Pieter Copper, Senior Policy Officer on Climate, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands; and Maren Striker, Unit Lead Program Development & Management, International Department, Netherlands Red Cross. Interviewed by Gavin White and Lorraine Youds from the REAP Secretariat.
Across the Greater Horn of Africa, communities are increasingly grappling with the devastating impacts of erratic rainfall, flooding, drought, and rising temperatures. While the five countries involved in the Water at the Heart of Climate Action programme—Ethiopia, Rwanda, South Sudan, Sudan, and Uganda—are diverse in their cultures, populations, economies, governance, and specific climate risks, they are all interconnected through the vast Nile Basin. For Pieter Copper and colleagues from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, this shared geography and vulnerability to climate change raised an important question: What can better cooperation and partnerships, from local to international levels, teach us about making a lasting difference in some of the world's most climate-vulnerable regions? The answer may lie in how we harness the power of collaboration across these boundaries to build resilience and protect lives.
In September 2023, Water at the Heart of Climate Action was launched with a bold mission: to harness the power of both local knowledge and cutting-edge technology to prevent water-related disasters before they happen. The focus on five countries in the Nile Basin—Ethiopia, Rwanda, South Sudan, Sudan, and Uganda – each facing the dual challenges of too much water during floods and too little during droughts – should provide important lessons for transboundary cooperation and water management. The initiative’s work is rooted in the effective delivery of early warnings and early action, which can save lives, protect livelihoods, and build resilience against the increasingly unpredictable forces of nature.
But the journey to turn this vision into reality was fraught with challenges, both seen and unseen.
Navigating political waters
In recent years, Western democracies have seen climate change become a deeply politicised issue, with scepticism amongst some sectors of society on the rise. This has been compounded by growing doubts about the efficacy of foreign aid, with many in the Global North questioning whether funds might be better spent addressing issues closer to home.
"Increasingly, we need to be able to explain to our domestic audience the need and effectiveness of development aid, including climate finance. At the same time, we recognize the growing impact of climate change on the severity and frequency of disasters. Being able to predict where crises might strike and enable action to prevent or mitigate impacts before they occur is more important than ever, particularly in support of the most vulnerable and marginalised groups," Pieter Copper, formerly Senior Policy Officer at the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, reflected. "Managing climate-related disasters through early warnings offers a clear, tangible return on investment."
This understanding became the foundation upon which the partnership was built, as the team sought to demonstrate how a well-structured international aid programme could not only mitigate disaster risks but also yield significant benefits for both donors and recipients.
Building trust among allies
Developing the Water at the Heart of Climate Action programme was more than just a collaboration—it was a convergence of different worlds. Led by the Netherlands Red Cross, the programme brought together an array of international partners, including the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), the Systematic Observations Financing Facility (SOFF), the Red Cross Climate Centre and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). Each organisation came with its own mandates, expertise, and, at times, conflicting perspectives.
"It was like a marriage of convenience," Maren Striker, Unit Lead for Program Development at the Netherlands Red Cross, recalled with a smile. "We knew we had to make it work, despite our differences."
To bridge the gaps, the partnership invested heavily in building relationships and fostering mutual understanding. This began with, a series of workshops and discussions were held in December 2022, where partners sat down to develop a shared theory of change. The result was a proposal that left room for flexibility and adaptation, with an entire year dedicated to an inception phase—time to refine ideas, address concerns, and build consensus.
A shared vision for the future
At the heart of the partnership was a commitment to understanding the unique challenges and opportunities in each of the five countries. Early warning systems require a delicate balance of coordination across different sectors—hydrology, meteorology, disaster management, and social protection—and each country has its strengths and weaknesses.
In a meeting held in Kigali, Rwanda, representatives from Ethiopia, Rwanda, South Sudan, Sudan, and Uganda came together to share their experiences and strategies for improving early warning systems. The discussions were candid, sometimes heated, but always driven by a common goal: to protect their communities from the growing water-related threats posed by environmental degradation and climate change.
Amanuel Sileshi/IFRC/2022/Ethiopia/Displaced woman in Somali region (Ethiopia) affected by drought. Ardu is sitting outside her makeshift home, south of Babile, Somali region (Ethiopia). Ardu, a mother, is a displaced person who had to abandon her home due to prolonged drought, the worst registered in recent history. Many pastoralist families have lost all of their livestock. They have had to move locations in search of clean water and access to markets. 2023 may bring more of the same, as the March-May 2023 rains are also forecast to be below average.
The partnership's approach was rooted in a bottom-up methodology, beginning with the needs of local stakeholders and working upward. The programme’s motto, “from satellites to sandbags,” reflected this holistic approach, which sought to connect global technology with the practical needs of communities on the ground.
The cost of collaboration
Yet, as with any large-scale initiative, the costs of collaboration were high. Mobilising experts from multiple agencies, coordinating efforts across borders, and ensuring that every partner's voice was heard required significant resources. The Government of the Netherlands, which initially led the initiative, understood these costs but also saw them as a necessary investment in long-term success.
"We knew it wouldn't be easy," Striker explained. "But the initial transaction costs are just that—initial. Once the foundation is set, the potential for impact is enormous."
Patience, persistence and upscaling
As the partnership moves forward, the focus remains on learning and adapting before scaling up. The collaboration between humanitarian, hydrometeorological, disaster risk reduction, and development partners has already yielded valuable insights. There is a recognition that more work is needed to translate high-level commitments into tangible outcomes on the ground. In parallel the consortium will actively mobilize other resources to respond to the needs in the selected countries and to other countries. E.g. further investments in hydro-meteorological infrastructures, expanding impact-based forecasting (IBF) and including more at-risk communities can directly lead to tangible results.
Conclusion: A River of Resilience
As the Water at the Heart of Climate Change Action programme continues its work, the Nile remains a symbol of resilience and hope. The river, which has supported life for thousands of years, now carries with it the aspirations of millions who depend on its waters. Through early warnings and coordinated early action, the partnership aims to ensure that these communities are not just surviving but thriving in the face of climate change.
The journey is far from over, but the lessons learned so far can offer a blueprint for how international collaboration and partnerships can adapt and evolve to address one of the greatest challenges of our time and better serve the most vulnerable.
End notes:
- Blog on the Water at the Heart initiative and its objectives from the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals website.