1. Report
Partner Exchange Meeting RAIN 20131
Amsterdam, December 9 – December 12, 2013.
The objective of the Partner Exchange Meeting 2013 was to bring together strategic partners from
out of our global network to see how we can jointly further upscale rainwater harvesting.
The discussion was dedicated to:
o
o
o
o
Upscaling water retention, reuse and recharge (3R) at catchment level to creates a win-win
situation in terms of both environment and socio-economic wellbeing.
Developing a RWH programme which boosts business development while it ensures at the
same time environmentally and socially sound practices.
Moving from NGO driven programmes to Public Private Partnerships.
Active and open knowledge sharing on rainwater harvesting.
The invited strategic partners to the Partner Exchange Meeting 2013 (PEM2013) have a strong
interest in rainwater harvesting in combination with environmental sustainability, WASH, food
security and business development and all have different areas of expertise within this realm. Some
are active on a national level and are more practical field oriented while others are active on an
international or more thematic level. Bringing together these different perspectives on the common
goal of sustainably upscaling rainwater harvesting for water and food security and environmental
protection will inspire us all to develop innovative and positive ideas to reach that aspiration.
A filmed report will be available of all presentations that were held during the Partner Exchange
Meeting. From February 2014, these recording can be viewed via our website
www.rainfoundation.org. This report intends to summarise the main points that came up during
discussions and the output of the group work. In the annexes, you can review the supporting
documents used by the key note speakers.
The PEM2013 was a very fruitful and inspirational week. To all the key note speakers that have
contributed to the PEM2013: thank you for inspiring us! And to all the participants that made this
week a success: thank you for being such an active, interactive and lively crowd!
1
Annex 1: Background to the PEM2013; Annex 2: Detailed agenda of PEM2013

2. Monday December 9
Agenda:
Item
Who
Objective
Supporting material
Walking lunch and + sharing
updates through poster
presentations
South - South exchange in practice
All
Country updates are shared.
---
Robert Meerman
RAIN knowledge sharing facilities
are known.
Annex 3
Presentation on reorientation RAIN
and perspective post 2015 + Q&A
Guus Paardekooper
New RAIN strategy shared with
main partners. Input gathered.
Annex 4
Notes:
Poster Presentations: The participants presented their results. RAIN and the partners’ joined efforts
have benefitted many people all around the world. From the poster presentations, it also showed
that all partners are now moving from a focus on RWH for drinking water towards 3R, MUS and the
integration of WASH with food security and in some cases also RWH for climate change adaptation.
Moreover, knowledge production and exchange, as well as capacity development is increasingly
becoming central to most of the partners’ activities.
Almost all partners expressed that they encounter two main challenges: (1) the increasing complexity
of partnerships and (2) the financing of new 3R projects. On the other hand, almost all partners also
expressed that the interest in RWH for different scopes is growing, and that a lot of opportunities are
coming up.
South-south exchange:
A presentation was given on efforts made so far on south-south exchange and on the way forward
from now on. Suggestions were made for ‘real life’ exchange: exchange visits and boosting (cross
country) ambassadorship. Emphasis was put however on online means of exchange. In that
perspective, suggestions were made to improve http://www.rain4food.net/sharing-documents/:
- Link sharing docs to Google search
- Make ‘search on author’ possible
- Have partners upload their reports
- Make new additions blink.
A discussion on RWH and Environmental Sustainability was started in the Community of Practice
http://www.rain4food.net/community/. So far, 8 external parties are taking part in the discussion.

