Water as Leverage programme nominated for the Dutch Design Awards 2020

The Water as Leverage for Resilient Cities Asia (WaL) programme is one of 3 nominees for the Dutch Design Awards 2020. WaL competes in the ‘Best Commissioning’ category. The core of the programme is that water is a leverage and catalyst to climate action. WaL contributes to sustainable social, economic and ecological development. With research by design Water as Leverage gives substance to project development at a an innovative and inclusive way. By doing this, urban climate action (both mitigation and adaptation) is connected with social development and employment, sustainable economic development and the recovery of biodiversity.

Water as leverage, together against climate change Rapidly-growing cities all over the world are severely affected by climate change. At the same time, cities are part of the solution. Water is the connecting factor in cities’ sustainable development. Worldwide, water presents not only the biggest risk but also the greatest connecting opportunity. It brings all people, their needs and opportunities together to challenge the future. That is the main goal of Water as Leverage (WaL).

WaL is founded on an integrated and inclusive approach. Everybody needs to be involved; banks, communities, governments, designers, all. It enables all to become ‘guardians of the body of thought’, and that is especially critical for the financiers. Vulnerable communities are at the heart of the project, and are involved from the very beginning, in this dynamic process aimed to improve their living environment.

This inclusive approach results in all parties experiencing a true sense of ownership of the culture and outcomes of Water as Leverage.

WaL focuses on the cities of Chennai (India), Khulna (Bangladesh) and Semarang (Indonesia). And the programme has the ambition to scale up across all of Asia and the rest of the world.

The programme challenges Dutch businesses in international partnerships to build locally based partnerships. Partnerships that work together to design, develop and implement innovative concepts for sustainable development in these cities.

Announcing the winners of the Dutch Design Awards Dutch Design Week (DDW) is the largest yearly design event in Northern Europe. It, lasts 9 days. Events during the week include the Dutch Design Awards (DDA) presentation.

This year, Water as Leverage has been nominated in the ‘Best Commissioning’ category. The project received great reviews from the Dutch Design Awards jury.

*‘A surprising example of Dutch Design as mentality: with the integral approach of Water as Leverage, the Dutch government has created an important foundation for one of the most complex issues of our time.’ * The winner will be announced on Saturday, 24 October during a live talk show on DDW TV. Henk Ovink, the Netherlands Special Envoy for International Water Affairs, will be interviewed on behalf of the Dutch government. Ovink is the initiator and commissioner of WaL. You can watch The DDA Show live at 16:00 CEST from 17 until 24 October on ddw.nl.

From 17 October, you can also look at all the projects from both nominees and winners online. These will be shown in special 3D exhibitions on the DDW platform. If it is possible, a physical exhibition will take place in early 2021.

Water as Leverage WaL is a partnership between the Dutch government and national and international parties. The programme is implemented by the Netherlands Enterprise Agency on behalf of the Netherlands Special Envoy for International Water Affairs, Henk Ovink, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management.

You can find more information about the DDA information page on WaL. If you have any questions, please contact us by sending an email to wal@rvo.nl.

Water as Leverage partners: Special Envoy for International Water Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, the Netherlands Enterprise and Development Agency (RVO), Dutch Development Bank FMO, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, Global Center on Adaptation, Resilient Cities Network, International Architecture Biennale Rotterdam (IABR), Architecture Workroom Brussels (AWB), Fabrications, Deltares, Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency (PBL), Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), UN- Habitat, WWF, Pegasys, Partners for Resilience, Water Youth Network, World Bank, Asian Development Bank, Islamic Development Bank, Green Climate Fund, KfW, PTSMI Indonesia, Governments of Bangladesh, India and Indonesia, Cities of Chennai, Khulna and Semarang and of course the 6 Water as Leverage teams.