Join For Water attaches great importance to cooperation and knowledge building. This is also a crucial part of our internal operating culture. In mid-June, we met with the country coordinators from Africa and two representatives from Protos Andes, our partner organisation. We shared experiences, reflected on our approach and discussed the direction for the coming years.
The importance of water remains
The vision and mission of Join For Water have remained largely unchanged in recent years. After all, the importance of water in social, economic and ecological terms remains constant. And we want to ensure the right to water for everyone, today and for generations to come.
However, the context in which we work is changing. Just think of the threat to water supplies posed by climate change, or political choices that put solidarity and redistribution under pressure. That is why it is crucial that we, as Join For Water, remain flexible and continue to increase our impact.
Raising our voice for fair water policy
We do this by, among other things, making optimal use of the expertise within our global network. The aim of this week was to strengthen our cooperation, learn lessons from ongoing projects and prepare for the future.
We all immediately agreed on one point: : our strategic choices effectively contribute to solving water challenges in various contexts. We also identified needs for the future, such as:
• more intensive cooperation with research institutions.
• using our collective voice in a more targeted way to advocate for inclusive and equitable water and climate policies.
• engaging young people as drivers of change by promoting exchange and inspiration, stimulating action and strengthening their influence on policy-making.
Expats made way for local coordinators
Internally, too, our context is undergoing a profound evolution. All country offices are now led by local staff instead of expats. This offers opportunities, such as stronger local anchoring, but also requires a reorientation of internal processes and responsibilities to promote participation and consultation. The week helped us to further clarify the lines for a common vision for the future.
Dealing with change innovatively
The changing political context is putting more pressure on the financing of development cooperation and the way we work. It remains essential to find alternative and innovative ways to achieve our mission. It is rewarding to bring together perspectives from Africa, South America and Europe and to explore solutions and ideas together.
Join For Water keeps moving
In short, our international team has been strengthened and our collective commitment renewed. We will continue to move forward, renew and innovate in order to keep delivering quality for water, both for current and future generations.
All photos © Chloë De Raedt and © Kim Vercruysse