3. Finally, the RWH Wiki http://www.rain4food.net/wiki/#akvopedia:Rainwater Harvesting was
demonstrated to the participants. The following suggestions were made:
- Re-write 3R-page icw Kenya-participants
- Add wiki page on Rock catchment dams
- Review Sand dams page within akvopedia
RAIN reorientation and new strategy:
The presentation focused on the previous strategy of RAIN Foundation and the way forward. The
logo change and the new strategy for partnership have been discussed in detail. Following the
presentation the following questions were raised from the participants:
-
-
-
-
-
-
Q: When does the decentralized approach be functional? What will be the consequence for
existing contracts? A: Partnerships will continue and be strengthened with the help of local
representatives. There will not be major changes in terms of collaboration but the kind of
collaboration might change in terms of making it sustainable.
Q: What is the long term strategy of RAIN beyond 2017? A: To make it concrete it is limited
to 2017 because it is not known what will happen in the far future. The strategy could be
further applied with modifications beyond 2017.
Q: In terms of program development is it possible to make 2-3 years of program? A: If
possible and the resources are present it should be practical to make programs run for longer
time. The strategy will focus on partnership, developing proposals together and involving in
fundraising.
Q: What do the three domains advice, implementation and innovation mean for
management? A: They are fully interconnected; most country programs will be out of the
implementation program but others will also be integrated. Depending on demand, funding
and expertise the local partner will take up the tasks. It allows for a flexible way of
collaboration.
Q: When you compare the previous with the new strategy, have you thought about the
impacts on the RWH projects? A: It is still in the early stage of thinking. In the next stage the
impact will be clarified.
Q: What is the strategy concerning private partnership? A: We (RAIN+partners) would like to
involve with the private partners, also with local RHCCs. This is an area that will be expanded.
Q: Don’t you think the new strategy excludes the civil society organizations? A: Aid and trade
is not quite different from the existing platform but we need to be there to exist in the
future.
The participants repeatedly mentioned that the guiding principle behind the strategy should be
clarified and the plan beyond 2017 need to be discussed openly. Comments were given that RAIN
should focus on advocacy rather than lobby in the implementation countries due to the political
connotation that lobby brings.
After the presentation on RAINs reorientation, an interactive session led to some suggestions:
- The strategy needs to be country specific and should involve capacity development of the
partners to go along with the strategy (for example on fund raising and on consultancy
abilities).
- Special attention should be given to value chain development and the combination of water
and food security

4. -
-
Create Partner Power Map: draft an overview with the specific strengths of RAIN and its
partners
Check membership of Rainwater Harvesting community of all the participants that visited
RAIN. Invite people to become a member of the Community of Practice on
https://dgroups.org/rwsn/rainwater.
Develop indicators to contribute to the vision and monitor the actual implementation of the
strategy.
Tuesday December 10
Agenda:
Item
Who
Objective
Supporting material
Presentation:
Water harvesting, environmental
sustainability and the blue
economy perspective
Presentation:
Partnerships and inclusive business
innovations in low-income markets
Patty Kluytmans
and
Jules Rijnierse,
Bright Future Lab
www.theblueecono
my.org
Blue economy thinking is
understood. Relation to RWH and
environmental sustainability is
clear.
Highlight the potential of
transformational change of
partnerships in pro-poor
innovations
Annex 5
Presentation:
knowledge management &
exchange, learning and networks
Bart Romijn,
Director at
Warner Strategy &
Fundraising BV
www.wsfr.nl
Panel
Importance of evidence building
and collaboration is highlighted;
explore processes how to achieve
this.
Annex 7
Participants
Panel Members to
observe and steer
towards end
product
3 working groups – 1 per theme:
Food security
Water security /WASH
Climate change resilience
Questions to panel
Group work on program
development and plenary feedback
by panel
Annex 6 and clip on
‘ the simple show’
on:
http://www.youtub
e.com/watch?v=1af
08PSlaIs
---
Notes:
Questions to panel (Patty Kluytmans (PK), Jules Rijnierse (JR) and Bart Romijn (BR)):
Presentation 1 (PK & JR): Water harvesting, environmental sustainability and the blue economy
perspective.
1) Examples were small scale, are there any large examples? 2) What is needed for upscaling? 3)
What is the difference between the blue economy and the green economy?
Presentation 2 (PK & JR): Financial flows: Entrepreneurship without money.
1) Access to money, how to get money into the flow that was presented? How to find and motivate
entrepreneurs? 2) Who needs to be on board to make this a success? 3) How to deal with the lack of
political support?
JR: we need entrepreneurs, governments, universities and scientific people to get involved. It is not
only the entrepreneurs.
BR: people start businesses where money is not the main thing. Products are more important.
JR: behind every problem is a hidden cash flow. When you can mobilize the cash flow you can make
the next step.

