New Handbook to guide investors in nature-based solutions for water security
- June 7, 2021
- Posted by: Elaine Coles
- Category: Investment and Finance, Reports, Europe
A new handbook for implementing nature-based solutions (NbS) for water security has recently been published.
The main objective of the Handbook for the Implementation of Nature -based Solutions for Water Security: Guidelines for designing an implementation and financing is to guide the development of investable NbS projects.
While Nature-based Solutions (NbS) are emerging as important pillars of new models of economic growth that enable a win-win between economy and environment while helping mitigate water and climate risks, the implementation of NbS at scale currently remains limited.
The Handbook says that in most cases, NbS are still being implemented as pilot projects of limited size and following parallel processes from mainstream procurement practices.
The Handbook is underpinned by a collaborative project preparation approach – Financing Framework for Water Security (FFWS) – developed by Netherlands-based Deltares, an independent institute for applied research in the field of water and subsurface.
The FFWS has been continuously developed and successfully implemented by Deltares in seven countries at different scales between 2016 and 2020.
FFWS aims to set in motion a multisectoral and transdisciplinary process that bridges the strategic adaptive planning and investment planning phases.
The Handbook offers project preparation guidelines, enabling project proponents to go from the idea stage to an investment proposal that can be effectively assessed by potential investors.
NGOs, communities and government agencies can use this handbook to learn about the investor’s perspective, key concepts and tools. Investors who are interested in increasing their exposure to NbS, ecosystem conservation or restoration projects for water security may also find it a useful information source.
The handbook – the first edition – was developed by Deltares, a member of the Netherlands Water Partnership, under the Nature Insurance Value and Demonstration (NAIAD) project and with funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme.
NAIAD aims to operationalise the insurance value of ecosystems for water-related risk mitigation, by developing and testing concepts, tools and applications on 9 demo sites across Europe, under the common concept of Nature Based Solutions (NBS).
Click here to download Handbook for the Implementation of Nature -based Solutions for Water Security: