agreement: joint press statement by the Department of Water Affairs and
Forestry and the Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
5 December 2006
The Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry of the Republic of South Africa,
Ms Lindiwe Hendricks (MP), and His Excellency, Mr F A Engering, Ambassador
extraordinary and plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, today
signed the agreement on the 'Partners for Water' Programme, providing support
to the water sector in South Africa through the sharing of expertise and
experience available in the Dutch water sector and providing resources aimed at
improving this performance.
The 'Partners for Water' Programme will be implemented through the
Masibambane Water Sector Support Programme and will broadly be providing
support to feasibility studies, identification and market studies, business
development projects, demonstration and pilot projects and institutional
development projects.
The projects under the programme are aimed at supporting the water sector in
South Africa by transferring expertise and experience available in the Dutch
water sector and in specific cases, goods, in order to strengthen the
performance of the particular parties in addressing world water issues. The
projects will promote economic and social benefits in South Africa as well as
be an economic spin-off for the Dutch water sector. The projects must comply
with a number of requirements based on sound business proposals that lead to a
sustainable co-operation relationship.
Funds of up to 5 million euro per year are made available globally from a
number of government departments in Netherlands which will be accessed by at
least two Dutch partners together with partners in 43 other countries, one of
which is South Africa. The proposals will be awarded funds based on the merits
of each project.
Public-private partnerships are specifically encouraged and projects are
expected to be executed by private companies, knowledge institutions,
non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and government organisations.
The Minister thanked the Ambassador for the Netherlands' continued support
for service delivery and poverty alleviation in South Africa. Netherlands'
involvement in the water sector dates back to 1994 when it supported
initiatives in the sector, which included support to NGOs and the Department of
Water Affairs and Forestry, especially in "gearing up" for the Department's
Masibambane Flagship programme in 2001.
The Ambassador responded saying he is pleased that with this new initiative,
the previous co-operation between the Netherlands and South Africa in the water
sector has got follow-up. He expects the Partners for Water programme to open
up new ways for exchange of expertise and co-operation in the field of water
management, in particular through public-private partnerships.
Enquires:
Saskia de Smidt
Economic and Trade Section
Royal Netherlands Embassy Pretoria
Tel: (012) 425 4533
Thoko Sigwaza
Director: Sector Collaboration
Department of Water Affairs and Forestry
Tel: (012) 336 7049
Issued by: Department of Water and Forestry
5 December 2006
Source: Department of Water Affairs (http://www.dwaf.gov.za)
