Apply now - join the challenge to use Water as Leverage in resilient cities

Today, on World Earth Day, the Netherlands Enterprise Agency publishes the Call for Action for the 'Water as leverage for Resilient Cities Asia' programme. If you are interested in applying for the Call for Action and joining the initiative to find innovative solutions to water challenges in Chennai (India), Khulna (Bangladesh) and Semarang (Indonesia). ** **Information meeting On Thursday 26 April an information meeting on the Call and program will be organized by VNO-NCW/NLinBusiness and the Netherlands Enterprise Agency. See our event page for more information. The meeting will be live streamed on Youtube.

Water as Leverage for Resilient Cities Asia The objective of the Call for Action is to develop innovative and integral proposals for infrastructural projects in the cities of Chennai (India), Khulna (Bangladesh) and Semarang (Indonesia). The target group for the Call for Action includes internationally operating multi-disciplinary teams comprising urban planners and water and climate experts as well as other key players.

Together with the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) working in tandem with 100 Resilient Cities and the Global Centre of Excellence on Climate Adaptation, these innovations will be refined into proposals for implementable projects. Khulna, Chennai and Semarang are just the beginning: using the input from this first Call for Action, a method will be developed with our financial partners which can be implemented in other cities in Asia and the rest of the world.

Challenge Floods, droughts, pollution and water conflicts pose huge problems and risks to populations and ecosystems across the world. This combined with rapid urbanisation, a growing demand for food and energy, migration pressures, and climate change demands a different approach in which water plays a key role.

'Worldwide, water is the connecting challenge, the number one global risk and the opportunity for transformative and sustainable impact and comprehensive cultural change.' says Henk Ovink, Special Envoy for International Water Affairs for the Kingdom of the Netherlands By translating long-term planning into innovative, inclusive and financially feasible projects, Water as Leverage helps bring about real change, so that urban areas are better equipped to withstand the consequences of climate change. The cooperation between international teams, local stakeholders and financial institutions are what makes Water as Leverage a unique programme to tackle these huge challenges.

Partners The programme is carried out by The Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO.nl) on behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Special Envoy for International Water Affairs. Its partners are the cities of Chennai, Khulna and Semarang, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), the Dutch Development Bank (FMO), the Global Centre of Excellence on Climate Adaptation, Partners for Resilience and 100 Resilient Cities.