The Myanmar-Netherlands Water Challenge is an exciting program in which university students and young professionals are invited to investigate key water problems in their own country and cooperate with professionals experts to develop their own ideas and solutions. The program specifically appeals to the interests, skills and capabilities of young people and challenges them to apply their own original and independent thinking.
The Thaketa Climate Adaptation for Water Security Project is a 2-year pilot project aiming to design, implement and evaluate a variety of climate adaptation interventions in the Thaketa township in Yangon, Myanmar.
In the pilot project, the partners will establish an innovative network-driven stakeholder participation process for designing and implementing different types of climate adaptation interventions, based on the social innovation approach from one of the most successful, innovative climate adaptation programs in the Netherlands: Amsterdam Rainproof. The project will be supported by community awareness and education campaigns and capacity building for YCDC staff.
The pilot project is undertaken at the request of the Yangon Region Government and Yangon City Development Committee and funded together by the consortium partners (below), the Yangon Region Government and the Dutch Government (Partners poor Water program).
The companies working together in the Thaketa project consortium are: The Water Agency (lead), Doh Eain, Infram, Witteveen+Bos, Resilience, World Waternet, U.Minds and Water Bridge Myanmar.
For more information about the project, please contact Gregor van Essen, Project Director, at [email protected].
The Orange Knowledge Programme contributes to a society’s sustainable and inclusive development by providing access to education and training for professionals and organisations in technical vocational education and training (TVET) and higher education. It is funded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs as part of its development cooperation policy.
The subsidy programme is managed by Nuffic, a Dutch non-profit organisation for internationalisation in education. It offers funding for long-term, demand-driven partnerships between Dutch knowledge institutions and organisations in 21 participating countries, as well as individual scholarships and Tailor-Made Training courses in all 54 selected countries.
The € 220 m, 5-year programme ends mid-2022, enabling tens of thousands to change their future. From the Dutch development cooperation policy, 4 priority themes have been selected on which to focus in the programme: Food and Nutrition Security; Water, Energy and Climate; Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights; and Security and Rule of Law. Cross-cutting themes in this programme are inclusion, employability and environmental sustainability.
A strong coalition of Dutch companies and organisations has signed an agreement to jointly invest and collaborate in a comprehensive 3-year program to support the Yangon Regional Government in addressing critical challenges related to Urban Water and Water Logistics. The agreement is signed under the Dutch government Partners for International Business (PIB) program.
The agreement delivers on a promise by the coalition to H.E. Phyo Min Thein, the Regional Chief Minister of Yangon, in June this year, when he visited the Netherlands (LINK). During this visit, he requested Dutch expertise and advise on key topics related to Urban Water: water supply, water resources, water governance and water innovation; and Water Logistics: Yangon sea port, river transport, river dredging and river tunneling.
"The Project for Capacity Development in Basic Water Environmental Management and EIA System in Myanmar", will be implemented by Environmental Conservation Department (ECD), Yangon City Development Committee (YCDC) and Mandalay City Development Committee (MCDC) in cooperation with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The project activities in Myanmar started in June 2015, and will last until May 2018.
The purposes of the Project are to obtain enough capacity for developing basic water pollution control measures based on the acquired and analyzed information, and to establish institutional framework of the EIA review. Five (5) Japanese Experts will be dispatched to ECD to work in close cooperation with its staff both in office and on site. The team of Experts will also work closely with the officials of Pollution Control and Cleansing Department and Water and Sanitation Department of YCDC and Water Supply and Sanitation Department of MCDC.
The project activities are divided into two components: namely (i) the water environment management component and (ii) the EIA component. Among the six outputs of the project, the water environment management component covers standardization of environmental inspection (Output 1), water quality survey (Output 2), development of databases of pollution sources and river water quality (Output 3), and interpretation of information for water pollution control measures (Output 4).
Activities of the water environment management component of the project are being implemented in three cities in Myanmar, namely Yangon, Mandalay and Nay Pyi Taw. The water quality component has two target areas, Hlaing River basin in Yangon and Doke Hta Waddy River basin in Mandalay. These areas were selected to investigate the impact of industrial effluent from industrial zones on water quality of rivers.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is a membership Union uniquely composed of both government and civil society organisations. It provides public, private and non-governmental organisations with the knowledge and tools that enable human progress, economic development and nature conservation to take place together.
SIWI's vision is a water wise world, where we recognize the value of water, and ensure that it is shared and allocated sustainably, equitably and efficiently, to meet everyone’s basic needs.
Through applied research, policy consultation, capacity-building, and connecting key actors across sectors, SIWI stimulates the development of innovative policies and scientifically-based solutions to water-related challenges.
VanderSat is a leading global provider of commercial high‑resolution soil moisture data, products and services. VanderSat provides the highest resolution, cost-effective and information-rich soil moisture data in the world. With daily observations you can make better, more informed decisions at any scale - whether you are monitoring crops, predicting the weather, performing predictive analysis, or preventing forest fires. We deliver key input at an unprecedented scale.
