Water Governance Collaborating on solutions to water problems
“We believe it is important to identify the root of a problem if we are to come to an effective solution. For us, it is crucial to find a solution that is sustainable, and not one made at the expense of people and important natural resources. We also want to make a valuable contribution to societystrengthening and revitalizing the Dutch economy.�
Water Governance, the Twynstra Gudde point of view “Technically the possibilities are many, but how do we get water governance on an operational level?� This is, in our view, the main issue in modern water management. Moreover, it’s one we can tackle, considering our extensive experience in leading projects where we help respected clients to resolve complex problems in water safety, water quality and water management. Our approach is called Water Governance, a term referring to the embedding of social measures, linking tasks, ensuring support and structuring the decision-making process. Water Governance also has to do with organizational design and the practical implementation of different programs and projects. This is based on the realization that knowledge of content alone is not enough, but that other external factors, such as politics, culture and organization play a crucial role in the success or failure of a project. The complexity of our environment and the diversity of tasks demand inclusion of situational awareness, structuring power and connecting interests. Our distinguished consultants and managers are well-known for their general knowledge of the water sector combined with their organizational and process skills - a powerful combination essential for complex water management issues. Twynstra Gudde is a member of Highland Worldwide, a strategic alliance of consultancy firms in Europe, the USA, China, Japan, Singapore, Australia, Brazil and the United Arab Emirates (54 offices in total). The expertise of over 2,500 consultants and managers gives us a solid base to help support you on a local level. Have we aroused your curiosity? If so, take a look at our website on water issues (www.tg.nl/water) or contact one of our advisors at +31 33 467 77 56.
“The complexity of our environment and the diversity of tasks demand inclusion of situational awareness, structuring power and connecting interests.�
Room for the River Nijmegen Stakeholder and alliance management
To ensure the safety of the Nijmegen region against
Role of Twynstra Gudde
flooding due to climate changes, there needs to be a solid
Pim Nijssen of Twynstra Gudde was asked to take on
water plan. By shifting the Waaldijk 350 meters inland
the role of stakeholder and alliance manager for this
and digging a new secondary channel, we have ‘made’
project. In this role, he was responsible for building a
more space for the River Waal. An elongated peninsula
coalition between public administrations and public
will be created between the new secondary channel and
support bodies for the plan. Trust and transparency
the Waal. Integrated into the new urban development
formed the base. Openness about the steps in the
of the city, this new urban river park creates space for
project and the moments of influence created a
living, recreation and nature.
strong work ethic. Keeping promises and taking oth-
Through a transparent process, open communication,
ers’ interests seriously lent support to the project.
clear agreements and attention for the ‘soft’ side of
Where possible, these aspects were integrated into
the ‘Room for the River’ project at Nijmegen,Twynstra
the overall plan.
Gudde has helped to create a water management plan that can meet the approval of almost all the parties involved.
‘Openness about the steps in the project and the moments of influence created a strong work ethic ’
Delta Plan Bangladesh An entirely new approach to water management
The Netherlands and Bangladesh are about to col-
Role of Twynstra Gudde
laborate on the Bangladesh Delta Plan 2100. It is very
Twynstra Gudde was a partner in the consortium
important for Bangladesh to create a solid strategy to
of Euroconsult-Mott MacDonald, Deltares, Alterra,
tackle safety issues and structure the available water
Unesco-IHE, which have explored the main charac-
in relation to sudden climate changes and economic
teristics and challenges of the Bangladesh water sec-
developments.
tor. Twynstra Gudde played an important role in the
The knowledge and principles developed in the
institutional and policy aspects involved, and in strat-
Netherlands in the Dutch Delta Program will also be
egy development and organizational issues related
used by Bangladesh to create a long-term strategy
to good water governance. The consortium’s explo-
linked to the existing water policy. The objective is
rations and preparations also provided the input and
to work together on sustainable delta management,
basis for an agreement between the two countries.
integrate activities on water tasks and manage crisis situations. Water management in Bangladesh can then be revitalized, particularly by applying a holistic approach, thus creating understanding of the water system as a whole.
‘ Our contribution lies in organizing the institutional aspects and deepening and coordinating strategic policies’
Mainport Rotterdam An integrated approach with both economic and environmental objectives
The port of Rotterdam is by far the largest and most
Role of Twynstra Gudde
important port in Europe. However, after decades
Ever since 2008, Twynstra Gudde has supported
of growth, the existing port area had reached its
Rijkswaterstaat in various ways, for instance, by coordi-
spatial limits. If Rotterdam was to continue fulfilling
nating the establishment of monitoring and evaluation
its meaningÂful role in Europe, it would be necessary to
programs, and advising on the implementation and
expand. And this is exactly what happened, resulting
operationalization of the organization. An important
in Maasvlakte 2, now the expanded port of Rotterdam.
role was the support given to the decision-making
A new European location for port activities and in-
process through Strategic Alliance Management, a
dustry was created directly west of the existing port
project management method based on the Mutual
and industrial area on the North Sea.
Gains Approach.
The future of the port is, of course, not only important for its market position, but also for the quality of life and the environment in the respective area. Consultations to further develop Maasvlakte 2 sustainably, including the environment and quality of life, were started up with neighboring communities and interest groups.
‘ An important role was the support given to the decision-making process’
Mainport Rotterdam Proactive Issues and Strategic Stakeholder Management
harbors in the world and by far the largest in Europe.
