Fourteen countries, thousands of water related challenges, but one clear solution: collaboration. For Danida fellows and Danish students, successful water management hinges on working together across borders, sectors and their individual expertise.
On 21 August 2024, at Låsby Kro in the country town of Låsby around 200 kilometers from the Danish capital, Copenhagen, 44 water professionals and students from 13 countries were working on a case study focused on three key areas: groundwater, water distribution and wastewater management. They had been participating in the Advanced Water Cycle Management Summer School, a two-week highly intensive programme, since 11 August.
Among the participants were 23 Danida fellows—young water professionals from both the private and public sectors, representing ministries and water organisations from seven countries that partner with Denmark through the Strategic Sector Cooperation. This year, these countries included Ghana, China, Colombia, India, Indonesia, Kenya, and Morocco.
The Danida fellows were working alongside Danish students and other junior water officers in mixed groups, learning how to solve problems by drawing on each other’s skills and experiences. They found that cooperation across national and cultural boundaries was key to addressing global water issues.
“Students bring fresh perspectives and new ideas. Meanwhile, professionals from different countries bring a good theoretical background and share the specific challenges they face in their regions,” says Anand Mohan, administrative service officer at TamilNadu Water Supply in India.
There may not be a single one-size-fit-all way to manage the many different water disciplines, but one thing is certain: collaboration is crucial. You can hear more from the participants about their experiences and insights in the videos below.
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