Este proyecto está financiado por el Ministerio de Medio Ambiente del Gobierno de la República de Corea. El objetivo principal es reforzar la resiliencia ante el clima y las catástrofes de las personas y las comunidades vulnerables mediante una mejor evaluación de los riesgos y la vulnerabilidad y promover enfoques de gestión integrada del agua, tanto en Camboya como en la RDP Lao. Las regiones prioritarias en Camboya son las cuencas fluviales 3S y 4P en el noreste del país.
FutureWater prestó servicios de asesoramiento técnico a lo largo de todo el proyecto para mejorar la comprensión de los riesgos climáticos relacionados con el agua, reforzar la capacidad técnica e institucional y la preparación de las comunidades ante las catástrofes, e identificar opciones eficaces de adaptación al cambio climático y reducción del riesgo de catástrofes. Las actividades incluyen una evaluación exhaustiva de la vulnerabilidad y los riesgos climáticos específicos de los cultivos, el desarrollo conjunto de diversas iniciativas de capacitación y el apoyo a la priorización de las acciones de seguimiento de la ACC.
Ahora se ha publicado una geohistoria que destaca los logros, resultados y lecciones aprendidas de las diversas actividades llevadas a cabo en el marco de este proyecto en Camboya. Desarrollada por FutureWater, la geohistoria combina mapas y gráficos interactivos con textos explicativos. El objetivo es que un público más amplio tenga acceso a las principales conclusiones del proyecto y pueda aprovecharlas en sus propias actividades.
La geohistoria puede consultarse aquí. Para más información sobre el proyecto y el papel de FutureWater, póngase en contacto con Gijs Simons.
Desde diciembre de 2022, FutureWater ha apoyado al PNUD con su experiencia técnica para garantizar la aplicación rápida y eficaz de una serie de estudios, incluidas las evaluaciones de referencia de las cuencas hidrográficas, la modelización de inundaciones, las evaluaciones del riesgo climático de las principales cadenas de suministro agrícola y la priorización de las medidas de adaptación al clima y de reducción del riesgo de desastres.
Con el último año del proyecto en marcha, las actividades actuales se centran en aprovechar las ideas clave del proyecto y apoyar el desarrollo de propuestas de financiación de seguimiento para proyectos centrados en la implementación. Como parte de este esfuerzo, del 24 al 28 de febrero se organizaron una serie de reuniones con las principales partes interesadas, instituciones gubernamentales y socios para el desarrollo, con el objetivo de consolidar las principales conclusiones del proyecto y avanzar en el desarrollo de ideas concretas para el trabajo de seguimiento.
Al integrar tecnologías innovadoras y los conocimientos de los principales interesados, desde el nivel municipal hasta el nacional, el proyecto ha generado una gran cantidad de información y herramientas que permiten mejorar la evaluación de riesgos y vulnerabilidades y avanzar en un enfoque integrado de la gestión de los recursos hídricos. FutureWater centrará ahora sus esfuerzos en garantizar que estos nuevos conocimientos sean la base de medidas de adaptación eficaces, que beneficien a la población 3S y 4P y a sus medios de subsistencia. Paralelamente, estamos elaborando un story-map en línea (¡próximamente!) en el que se mostrarán las principales conclusiones y lecciones aprendidas del proyecto a un público más amplio.
Impresiones de las visitas sobre el terreno y las reuniones con las partes interesadas en las provincias de Stung Treng y Kratie (Camboya)
0.8-1.0 FTE | Location: Wageningen, The Netherlands | Start date: TBD | Application deadline: 3 March 2025
About the Role
FutureWater is seeking an experienced Senior Hydrologist to support our expanding international project portfolio, particularly in Asia and Africa. In this role, you will work at the interface of consultancy and research, contributing both technically and strategically to our global initiatives.
You will be part of a dynamic and multidisciplinary team, working independently and collaboratively on high-impact projects in the fields of water resources and climate change. The position offers an excellent opportunity to lead innovative hydrological research and applications while managing international partnerships and project execution.
Key Responsibilities
Lead strategic initiatives and analytical work on (mountain) water resources and climate change within international projects.
Provide technical leadership in key areas of FutureWater expertise, such as the development and application of hydrological models and tools for geospatial analyses.
Act as an independent project manager, responsible for project planning, leadership of internal project teams, and coordination with clients and external partners (private sector, NGOs, and academia).
Drive project acquisition in your field of expertise and lead proposal development.
Act as a mentor and knowledge resource for junior and mid-level team members.
Required Qualifications
Master’s or PhD in Hydrology, Water Resources Management, or a related field.
Minimum 10 years of professional experience with increasing autonomy.
Extensive experience in spatial hydrological modeling.
Proven track record in project management and client communication in international projects.
Established network of relevant public and private organizations in the Netherlands and abroad.
Strong proficiency in Python and/or R.
Fluent in English (spoken and written).
Valid work permit for the Netherlands (already obtained).
