Introduction

The world is facing many water-related challenges, including shortages, pollution, flooding, and unequal access to safe drinking water. Climate change is making these problems worse, threatening people’s safety, economies, and the environment. Local governments and communities are at risk from droughts, floods, and other water disasters. In the face of these challenges, governments have the responsibility to develop strategies to manage water resources and provide drinking water and sanitation, in partnership with communities and the private sector.

In this course, we will review internationally recognised principles and frameworks for good water governance and then focus on their implementation in different country contexts. We will explore water related challenges and innovative solutions across multiple sectors, such as agriculture, energy, housing and urban development as well as finance and public investments. We will also pay attention to water allocation, conflicts around water, disaster risk management, and instruments for financing water services. Furthermore, we will discuss the design of stakeholder engagement strategies that support communities and ecosystems. Moreover, participants will experience the rich history and best practices of Dutch water management with real-world insights from urban settings and agricultural landscapes.

Key Information

This course is intended for policy makers and technical staff of organisations responsible for water governance and management at different levels. Participants come national, regional and local governments, water authorities, service companies, NGOs and donor and development organisations.

This training will take place from 29 September 2025 to 10 October 2025. 

The course fee is € 3,895*. This includes all training related costs as well as drinks and warm lunches during the training days. Group discounts are available if you participate with three or more colleagues.

This training will take place in The Hague, Netherlands.

After this course, you will receive a professional certificate of completion from The Hague Academy for Local Governance.

*Professionals working in local government or for local NGOs on the DAC list of ODA-recipient countries (OECD) may qualify for a reduced course fee. Contact us for details.

Learning objectives

This course will help you:

Increase their knowledge about the concepts and principles of integrated, multilevel water governance;

Gain insights into the legal, political and institutional frameworks affecting water governance in their own country;

Identify instruments for increasing social and financial accountability of water governance and water services;

Become acquainted with innovative solutions for dealing with water related challenges in the field of resilience, ecosystem services, and nature based solutions;

Learn about approaches to engage stakeholders and tools to resolve conflicts around water;

Broaden your knowledge of Dutch and international best practices in the field of multilevel water governance.

Experience

During study visits to innovative examples of water management participants will observe real-world solutions to address water challenges. At the De Biesbosch National Park, they will see how ecosystems can contribute to flood protection of a major city while delivering multiple other benefits to humans and biodiversity. They will go deeper into the Dutch experience during a visit to the Green Village at the  Technical University (TU) Delftand a walking tour through the sand dunes that contribute to the treatment of drinking water. Moreover, participants will learn from sustainable innovations in urban climate adaptation and water management through a walking tour of the city of Rotterdam.

This course is intended for policy makers and technical staff of organisations responsible for water governance and management at different levels. During the course, participants will bring their personal experience, engage in exercise and have lively debates with international experts and fellow participants. Participants will be exposed to different views and expectations, learning how to effectively articulate and defend their perspectives. They will test new tools and be challenged to rethink their approaches to water management.

Practical information

Find the practical information for the course here.

  • Payment

    After submitting your completed application, you will receive a confirmation of receipt. Once we have assessed your application and admitted you to the course, we will send you an invoice with payment details. The payment deadline is 4-weeks prior to the start of the training course.

    Payments can be made by bank transfer or by PayPal request. We offer the option of paying in one or two instalments. An advance payment of 50% secures reservation of a seat on the training until the payment deadline. Your participation in the course is guaranteed only after receipt of full payment before the 4-week deadline.

    If we do not receive your payment before the deadline, then we will cancel your reservation. Please note that The Hague Academy accepts registrations on a first-paid, first-served policy.

  • Visa Applications

    Some countries require a visa to enter the Netherlands. Please check with The Netherlands or the embassy for the visa requirements related to your country. Because of the length of time needed for the visa procedure, we advise you to start this process as soon as possible. Once we have received your payment for the course, The Hague Academy will send you an acceptance letter which will assist you in arranging your visa to The Netherlands.

  • Cancellation

    Under certain circumstances, participants may need to cancel their participation in the course. For cancellations before the payment deadline, we will reimburse the paid amounts minus an administration fee of €350.

    To prevent late cancellation, we strongly encourage you to start with your visa application procedure at least six weeks before the start of the training programme.

    We will charge a cancellation fee of 50% of the course fee for participants cancelling between four and two weeks prior to the start of the training. If you cancel your participation within the two-week period before the start of the course, then you have to pay 80% of the course fee.

    No-show will result in paying 100% of the course fee.

    It is always possible to nominate a suitably qualified candidate to replace you without extra charge, in the event that you cannot attend the course.

    The Hague Academy for Local Governance reserves the right to cancel a course if the number of participants is insufficient or due to any other unforeseen circumstances. In this case, your payment will be 100% reimbursed. Other costs such as transportation or hotel cannot be reimbursed.

Scholarships

The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs offers MSP scholarships for training courses in the Netherlands. The MENA Scholarship Programme (MSP) aims to enhance the skills, instincts, and abilities of professionals, empowering their organizations and communities to thrive in an ever-changing world.

For more information and eligibility criteria, please visit our Scholarships page. Note that scholarships have a separate application process.

Scholarships page

Scholarships-3 (1) copy
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