WATDEV Partners chart the way forward at the Partnership meeting held in Wageningen

Wageningen, The Netherlands, 10–11 April 2025. The Mid-Term Extraordinary Partnership Meeting of the WATDEV Project convened partners from across Egypt, East Africa, and Europe at the Wageningen International Congress Centre (WICC) for two days of intensive dialogue, reflection, and strategic planning. Hosted in the heart of the Netherlands’ agricultural innovation hub, the gathering marked a pivotal moment in the project's implementation timeline, bringing together around thirty expert participants committed to the WATDEV mission. Partners from Ethiopia and Sudan joined the meeting remotely, ensuring their continued inclusiveness and engagement in the WATDEV consortium.

A Collaborative Exchange at a Crucial Milestone

Welcoming addresses opened the event on 10 April, with keynote contributions by Andries Bosma of ISRIC, Martino Melli of AICS Cairo, and Claudio Bogliotti of CIHEAM Bari. The warm opening set the tone for a meeting that balanced technical updates with administrative foresight. The morning session focused on technical progress, with CIHEAM Bari presenting the overview of activities carried out in the last year, highlighting key achievements, critical challenges, and adaptations to the original work plan. The recent follow-up trainings and innovation roadshows held in Egypt, Kenya, and Ethiopia were also emphasized for the fruitful involvement of local communities and enterprises. 

The following session delved into the advancement of the WATDEV modelling toolbox. Representatives from SYKE, and CIHEAM Bari shared updates on simulations of Best Management Practices (BMPs). Then, ISRIC and CIHEAM Bari gave an update on post-processing work, which will be developed in the following months.

Financial Overview and Strategic Extension

The afternoon provided space for financial management-related aspects, with CIHEAM Bari presenting the state of expenditures and discussing with partners specific financial issues affecting implementation. A dedicated session then addressed the proposal for a six-month no-cost extension. Jointly led by AICS Cairo and CIHEAM Bari, this session clarified procedural requirements and proposed the structure of an updated 18-month Activity Plan, which will guide the next implementation phase.

Second Day Focuses on Future Planning

On 11 April, the meeting resumed with a strategic session to discuss and fine-tune the 18-month Activity Plan presented by CIHEAM Bari. The discussion led to the unanimous endorsement of the Plan by all the partners, with collective engagement on partners' respective responsibilities.

In the afternoon, participants were also invited to visit the World Soil Museum, housed at ISRIC, in the Wageningen Campus, which displays a collection of monoliths showing global soil diversity—a great end to a meeting deeply rooted in sustainable land and water management.

As the project enters its final implementation phase, the outcomes of this extraordinary mid-term meeting reaffirm the consortium’s shared commitment to fostering climate-smart water, soil, and crop management in East Africa and beyond.

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