriculture in water-insecure Asia 1-7 October, 2017 The Netherlands Program Asia-Netherlands Water Learning Week 2017 Table of Contents 1. Organization and Contact ................................................................................. 3 1.1. Organization contacts .............................................................................................. 3 1.2. Emergency information ........................................................................................... 3 2. The Program ....................................................................................................... 4 3. Water & Agriculture in the Netherlands ........................................................... 4 3.1. Background to the Theme of the Learning Week ..................................................... 4 4. Introduction to the Program .............................................................................. 5 4.1. General Introduction ................................................................................................ 5 4.2. Objective of the study tour ....................................................................................... 5 4.3. Overarching themes ................................................................................................ 5 4.4. Learning Goals ........................................................................................................ 5 4.5. Approach and set up of the learning week ............................................................... 6 4.6. Main themes of the Learning Week ......................................................................... 6 4.7. General Overview of the Learning Week Program .................................................. 8 5. Detailed Program ............................................................................................... 9 6. Practical Information ....................................................................................... 21 6.1. ADB Reminders for DMC Participants ....................................................................21 6.2. Local Information ....................................................................................................21 6.3. Weather and Climate ..............................................................................................21 6.4. Upon Arrival ...........................................................................................................22 6.5. Money Exchange ...................................................................................................23 6.6. Shops in the Netherlands .......................................................................................23 6.7. Important addresses ...............................................................................................23 7. List of Delegates .............................................................................................. 24 2 Asia-Netherlands Water Learning Week 2017 1. Organization and Contact 1.1. Organization contacts Asian Development Bank (ADB) Mr. Michiel de Lijster ADB Mission Leader, Senior Water Resources Specialist [email protected] / +31 6 24 09 04 35 Mrs. Pia Reyes Water Resources Officer [email protected] Netherlands Water Partnership (NWP) Mr. Peter Prins NWP Learning Week Coordinator [email protected] / +31 6 10 37 85 95 Mrs. Sandra Borst NWP Logistics Coordinator (prior to Learning Week) [email protected] / +31 70 304 37 11 Mrs. Suzanne Tietema NWP Back Office Coordinator during Learning Week [email protected] / +31 6 48 15 64 91 1.2. Emergency information The emergency number is 112 The non-emergency number is 0900 8844. You will be connected to your local police station. You can also visit www.politie.nl for information and more emergency contact details. To leave an anonymous tip (to report a crime) you can call 0800 7000 or visit the website. If your passport has been stolen, contact your embassy immediately for instructions as to what to do next. You generally need to make a statement at a police station to start any kind of official procedure (insurance, applying for a new passport etc.). Health emergencies in the Netherlands In emergency medical situations you can call an ambulance. You can also visit A&E (Accident & Emergency – “Spoedeisende Hulp”) but if a doctor could have treated the situation, you may be charged for this or refused treatment without a referral. You can ask the hotel for sending a doctor or what the nearest address is, or you can call a helpline for information; fees may apply: national line for information on all medical services: 0900 1515 (24/7) Amsterdam region (Stichting Huisartsen Dienstenposten Amsterdam, SHDA): 088 003 0600 The Hague (Huisartsendienst SMASH): 070 346 9669 3 Asia-Netherlands Water Learning Week 2017 2. The Program The learning week which began in 2012 is organized annually based on a specific theme to stimulate dialogue and knowledge sharing between experts, policy makers, and practitioners from the Asia-Pacific region and The Netherlands. It provides a venue for an intensive program focusing on how to leverage results from collaborative approaches in water investment for countries, cities, river basins and deltas. This year is the 6th Asia-Netherlands Water Learning Week and it focuses on the theme: "Climate Adaptive Food Production in Water-Insecure Asia”. ADB will deliver this year’s learning week in collaboration with the Netherlands Water Partnership (NWP), working closely with other institutions in the Netherlands such as IHE Delft, Wageningen University, government agencies, companies and other relevant entities with support from ADB’s Water Financing Partnership Facility. 3. Water & Agriculture in the Netherlands 3.1. Background to the Theme of the Learning Week Development of agriculture and appropriate water management are inextricably linked. The Netherlands, a low lying country in the delta of the Rhine river had to deal not only with the flow of the rivers, but also with the threats of the sea. Almost 40 % of the country is situated below sea level. More than 400 years of interventions in water systems turned out to be very successful. The people can live safely, protected by a thoroughly designed system of dikes and other flood protection works. Agricultural development received a boost by reclaiming land from the sea, the construction of polders, customized water management, all embedded in a favorable system of policy and government, including water authorities. Optimizing water management for agriculture resulted in amazing figures of economic growth. Nowadays The Netherlands is one of the most densely populated countries in the world and at the same time the second largest exporter of agricultural products worldwide, after the US. Close collaboration between government, research and farmers/private sector (golden triangle) was a key factor for success. However, technical interventions in the water system and intense agricultural practices also placed negative impacts on the environment. Stakeholders need to collaboratively find a new balance, to achieve sustainable agriculture by reducing its impact on water resources. The challenge is not only to reinvent the relevance of close collaboration between government, research and private sector partners, but also to identify ways to include ecological aspects in agricultural production and water management. The relationship between soil and water management is seen as one of the key aspects in a more integrated approach on water and agriculture. Dealing with salinization is another issue which is back on the agenda, since sea level rise and seepage have their impact on agricultural production in the coastal areas. Transforming salty soils (bottom of the former sea) to fertile agricultural land was already in the genes of Dutch engineers and farmers. Nowadays the Dutch have to deal with scarce fresh water resources, which inspires innovative action to find practical and affordable solutions. 4 Asia-Netherlands Water Learning Week 2017 4. Introduction to the Program 4.1. General Introduction What can be learned from The Netherland’s impressive agricultural development? Which interventions on water management had the most impact and why? In the 5-day learning week, we will discuss the relationship between agriculture and water management from several angles: from the perspective of the government, academe, and private sector as well as societal organizations. During the week, we want to inspire participants to set feasible policy goals and to design multi-stakeholder projects and processes to achieve water efficiency in agriculture. By encouraging the participants to present their own case studies, we want to foster exchange of experiences and to establish a community of practice under the umbrella of ADB to safeguard the learned principles. This program looks at theoretical and governance aspects (national policy, legal framework, scientific information/research) during the first two days. Days three to five offer a wide array of learning opportunities from presentations as well as field visits to illustrate the challenges and impacts of theories discussed during the first two days. 4.2. Objective of the study tour The objective of this Learning Week is to provide insight and tools to achieve more impact from policy and projects on water and agriculture. 4.3. Overarching themes Water governance, water accounting and water productivity,