LAC: Capacity building and training
At Deltares, capacity building is a strategic driver for resilience and impact. We embed learning, co-creation, and knowledge sharing into our projects and partnerships, especially across Latin America and the Caribbean. Guided by our “Dare to Share” moto, we promote open-source tools, collaborative development, and hands-on training that empower local actors to lead change. This approach ensures that our science translates into practice, strengthening institutions and communities to navigate future uncertainties with confidence and agility.
Through activities such as collaborative modelling, short courses, peer-to-peer workshops, and communities of practice, we empower local professionals and institutions. A key example is the Latin America FEWS Days, which brings together regional practitioners for training, experience sharing, and peer learning.
We also collaborate with institutions like IHE Delft and regional partners to deliver tailor-made training, both locally and in the Netherlands. Our programs cover a wide range of topics including Delft-FEWS, flood and drought management, groundwater modelling, iMOD, geostatistics, and surface water–groundwater interaction.
Recent efforts include training on Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) modelling and expanding activities under the IPDC initiative. As we renew our MoU with IHE, we aim to deepen our collaboration and continue supporting sustainable water management through knowledge sharing and capacity building.
Examples of our work
Climate Risk Informed Decision Analysis (CRIDA) , Guayaquil, Ecuador
Climate Risk Informed Decision Analysis (CRIDA) is a collaborative planning approach that helps water managers make robust decisions under climate uncertainty developed by Unesco and Deltares.
A compelling example of its application is in Guayaquil, Ecuador, where Deltares and local partners used CRIDA to develop an integrated climate adaptation strategy for the flood-prone Febres Cordero neighborhood.
Faced with risks from high tides and intense rainfall—exacerbated by sea level rise—the project combined urban design and flood risk modelling to co-create solutions that not only reduce flood hazards but also enhance local livability and economic resilience.
The participatory process included stakeholder workshops, climate stress testing, and the development of scalable adaptation pathways.
Contact person: Ad Jeuken.
Adaptation in Action, Santa Lucía, Uruguay
An example of Deltares’ capacity building in the region is the “Adaptación en Acción – Cuenca Santa Lucía” project in Uruguay. In collaboration with DINAGUA and the Universidad de la República, Deltares delivered hands-on training in Montevideo on 3 key modelling tools: Wflow, DELWAQ, and RIBASIM in 2022.
These sessions supported both technical skill development and the co-design of models for the Santa Lucía River Basin, strengthening local capacity for integrated water management.
Contact person: Patricia Trambauer.
IPDC training with IHE on coastal management & NBS
Contact person: Begoña Arellano Jaimerena.
Climate Resilient Cities Tool (CRCTool) Guadalajara (Mexico)
Contact person: Begoña Arellano Jaimerena.