VanderSat is one of the collaborators of the Partners for Water project of VPdelta in Myanmar called “Leapfrogging Delta Management in Myanmar . Showcasing smart information solutions in the Ayeyarwady Delta”.
HydroNumerics Pty Ltd was founded in 2010 to deliver innovative engineering services that support proactive management of water resources using technologies generated from two decades of research and development. Our team has extensive experience delivering services to local and international clients across the globe. We deliver software and services to utility, government, consultant, academic and industry clients across the globe and nurture relationships that provide lasting value to their business.
The Project:
In February 2016 the Myanmar’s cabinet approved a plan for a suspended bridge which will link Yangon, the country’s main economic center, with the underdeveloped Dala Township. Due to the increasing housing demand combined with the growing land price in Yangon, a rapid urbanization is expected to take place in Dala after the construction of the bridge.
Our mission is to lay the foundation for an innovative approach for a sustainable urban development of Dala which can be set as an example for other analogous cases around the world. In September and October we will be working on this project on site in Yangon.
In collaboration with the local university and professionals, we will explore a series of designs and institutional solutions for a sustainable integration of the following aspects:
- Water urban infrastructures
- Transport system
- Institutional measures
The first global environmental consultancy to establish operations in Myanmar, Ramboll Environ has been delivering high-end solutions and advice to clients throughout Asia for more than 25 years. Recent changes in Myanmar have led to an emerging regulatory framework aimed at ensuring environmental protection and sustainable development. Our in-country and regional experts provide critical support to clients as they establish operations in the country.
We offer a comprehensive array of strategic and technical consulting services to help clients assess and manage the environmental, health, safety and sustainability issues associated with their activities and products across a broad range of commercial sectors including mining, oil and gas, agri-business, transportation, manufacturing and energy generation and distribution.
Thai public organization that cooperates with the neighboring countries in economic and social development to expand trade and investment opportunities among Thailand and its neighboring countries. Regarding the future direction, NEDA will promote the project to develop the special economic zone in Dawei, Myanmar, which will link the production network/value chains in the region and will help expand ASEAN trade to South Asia and the West. NEDA is also in partner with ADB and JICA.
Following Cyclone Nargis, a large number of national and international NGOs established the Local Resource Centre (LRC) to assist local communities and civil society groups in the collective effort for relief and rehabilitation. The Burnet Institute led the establishment of LRC in collaboration with a broad partnership of organizations, including World Concern, the HIV/AIDS Alliance, the Capacity Building Initiative (CBI) and Oxfam. LRC was launched on May 15, 2008 to enable better coordination between local and international implementers, advocate on behalf of local groups, ensure access to capacity development services and ultimately strengthen the collaborative response to Cyclone Nargis between local and international organizations. Following the Nargis phase of operation (May 2008 – September 2010), LRC shifted its focus from disaster response to the holistic development of indigenous CSOs. LRC officially registered as a local NGO in May 2012.
In Myanmar, UN-Habitat is supporting technical assistance to several line ministries and stakeholders in policy and strategy development and training in the areas of Urban Planning & Management, National Building Codes Development, Urban Planning Guidelines, City Development Strategy, Training & Capacity Building, National Housing Policy formulation, Land Administration and Management, Urban Research and Poverty Reduction, State of the Environment Report, Long Term Restoration and Conservation Plan of Inlay Lake and Myanmar Climate Change Alliance Project.
Despite great strides in development in Asia in the past decade, millions of rural poor still have to depend on polluted water for their daily needs.
Lien AID is an international non-profit committed to enabling sustainable access to clean water and sanitation for Asia’s rural poor. Founded in 2006, Lien AID focuses on community-based approaches in the delivery of multi-year WASH programmes. Through partnerships with local governments, civil society organisations and private businesses, we hope to provide the impetus for better water governance and a future where clean water access is available to everyone.
Check out where we work in Myanmar.
Proximity Designs is an award-winning, social enterprise based in Yangon, Myanmar. We design and deliver affordable, income-boosting products and services that complement the entrepreneurial spirit of rural families. Founded in 2004, our products and services have improved the lifestyles, and boosted the incomes of over 250,000 rural people across the country. To reach scale, and maximize impact, we apply a business model, and design thinking, to our mission. We believe this to be the most sustainable, and effective way of helping people gets more money. And that’s ultimately what we want, more money in the pockets of the rural poor, for them to decide what to do with.
Akvo is a not-for-profit foundation that creates open source, internet and mobile software and sensors. We work with people improving infrastructure and services, for disadvantaged populations.
We focus on making international development and country governance more effective, transparent and collaborative.
Around the world, we help our partners act to improve the management of water, sanitation, agriculture, health, energy, education and the environment.
Several partners of the project “Leapfrogging Delta Management in Myanmar” are making use of the Akvo services, such as the 'Akvo Flow' and 'Akvo Caddisfly' to collect field data about the water quality of the river Ayeryawaddy."
Impact Terra is a fast growing start-up technology company. We at Impact Terra develop and implement mobile solutions for farmers, agribusinesses and other agricultural stakeholders. Our mission is to improve the livelihoods of rural population and improve food security and safety.
