Unlocking Water-Energy-Food opportunities between Algeria and the Netherlands
Twenty-five Dutch stakeholders with an interest in the Algerian water, energy and agrifood markets came together to understand local demands and explore potential collaboration. The session underscored that successful cooperation depends on building trust, developing locally relevant solutions and creating lasting partnerships between Dutch and Algerian stakeholders.
Much interest from Dutch stakeholders
Interest in the session was high from the start. Registration had closed in advance after reaching full capacity, and a waiting list had been created, indicating strong interest and expectations for active participation throughout the programme.
NWP’s Head of Business Relations, Arjan Braamskamp, opened the session with a word of welcome, followed by Eugenia Boutylkova, the Deputy Head of Mission for Political Affairs at the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Algeria, and Abdelmoumene Senoussaoui, the Counsellor of Foreign Affairs at the Embassy of the Algeria in The Hague. They set the tone for a constructive and engaging discussion.
Karen van Zaal, RVO Private Sector Development Coach for the Algerian Market, presented the various tools that RVO has made available to Dutch organisations seeking economic development and trade, including those for decision-making, knowledge development, and partnerships.
Connecting national policy goals to practical openings for collaboration
The Algeria-Netherlands Water and WEF project team discussed Algeria’s evolving policy landscape, key challenges and emerging opportunities across the water, energy and agricultural sectors. The presentation particularly emphasised the governance of water in Algeria, which extends from the Ministry of Water Resources to 58 provincial directorates. Water management also intersects with the responsibilities of the Ministries of Agriculture, Energy and Renewable Energies, and the Environment. These intersections between ministries are where the water-energy-food nexus takes shape, highlighting the importance of coordination and integrated policymaking across sectors.
Algeria’s national water policy and investment priorities are increasingly focused on expanding supply, developing non-conventional water resources and strengthening integrated water management. Desalination is expected to become a central pillar of drinking-water supply, increasing its share from approximately 18 percent today to around 60 percent by 2030. At the same time, the country aims to reuse approximately 60 percent of treated wastewater for agriculture and industry, creating growing opportunities for technology, expertise and investment. Progress in integrated water resources management has reached 62 percent, while remaining gaps in basin-level capacity, subnational regulation and cost recovery continue to create opportunities for international partnerships.
Thematic table sessions
In light of these priorities, the participants engaged in discussions focused on three priority areas:
- surface-water and groundwater management and monitoring, with an emphasis on inclusive integrated water resources management (IWRM);
- innovation in the water sector, including water-energy solutions, water-use efficiency and advanced water-treatment technologies; and,
- smart and climate-resilient agriculture, covering precision agriculture, irrigation, drainage and salinity management.
Main takeaways
The discussions highlighted the importance of building trust and establishing long-term relationships as the Netherlands and Algeria identify shared interests and areas for cooperation. A co-creation approach was seen as essential, combining government-to-government engagement at the national level with practical technology pilots and demonstrations. These initiatives should respond to local needs, demonstrate clear relevance and success in Algeria, and create a pathway for scaling up. Ensuring strong Algerian ownership throughout the process will be critical to the country’s sustainability.
The participants also stressed the need to connect high-quality Dutch technologies with local requirements to come up with solutions tailored to local conditions.
At the end of the session, the participants concluded that, although the water-energy-food nexus offers significant opportunities, success will depend on a tailored approach focused on strengthening relationships between two markets that are relatively unfamiliar with one another.
