South Africa and the Netherlands have agreed to deepen their cooperation on water resource management under a new programme running from 2027 to 2030, with a focus on improving catchment management, strengthening water institutions and addressing challenges affecting the country’s water systems.
The two countries formalised the next phase of their partnership through a Declaration of Intent signed in Cape Town on 29 October 2026. The agreement will support the third phase of the Blue Deal programme, continuing collaboration between South Africa’s Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) and the Dutch Water Authorities.
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Scope of Declaration of Intent
The declaration was signed by DWS Director-General Dr Sean Phillips and Dutch Water Authorities President Jeroen Haan. It builds on previous cooperation aimed at improving water governance through technical assistance, institutional development and the exchange of expertise. A major component of the 2027–2030 programme will be strengthening South Africa’s Catchment Management Agencies (CMAs), which oversee water resources within specific river basins. The initiative is expected to help these institutions improve their operational capacity, financial sustainability and ability to coordinate water management activities.
The programme will concentrate on four priority areas: improving the financial and organisational performance of catchment agencies, developing effective catchment management plans, strengthening water monitoring and data systems, and increasing participation by municipalities, local communities and other water-sector stakeholders.
The new phase will also support the implementation of South Africa’s National Water Action Plan, with activities designed around the specific requirements of individual catchment agencies. Previous phases of the Blue Deal partnership have supported water management initiatives in several locations, including Theewaterskloof, Crocodile River, Vredefort Dome, Blesbokspruit and the Msunduzi-uMngeni catchment.
Projects undertaken through the cooperation have included river rehabilitation, community-based water monitoring, biodiversity conservation and initiatives encouraging young people to participate in environmental management. The partnership has also supported professional development and women’s participation in the water sector through the Sisterhood in Water platform, established in collaboration with the World Water Academy.
Under the latest agreement, South African and Dutch institutions will continue sharing technical knowledge and practical experience to improve water management practices. The programme also seeks to ensure that the expertise and systems developed through the partnership become embedded within local institutions.
The renewed cooperation comes as South Africa continues to address pressures on its water resources, including deteriorating infrastructure, pollution, institutional capacity constraints and growing demand. Strengthening catchment-level management is expected to play an important role in improving water resource planning, protection and long-term sustainability.
