Our global work
Much of Deltares’ international work is regional, but some challenges transcend borders and span across the globe. Deltares is a strong partner on these global issues. In addition to working with local and national governments, we also work closely with a range of international organisations and global networks.
Water at the heart of global agendas
Water is increasingly acknowledged as a solution to the challenges related to climate change, biological diversity, and combatting desertification. Together with our partners, we stress the vital role that water can play in achieving the objectives set by the UN Conventions on climate, biodiversity and desertification (known collectively as the Rio Trio Conventions). We develop lasting, sustainable solutions that will benefit people, the environment, and the economy.
The UN 2023 Water Conference, the first in nearly 50 years, has helped put water higher on the international agenda and has framed water’s strong connections with wider global agendas. The first UN wide water strategy and the appointment of a UN Water Envoy offer concrete opportunities to accelerate the impact water can make on global development.
Deltares’ expertise
As part of these global processes, Deltares aims to bridge the gap between policy, science, and action on the ground. To help accelerate the implementation of solutions, enhance climate resilience, and facilitate sustainable development, we see it as our role to connect these.
We do so by mobilising forces, bringing together the necessary knowledge and partners, and by leveraging international programmes through joint actions and activities. Together with our international partners and stakeholders, we co-create and develop knowledge, tools, and services to support informed decision-making on strategic planning on climate resilient management of water, ecosystems and land, and the implementation actions on the ground.
At the same time, we also have the capacity and responsibility to help shape the future of the global agendas. To do so, Deltares works on several global initiatives and international programmes.
By being closely involved with these initiatives, we help ensure that policy-and decision-makers can take well-informed decisions, backed by science. Furthermore, we regularly engage with key partners during key global moments (such as the UN Water Conferences, the CoPs, UNDRR Global platform) to strengthen dissemination and co-create new initiatives.
Our focus areas include:
- Water resilience for climate planning: such as the Water Resilience Tracker and CRIDA
- Drought and flood management, such as EPIC
- Water as actionable entry point for peace and security, such as the Water, Peace and Security partnership
- Urban water management in relation to multi-level governance, such as Water as Leverage and demonstrating how multi-level collaboration is key for urban resilience.
Deltares also focuses on challenges such as transboundary water cooperation - including the Rhine, Meuse, Mekong, and Danube – by improving and scaling up collaboration between (non-)governmental institutions and knowledge experts for effective water governance and policies and to develop a joint message to drive in-time action.
In addition, Deltares contributes to shaping developments around the UN’s 2030 Sustainable Development Goals and the role of water on the global agendas and environmental Conventions. We do so by providing input to the process of designing the Riyadh Action Agenda, or by shaping the Urban Water Resilience process for the Climate COP28. We are keen to ensure our knowledge and expertise are available so they ca further shape the UN’s post-2030 Agenda.
A trusted partner
Deltares is the Dutch government’s knowledge partner of choice for much of our international work; we are proud to work on key Dutch initiatives, notably the International Panel on Deltas and Coastal Areas (IPDC), the Valuing Water Initiative, and the Water as Leverage programme.
Deltares is also a proud member of large global networks such as the Water, Peace and Security partnership, the OECD Water Governance Initiative, the Alliance for Global Water Adaptation, the High-Level Expert Panel on Water and Disaster Risk Reduction, the World Water Quality Alliance, and the Source-to-Sea Platform.
Since 2023, we have been co-host of the IPCC’s Working Group II. This group assesses the vulnerability of socio-economic and natural systems to climate change, negative and positive consequences of climate change, and the options for adaptation.
