High-level panel meetings
Piebe Hoeksma was appointed Delta Coordinator for Egypt at the beginning of 2020. "An interesting year to start a new job," he observes with a smile. "My first meeting was in person. After that, all activities continued virtually." However, having worked at the Dutch Embassy in Cairo for several years, he was already actively involved in the theme of water and could take up his new position easily.
In recent years, the annual 'high level panel meetings' organised by the Netherlands-Egypt Water Panel strongly stimulated the water cooperation between Egypt and the Netherlands. "Ministers from both countries attend these meetings," says Hoeksma, "and although they are only held once a year, it is here that plans and advice are often immediately assessed at the right level so that they can be put into effect."
Cooperation continues virtually during corona
When the corona crisis erupted, it soon became clear that some things could not continue in the same form. Traveling and meeting in person became impossible and the annual high level expert meetings had to be cancelled. In addition, the previous MoU had expired. "In these circumstances, it was good to experience how cooperation between the two countries takes place at many different levels," explains Hoeksma. "That's also why we quickly decided to maintain contact and to keep each other actively informed about ongoing developments. We could then ensure that our cooperation – at least at a practical level – would continue."
Both countries were putting extra effort into the relationship. And the Secretariat, which in the case of the Netherlands is run by the Netherlands Water Partnership (NWP), ensured that online sessions were organised. The virtual meetings focused on three main topics: wastewater and sanitation; integrated coastal zone management (ICZM); and agriculture and water. "The sessions turned out to be successful," comments Hoeksma. "Even if the virtual 'expert round tables' were less formal than the meetings with the ministers, they certainly did not come without obligations. They offered us the opportunity to keep up with ongoing developments and enabled us to continue activities at a formal level."
A new memorandum of understanding (MoU)
MoUs are needed to directly involve ministers of both countries in the water cooperation. "It is the legitimate basis for shaping cooperation at that highest level," Hoeksma says. That is why he was very pleased that, in November 2020, a new MoU was signed. Ministerial involvement helps speed up the decision-making process and have topics discussed at the right level. "When advising on how to deal with wastewater treatment and its financial aspects, for instance, it helps when the ministers responsible are there in person to approve the proposed steps.”