During the UN Water Conference a DRIVE Grant Arrangement of 30 million euro’s has been signed with the Government of Mozambique, represented by the Ministry of Economy and Finance, H.E. Carlos Mesquita, Minister of Public Works, Housing and Water Resources. The Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation of the Netherlands, Liesje Schreinemacher and Invest Internationals CEO Joost Oorthuizen being present.
The Grant is meant for coastal protection in Beira. The proposed infrastructure in Beira is a great example of Dutch Solutions for Global Challenges, the infrastructure package has been designed by Dutch consultants and will be dominated by Nature-based solutions in the form of dune restoration and sand suppletion, a technique that has been applied with great success in the Netherlands.
Picture taken during the signing of the Grant Arrangement at the UN Water Conference. From left to right: Joost Oorthuizen, CEO Invest International, H.E Carlos Alberto Fortes Mesquita, Minister of Public Works, Housing and Water Resources of Mozambique and Liesje Schreinemacher, Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation.
Photo ©: Nick Papananias, Sipa USA.
Also a Memorandum of Understanding with the World Bank, represented by the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR), was signed during the UN Water Conference. With the goal: collaborate on scaling opportunities for climate resilient infrastructure and globally improve sustainable procurement.
NBS can be applied as an element, part of the solution, in grey-green infrastructure projects combining hard and soft solutions, or in the scope of a complete project (e.g. ‘coastal sediment management with a sand-motor’ or restoration of inland habitat in fluvial flood zones).
NBS refers to approaches associated with the protection, management, enhancement, and restoration of natural or Nature-based features to address climate resilience and adaptation, while simultaneously providing human well-being, biodiversity benefits, and other social and environmental advantages.
The proposed infrastructure in Beira is a great example of Dutch Solutions for Global Challenges, the infrastructure package has been designed by Dutch consultants and will be dominated by Nature Based Solutions in the form of dune restoration and sand suppletion, a technique that has been applied with great success in the Netherlands.
To mainstream Nature-based solutions a coalition was formed at the New York Water House during the UN Water Conference. Bringing together a diverse range of organisations, including the Asian Development Bank (ADB), World Wildlife Fund, Rijksdienst voor Ondernemend Nederland (RVO) (Netherlands Enterprise Agency), Invest International, Rijkswaterstaat, the Ministerie van Infrastructuur en Waterstaat, Wetlands International and EcoShape.
By committing to the UN Water Action Agenda, together with these organisations we are taking action to create a breakthrough in the application and implementation of NBS for water-related challenges. The coalition aims to make NBS a widely accepted practice by 2030, driving meaningful change in how we approach water-related issues and environmental sustainability.
Read more on the coalition for mainstream NBS
Cartagena, located on the Caribbean coast of Colombia, is hit hard by climate change effects, resulting in floods and declining water quality. For Water as Leverage Cartagena Invest International is partnering with the European Investment Bank (EIB) for climate resilience in the Colombian city Cartagena involving communities, governments, expert designers, engineers and the private sector.
Water as Leverage is uniting a growing global community of governments, cities, communities, designers, engineers, NGOs, researchers and more. All joining forces to scale up and replicate Water as Leverage projects. One example is Invest International partnering with the European Investment Bank (EIB) for climate resilience in the Colombian city Cartagena involving communities, governments, expert designers, engineers and the private sector. Cartagena, located on the Caribbean coast of Colombia, is hit hard by climate change effects, resulting in floods and declining water quality.
The Water as Leverage project started five years ago. A milestone that was celebrated during the Water Conference at a Side Event, with a diversity of stakeholders tackling some of the most pressing issues in water- and climate change adaptation.
The Dutch Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management Mark Harbers: “The commitment ‘Scaling up Water as Leverage for worldwide urban climate resilience, through water’ reflects my ambition to scale Water as Leverage globally. I call upon many other potential partners, beyond those standing here today with me, to join our efforts”.
Mayor William Dau of Alcaldia de Cartagena de Indias shared that Water as Leverage Cartagena seemed “like a distant dream but there are now already two teams working on tangible solutions.”
Special Water Envoy for the Netherlands Henk Ovink shared his conviction that “WaL is an optimism approach that empowers people to search for culturally and geographically connected solutions for water-related challenges in the city landscape.”
Read full speech of minister Mark Harbers at UN Water Conference
During the luncheon for the signing of the Grant Arrangement at the UN Water Conference.
From left to right: Director Public Sector of Invest International Lara Muller, Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation of Niger H.E. M. Mahaman Adamou, Minister of Water and Forests Ivory Coast H.E. Laurent TCHAGBA, Minister of Water & Equipment Morocco H.E. Nizar Baraka, CEO of Invest International Joost Oorthuizen and Rene van Hell, Director Inclusive Green Growth at the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Photo ©: Nick Papananias, Sipa USA.
Frequently asked questions on financing related to Water & infra projects.
Yes, for the Public team at Invest International ‘Water’ is one of the important sectors to focus on. Following the expertise in The Netherlands and demand globally, such as integrated water management and Nature-based solutions. Our current infrastructure-portfolio already includes these opportunities, and the Public team aims to scale-up.
As a finance insitution we provide grant funding up to 50 percent of the project cost with DRIVE for implementation, and DRIVE Technical Assistance (TA) or Develop2Build (D2B) for the development of public infrastructure, to governments in developing countries to implement public infrastructure.
We can offer a 100 percent financing package, a DRIVE-grant plus loan, where possible with ECA cover. In case the contractor or consortium implementing the works have at least 20 percent Dutch content. In all other cases, we can co-finance and provide parallel financing using DRIVE, with other (international) financiers and donors.
It is also possible to finance through the Green Impact Promotor or DRIVE TA, Technical Assistance. In cases where Dutch expertise can significantly strengthen the investment package and/or local capacity.
When filling a funding gap for international projects which can be risky and are outside the remit of mainstream investors and lenders. Plus a project needs to contribute to the Dutch economy and its future earning capacity.
With financed projects we – from our mandate – need to create impact on the UN Sustainable Development Goals, especially 13 (Climate action) and 8 (Decent work and economic growth).
More on Water & infra as a focus sector
‘Water is a dealmaker for the Sustainable Development Goals, and for the health and prosperity of people and planet. But our progress on water related goals and targets remains alarmingly off track, jeopardizing the entire sustainable development agenda’, according to the general United Nations message for the UN Water Conference 2023. To complement the Water Conference with hopeful and inspiring activities, the Netherlands and Tajikistan joined forces with the New York City government for New York Water Week.
CEO Joost Oorthuizen participated in the celebration of the Water as Leverage program and discussed on Bridges Close Gaps!; moving the blended finance needle to generate financeable water plans, organized by WaterEquity.
Director Public Sector Lara Muller was one of the panelists in Showcasing the power of Nature-based solutions organized by EcoShape. And Lara participated in the panel on Nature-based solutions for Water and Peace. The latter being on how we can turn the tide and restore the water-cycle in a conflict affected area. This was organized by The Weather Makers in collaboration with HCSS – The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies, Anthesis Group and Tamatta.
Invest International Public Team Send an email