The WISA conference was overshadowed by the aftermath of storms that devastated uThongathi and other parts of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) at the beginning of June. These storms, although less severe, followed 2022’s storm Issa which flooded significant parts of the province. Together, these major weather occurrences emphasized the need for collaborative water solutions to build resilient cities.

Deep Blue Sea Creative Waste Management

Leading up to the WISA conference, the Mission of the Netherlands collaborated with Umcebo Design on a project which combines art and environmental stewardship. Named the Deep Blue Sea Creative Waste Management Project, the initiative saw talented scholars transforming waste plastic retrieved from water bodies into three stunning fish sculptures. During the week of the WISA conference, two of these fish were gifted to the eThekwini Municipality and the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS). The third fish will be displayed at the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Pretoria. These art pieces serve as powerful reminders of the urgent need to tackle water pollution and highlight the innovative solutions that youth can develop when given the opportunity.

Flood Risk Reduction Workshop

The Mission of the Netherlands hosted a workshop on flood risk reduction in Durban with Royal HaskoningDHV (RHDV) at the WISA conference. This workshop took place in the context of a request for flood risk reduction support sent by the eThekwini municipality to the Dutch Risk Reduction (DRR) team in the aftermath of the the April 2022 floods in the province. RHDHV presented the preliminary findings of an economic flood risk assessment in the Prospecton Area of Durban. The workshop featured lively discussions with representatives from RHDHV, Zutari, SANBI, and eThekwini, emphasizing a holistic approach to flood risk reduction that considers economic, social, and environmental aspects, as well as upstream and downstream measures. This summer, the DRR team will develop detailed adaptation strategies in a roadmap for implementation of flood risk reduction measures.

Memorandum of Understanding on Water

The valuable bilateral relationship on water between South Africa and the Netherlands was underscored by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Netherlands and the South African Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS). The WISA conference provided an opportunity for the annual Joint Steering Committee to hold a meeting chaired by DWS Chief Director of Operational Support, Petunia Ramunenyiwa, and Ambassador Joanne Doornewaard. Through constructive collaboration, the partners agreed on the continuation of fruitful activities and explored ways to enhance their cooperation in the coming year.

Waterpreneurs

Two young female entrepreneurs in the water sector, Lesley Mukwada and Tumi Mphahlele, had their attendance of the WISA conference supported by the Mission of the Netherlands in South Africa. These entrepreneurs are part of the Embassy's ‘Waterpreneurs’ programme which provides young water professionals with tailored support to accelerate their businesses. At the conference, Mukwada and Mphahlele shared their innovative solutions for water hyacinth and water testing and treatment respectively, as well as their overall experiences working in the water sector as women. One entrepreneur expressed her gratitude, stating, “Doing business with large corporates in South Africa is very difficult as business development and sales take a long time. This platform (Waterpreneurs) has really opened up doors that I could never imagine opening up on my own as a small startup. Thank you for providing the master key that unlocked opportunity for dialogue and prospects.”

Wetskills Challenge

The Mission of the Netherlands organised the award ceremony for the Wetskills challenge in collaboration with Wetskills. The annual challenge sees  young water professionals create out-of-the-box solutions for pressing water-related issues. Participants pitched their solutions to a panel of water sector professionals. The winning team proposed a safe alternative for pit latrines at schools. At the event, Ambassador Doornewaard remarked that “Youth are not only the leaders of tomorrow, they are the innovators of today.”

The WISA 2024 conference highlighted the importance of collaboration, innovation, and the involvement of youth and women in addressing water challenges and building resilience against climate change. The Mission of the Netherlands active participation showcased their commitment to fostering sustainable solutions in the water sector.