About FutureWater
FutureWater is an international research and consulting organization dedicated to innovative water management solutions. We operate at global, national, and local levels, addressing challenges in water for food, irrigation, climate change adaptation, and river basin management. Our expertise spans quantitative analysis, simulation modeling, GIS, and satellite data interpretation, enabling data-driven decision-making.
We collaborate with a diverse range of clients and partners, including the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, national and local governments, river basin organizations, universities, and research institutions. With offices in Wageningen (Netherlands) and Cartagena (Spain), we combine global expertise with local insights to create impactful solutions.
Join FutureWater – Where Innovation Meets Impact
At FutureWater, we believe that a strong, dynamic, small and close-knit team is the key to success. Our mission to create a sustainable future is at the heart of everything we do. More than just a team of experts, we are a collective force united by a shared passion for safeguarding one of our planet’s most vital resources: water!
By joining FutureWater, you will have the opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge research and practical solutions in water management. You’ll be part of a close-knit, international community that values professional growth, well-being, and collaboration. We foster an environment where innovation thrives and where every team member feels valued. Our workplace culture is built on camaraderie, creativity, and continuous learning. We regularly organize team activities, an annual company outing of several days, Friday afternoon drinks, and daily joint lunches provided by the company.
Our company outings to Spain in 2023 (left) and to Terschelling in 2024 (right).
What We Offer
A competitive salary and excellent secondary benefits.
Flexible hybrid work arrangements and freedom to shape your work schedule.
A modern working environment with free daily lunch served.
The chance to travel around the world for our international projects, including full travel compensation.
A diverse and collaborative team with opportunities for professional growth.
Regular fun activities, such as our yearly company outing.
Potential for permanent employment based on performance.
Join us in shaping the future of sustainable water management! To apply, send your motivation letter and CV to jobs@futurewater.nl by Monday 3 March 2025. Selected candidates will be notified within a few days after the deadline.
The GEF / UNDP / ASEAN Project on Reducing Pollution and Preserving Environmental Flows in the East Asian Seas through the Implementation of Integrated River Basin Management (IRBM) in the ASEAN Countries is a 5-year project (2023-2027) with the goal of establishing functional IRBM mechanisms in seven priority river basins / sub-basins / watersheds in six ASEAN Member States, to reduce pollution, sustain freshwater environmental flows and adapt to climate change vulnerabilities. The Project is designed to improve governance and management arrangements in IRBM and accelerate the required changes in the six AMS in support of national priorities, objectives and commitments to global sustainable development targets using the Source to Sea (S2S) framework. The PEMSEA Resource Facility (PRF), which serves as the Project Implementing Partner, hosts the Regional Project Management Unit (RPMU). It works in collaboration with National and Local Government Partners and River Basin Organizations.
Component 1 of the Project focuses on the conduct of a baseline assessment of the S2S management continuum with a targeted outcome of improving understanding of governance, socioeconomic, ecological conditions, gaps and needs of priority river basins / sub-basins and coastal areas. This will be achieved through the establishment of the State of River Basin (SORB) reporting system to consolidate information coming from administrative, social, economic and environmental sectors. As an input to the SORB baseline reporting, it is required to complete a comprehensive assessment of competing uses and users of water as a consequence of existing and future water uses and their implications on the water / energy / food / ecosystem (WEFE) security nexus in the priority river basins.
FutureWater is providing this assessment of the WEFE security nexus through review of existing knowledge and literature, stakeholder consultations, as well as tailoring and applying its REWEFe toolkit for nexus analysis to seven river basins in six countries of Southeast Asia: Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Philippines and Viet Nam.
The recently published World Bank’s Drought Risk and Resilience Assessment Methodology (DRRA) is a framework for action to support governments proactively address drought risks. Drawing on international best practice in drought management, it outlines practical measures to build resilience at every stage of the drought cycle. With this tool, governments can create a community of stakeholders, target areas for action across sectors, optimize their resources and investments, and minimize future economic losses from drought.
The DRRA publication can be accessed through the World Bank website here. FutureWater is proud to have contributed to the DRRA methodology report by developing factsheets on Nature-based Solutions (NbS) for enhancing drought resilience, highlighting opportunities, limitations and overall critical aspects of NbS in relation to drought risk reduction. These stand-alone factsheets are summarized in Appendix B of the DRRA report. In addition, the report builds on an inventory compiled by FutureWater of available tools for assessing the potential impact of NbS on drought risk, to inform decision makers and investors in different steps of the project development chain.
For further information about the work of FutureWater on NbS scoping, prioritizing and planning, please contact Gijs Simons.
To help transition from reactive to proactive drought management, and in the absence of a cross-sectoral coordinating mechanism around drought investment prioritization, the World Bank has put together a process for developing a Drought Risk and Resilience Assessment (DRRA). The DRRA methodology includes reference to Nature-based Solutions (NBS) as an option to make countries more resilient to droughts. However, how these types of interventions can increase efficiency of World Bank projects, how they can be identified, how impacts can be assessed, and which challenges need to be addressed to implement NBS is not yet addressed sufficiently. This knowledge gap will be addressed by (i) Development of factsheets of existing NBS interventions to reduce drought risks for water services for drink water supply, for agriculture, for energy or other economic sectors that depend on water, and (ii) Developing an inventory of existing tools to identify effective NBS for drought resilience and assess their potential impact.
Urban flood management in Laos is typically based on a limited, hard infrastructure approach. With the aim to shift this paradigm towards an integrated approach that enhances climate resilience, the project “Building resilience of urban populations with ecosystem-based solutions in Lao PDR” was approved by the Green Climate Fund Board in November 2019 with a GCF grant of US$10 million. United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) serves as the Accredited Entity for the project. Activities are executed by the State of Lao PDR through the Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE) as well as UNEP. The project is implemented across five years (2020-2025) covering four provincial capitals in the country: Vientiane, Paksan, Savannakhet, and Pakse.
One component of the project involves technical and institutional capacity building to plan, design, implement and maintain integrated urban Ecosystems-based Adaptation (EbA) interventions for the reduction of climate change induced flooding. As a part of Integrated Climate-resilient Flood Management Strategy (ICFMS) development, the project conducts hydrological, hydraulic and climate risk assessments to inform climate change adaptation solutions for risk reduction in Vientiane, Paksan, Savannakhet and Pakse.
A consortium of FutureWater, Mekong Modelling Associates (MMA) and Lao Consulting Group (LCG) was contracted by MONRE to implement the related activities. FutureWater leads and coordinates this assignment and contributes remote sensing analyses with state-of-the-art innovative tools, climate risk assessments, and training activities. To ensure sustainability and effective technology transfer, the modelling and mapping infrastructure and trained staff will be hosted within MONRE and a knowledge hub that is established within the National University of Laos.
Para lograr los objetivos, el proyecto cuenta con un componente técnico y un componente de participación de las partes interesadas. En el aspecto técnico, se actualizarán y validarán modelos hidrológicos. Los escenarios de cambio climático se utilizarán como insumos para probar estrategias de adaptación dentro de la cuenca del Limpopo. Las estrategias de adaptación incluirán infraestructura gris tradicional y, adicionalmente, soluciones basadas en la naturaleza. El análisis de beneficios de las medidas de adaptación abarcará beneficios socioeconómicos a nivel macro y micro.
Los resultados de este estudio se utilizarán posteriormente para informar el desarrollo de un Análisis Diagnóstico Transfronterizo (ADT) de primera generación para la cuenca del río Limpopo (LRB). A través de este proceso, los países de la cuenca acordarán un conjunto de prioridades de desarrollo transfronterizas para la cuenca, lo que guiará tanto las inversiones transfronterizas como nacionales en el futuro, a través de un Plan de Acción Estratégico (PAE) y Planes de Acción Nacionales (PAN).
The latest Catch and Culture newsletter (pages 38-41), published by the Mekong River Commission Secretariat, features the pilot results of a new methodology for mapping of salinity concentrations (SIM) in the Mekong Delta. The method relies solely on satellite imagery and was developed and applied by FutureWater to support the 2023 MRC State of the Basin Report (SoBR).
Results show that the average area affected by salinity levels of over 4 g/L displayed a clear increasing trend over the last 30 years. In the 2011 – 2022 dry seasons, such severely elevated levels occurred on average for an area of 4,663 km2 (close to 10% of the transboundary Mekong Delta), a figure three times higher than in 1991 – 2000 (1,506 km2). Salinity concentrations of this magnitude are known to negatively impact on agricultural production, human health, and biodiversity. Elevated salinity levels particularly occur along the coastline of the Lower Delta, on the Ca Mau Peninsula, and in the coastal zone of Kien Giang Province.
Maximum, elevated and severely elevated salinity concentrations (dry season 2021-2022)
There is an encouraging agreement between this new methodology and station measurements, which are only available for a limited number of sites in the Mekong Delta. Future applications of the SIM are expected to benefit from incorporating data from new satellite-based sensors and enhanced calibration and validation based on additional field measurements. More information about the project can be found here.
Utrecht University held the 13 Month SOS-Water General Assembly Meeting, which took place on the 17th and 18th of October. This two-day gathering included presentations on how work packages had been progressing and interesting discussions on how to move forward to meet the project’s objectives.
FutureWater actively participated in group discussions, guided by experts from EAWAG, Politecnico di Milano, and Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV). The result was the development of a robust plan that will steer our collaborative project in the upcoming weeks and months.
FutureWater is responsible for several tasks under the work package that looks to improve upon existing Earth Observation technologies for monitoring the performance of water systems. New applications will be developed and tested in the context of the SOS-Water case study basins of the Mekong and Jucar rivers.
For more information about the project, visit the official website.
Group picture at Utrecht UniversityGijs Simons presenting updates on WP3
This project has received funding from European Union’s Horizon EUROPE Research and Innovation Programme under Grant Agreement N° 101059264 (SOS-WATER).