Twynstra Gudde’s Strategic Stakeholder Management
If the harbor is to maintain its position, expansion is
In essence, the SOM approach is a proactive inter-
needed, requiring the construction of the extended
vention strategy based on a sincere concern for the
harbor, ‘Maasvlakte 2’, at a cost of 3 billion euro. It is
interests of the stakeholders. The principle of SOM is
for the government of the Netherlands important to
that the interests of other stakeholders are discussed
develop Maasvlakte 2 with respect for both nature
at an early stage in the project so that it can still be
and the environment, and for the preservation of
adjusted. This approach arises from the conviction
the quality of life in the Rotterdam region. Efforts to
that the solution to your problem may sometimes
achieve this goal in combination with a large num-
lie with the other partners, and that constructive col-
ber of stakeholders and interests make this project
laboration leads to better, faster and cheaper plans.
extremely complex.
Joining interests and cooperating with supposed op-
The Rotterdam harbor is one of the most important
ponents does, by no means, have to lead to more Experience with similar projects has taught the pro-
complexity – on the contrary.
ject developers to expect considerable resistance, endless procedures and substantial overstepping of
The SOM approach does place demands on mem-
deadlines and budgets. The project director wanted
bers of staff, since the approach is only effective if
to prevent this happening, so asked Twynstra Gudde
staff behavior complies with it. SOM requires trans-
to consider applying stakeholder management. The
parency in one’s own interests and methods, sincere
approach had to be more proactive; the project direc-
concern for others and a flexible attitude.
tor no longer wanted to have to deal with surprises. So we introduced Strategic Stakeholder Management, a special type of project management based on the Mutual Gains Approach of Fisher & Ury.
I-STORM Building a network for knowledge exchange
The I-STORM network unites public administrations
Role of Twynstra Gudde
of countries that build, manage, operate and main-
Twynstra Gudde assists the I-STORM network in
tain moveable storm surge barriers. The network
developing its activities and strategy by advising,
aims to share and exchange experiences and knowl-
coordinating, facilitating, stimulating and organiz-
edge on operations and maintenance of large mov-
ing, both on strategic and operational levels. It is a
able storm surge barriers so as to optimize the man-
highly valued network for and by the members, so
agement of barriers in an innovative way. I-STORM
most of the work is done by employees of the mem-
helps its members to accomplish the highest levels
ber organizations. Roles fulfilled by Twynstra Gudde
of operational safety and reliability to protect people
are the organizing of steering committee meetings,
and property against severe floods.
setting out the program, facilitating annual confer-
The I-STORM network works according to the princi-
ence, and starting up and implementing new activi-
ples of a Community of Practice, cutting across political
ties (team-coaching).
barriers and interests. The members of I-STORM are collectively responsible for the storm surge barriers. Based on this mutual interest, they share and exchange concerns, problems, successes and lessons learned, seeking ways to enhance their knowledge.
‘ It is a highly valued network for and by the members’
Water Management and Flood Protection Alliance Table for the National Governance Agreement on Water
The national government, provinces and municipal
of interest in the national Governance Agreement
authorities of the Netherlands work closely together
on Water. Collaboration implies attention for goals,
with regional water authorities and drinking water
interests, relationships, organization and process,
companies on sustainable water policy. Each organ-
reason enough for the collective water authori-
ization has its own responsibilities. In the national
ties to ask Twynstra Gudde –with a view to their
Governance Agreement on Water of 2011, agree-
expertise on collaboration combined with their expe-
ments for cooperation in realizing more efficient wa-
rience in the water sector – to form an alliance table.
ter management were made between the national, provincial, and municipal authorities, and the re-
Focusing on relationships and interests, this alliance
gional water authorities (boards) and the drink-
has formulated collective ambitions for water man-
ing
agement. Several interest areas proved to be promis-
water
companies. The
agreement
covers
the division of responsibilities for both the wa-
ing themes for collaboration in various regions:
ter system and water use, with the objective of
- Freshwater supply
enhancing water safety and the quality of water man-
- Investments within the new Flood protection
agement with minimal costs to society.
program (nHWBP) and the Delta program - Permit authorization and control
Rijkswaterstaat, part of the Ministry of Infrastruc-
- Management and maintenance
ture and the Environment, and the 25 regional wa-
- Human Resources Management (HRM)
ter boards are inter-dependent in carrying out their tasks of water system management and image
These themes have been taken up in the collabora-
building of the (public) water sector in the Nether-
tion agendas for both national and regional cooper-
lands. This makes collaboration both necessary and
ation, with the alliance table giving substance to the
challenging. These organizations want to collabo-
ambitions and trust built up between the collabora-
rate in giving further substance to promising areas
tion partners.
We trust that collaboration is the key to successful project outcomes. This is why we motivate our clients to realize collaboration on strategies, organization, governance, and project and program management. The result is thinking more strategically, taking quicker and smarter decisions, and organizing projects more efficiently.
More information? Prof, Jaap de Heer Partner jhr@tg.nl +31 33 467 77 56
Pim Nijssen, M.A. Consultant Water Governance pns@tg.nl Twitter: @pimnijssen +31 33 467 77 56
Twynstra Gudde Stationsplein 1 P.O. Box 907 3800 AX Amersfoort The Netherlands +31 33 467 77 77 www.twynstragudde.com
Member of quality register consultancy firms Member of the Highland Worldwide partnership