We use smartphones and our proprietary mobile app platform to support millions of farmers, retailers, and other users in their daily business and information requirements. As Myanmar is leapfrogging from no to full connectivity and 100% smartphone use, we believe we can have an incredible positive impact on the lives of millions of people. We work with NGOs, CSOs and other parties to provide users with the information they need.
Our Golden Paddy platform (“Shwe Thee Nhan”) provides users with an easy-to-use visual interface and real-time and targeted content such as weather forecast, input product prices, crop market prices, product information, farming best practices, news, risk announcements, financing and more. Currently Golden Paddy operates through three different channels; a mobile application, mobile website and Facebook page.
Since 1985, International Rivers has been at the heart of the global struggle to protect rivers and the rights of communities that depend on them.
We work with an international network of dam-affected people, grassroots organizations, environmentalists, human rights advocates and others who are committed to stopping destructive river projects and promoting better options.
We seek a world where healthy rivers and the rights of local communities are valued and protected. We envision a world where water and energy needs are met without degrading nature or increasing poverty, and where people have the right to participate in decisions that affect their lives.
Based in four continents, our staff has expertise in big dams, energy and water policy, climate change, and international financial institutions. We support partner organizations and dam-affected people by providing advice, training and technical assistance, and advocating on their behalf with governments, banks, companies and international agencies. The focus of our work is in Latin America, Asia and Africa.
FAO in Myanmar sets out seven priorities for collaboration: 1) Increased agricultural production to enhance food security; 2) Improved food safety and quality; 3) Sustainable management of natural resources and the environment; 4) Land use and land management improvements; 5) Human resource development and institutional capacity building; 6) Rural livelihoods improvement; 7) Preparedness for and mitigation of disasters and climate change.
Funded by the Government of Italy, an FAO project is helping to build sustainable small-scale fisheries and aquaculture livelihoods in coastal mangrove ecosystems in the Ayeyarwady Delta. Since 2010, FAO has worked with 20 communities in villages along the Bogale River, supporting local institutions to jointly implement and co-manage sustainable small-scale fisheries and aquaculture ventures. The project has focused on the Ayeyarwady Delta partly because of the heavy exploitation of fishery resources in that area and also to support populations still rebuilding their livelihoods after Cyclone Nargis in 2008.
CGIAR is a global research partnership for a food-secure future. CGIAR science is dedicated to reducing poverty, enhancing food and nutrition security, and improving natural resources and ecosystem services. Its research is carried out by 15 CGIAR centers in close collaboration with hundreds of partners, including national and regional research institutes, civil society organizations, academia, development organizations and the private sector. In Myanmar, there are a number of CGIAR centers including IRRI (International Rice Research Institute) and IWMI (International Water Management Institute) which are working in collaboration with government departments on promoting sustainable growth of aquaculture to improve food security, nutrition and income for communities in Myanmar’s Ayeyarwady Delta and Central Dry Zone.
The project is the bilateral cooperation between the French Development Agency (AFD) and the Yangon City Development Committee (YCDC) that aims at financing the improvement of water service management in Tarmwe Township in Yangon. The project will last until 2018.
The project seeks to implement a technical and commercial management model for the municipality’s water service in the pilot district of Tarmwe in order to address the issue of “non-revenue water” that refers to water that is lost before reaching the customer (physical losses) or unaccounted for (commercial losses).
The project has three components: firstly, equipping the pilot district with the necessary measurement tools for water service management; secondly, strengthening the district water service capacities; and thirdly, providing management tools that allow the replication of such model in other districts of the city. Yangon City Development Committee will implement the project with the support of a technical operator to be selected through a tendering procedure.
Being implemented by the UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education in Delft along with key partners , the Ayeyarwady Water, Land and Ecosystems (WLE) Fellowship Programme aims at capacity building and professional development on inclusive governance and management of water and ecosystem services in the Ayeyarwady basin. The project is targeting mid-level professionals of relevant water and water-related organizations including national and state government, academia and training centres and civil society. The project aims to provide a focused and sustainable contribution to strengthening capacities of key Myanmar water related organisations, water professionals and individuals to contribute to inclusive water and ecosystem services governance and management of the Ayeyarwady River Basin.
Founded in 2009, James Davidson Architect (JDA) is a Brisbane based architectural studio which intimately links design practice, research consultancy and community development activities. Our work encompasses a diversity of project scales ranging from boutique residential to larger institutional projects, building in particular on the practice’s collective expertise in all areas of architecture ranging from one-off residential projects through to multi-res, interiors, cultural/public buildings and urban design.
We have a history of community engagement, including previously leading the Queensland office of Emergency Architects Australia and becoming deeply involved in their 2011 flood relief activities which continues to inform our urban design and residential practice work. The practice is a leader in innovative architectural approaches to practice and design with a focus on flooding and climate change adaptation having completed a range of experimental flood resilient houses in Brisbane. We have also recently completed a number of projects internationally.