5. Challenge of the rainwater harvesting movement. Training people and then sent them back to their
countries. But people won’t go back to their home place. They will go to the big cities.
BR: bringing knowledge to people.
PK: there are more blue economy projects in developing countries. Within the blue economy you
create a system where you generate your own income. The traditional knowledge and the awareness
is growing by people. The awareness is starting to grow.
JR: you mentioned labeling of the blue economy. By labeling you give it a direction. Green economy
is reducing the waste. Blue economy is getting out of the loop. If you are looking for a new label and
you look at the green and blue economy, you can go back to the roots.
Presentation 3 (BR): Knowledge management & exchange, learning and networks.
1) How to get people out of their comfort zone? 2) How can we motivate people to get involved? 3)
How can we develop a business model?
PK: To start with your own interest. Find what people’s interests are and what motivates them. We
want to link to people’s interests.
BR: Self-interest is one. The key is to find common interest to bring groups together. And then go
back to the different roles people have.
BR: you need a vision to mobilize a network. A major ambition is a global action network.
Complications: advocacy reasons, you need to accelerate in all kind of directions. Knowledge
networks don't need to be funded. It is about how you learn and work together. That is what should
be funded.
Identify in a few words what you learned about the presentations
Equality / Differently / Inclusive / Choices/ Smart thinking/ Opportunities/ Relations/ Untapped
resources/ Diverse partnerships/diversification/ Decentralization/ Synergy/ People mobilization/
Effectiveness
Assignment group work:
Output requested: Outline of a program design to upscale water harvesting for food security/ wash/
climate change (adaptation, DRR, environmental protection), based on the knowledge you gained
this morning of the presentations on blue economy, hidden cash flows and learning-knowledgenetworking: develop the program outlines for a program that
incorporates and integrates innovative business, environment and local social development
incorporates open partnership building, transparent learning, knowledge dev/exchange in a
program geared towards water harvesting for food security/ for wash/ for cc.
Level: global OR (fictive) country/region.
Emphasis is put on 1 theme (food security/wash/cc) but can integrate the others as well.
 Formulate the main problem to solve / the main questions to answer.
 Identify what are the main elements of a program to upscale RWH (key objectives, approach,
intervention strategy)
 Identify and describe the main partners? Who are they? What are their roles?
 Identify current gaps/ obstacles
 Identify possible opportunities
Feedback on working groups by panel
The key question was: “what was the main problem?” There is a kind of comfort zone when you
frame questions, we can’t get out of the problem. We were, as a panel, looking for opportunities. We
call it “design thinking/approach”, starting your programme with opportunities instead of starting
with problems. We agreed that there was a lot of energy in the groups.
Group 1/ Food Security: This group looked into the big range of the problems.
Group 2/ WASH: This group looked at the resources, things that are already there.

6. Group 3/ Climate Change: This group came up with good examples as a showcase (between local and
global).
General remarks:
- All three groups focused on the content of the programme outlines.
- On finances: Do you actually need that much money as usual? First look at how much money
you need? Self-sustaining. Imagine there is no money, how would you solve the problem?
- On partnerships/ networking: You have to think about the process. One aspect of the process
is, where is the power? How to involve them? Peer assists, what kind of persons do we have
to involve for the thinking/creativity?
- Other: One word we didn't hear, related to advocacy is the word “marketing”. Marketing as
management of perception. You can frame things from many perspectives.
Wednesday December 11
Agenda:
Item
Who
Objective
Supporting material
Interactive summary of
presentations day1
Participants
Participants refreshed on main
issues presentations day1
Annex 8 and 9
Three short presentations of the
end- results of working groups day1
and discussion on program outlines
developed
Presentation success story business
case in linking water and
environmental sustainability
Participants
Questions of the participants were
answered, experiences shared.
--
Marijn Bergsma,
BiDnetwork
www.bidnetwork.org
and
Guido van Hofwegen,
Nazava water Filters
www.nazava.com
Joris van Oppenraaij,
Netherlands Water
Partnership
www.nwp.nl
Inspire participants
Annex 10
Inspire participants
Annex 11 and 12
Participants
5 working groups developed a
practical PPP and competed
against each other
Presentations
- Role NWP
- Practical example of a PPP in
linking water and environmental
sustainability
Group work, Elevator Pitch and
award granting
Notes:
Q&A on presentation success story business case Nazava Water Filters by Marijn Bergsma,
BiDnetwork and Guido van Hofwegen, Nazava Water Filters
Q: What is the cost – benefit structure? Can you make a living of it?
A: In 2013, in its 3rd full year of operation Nazava Water could break even, including a small salary for
GH and investments in the sales network
Q: How is the cooperation set up?
A: They work together with resellers and local NGO’s as logistics in Indonesia is difficult. Network of
60 distributors living all over Indonesia, they help in selling and promoting, multi level approach –
social marketing. Farmers, women groups, etc. Targets women with very poor background on
appropriate technologies on cooking using solar light for example.
Q: How has Nazava Water been financed so far?
A:
1st: self-investment from GH and his wife

7. 2nd: 2009/2010 equity investment of 86.000 USD via BiD network
3rd: 400.000USD needed to scale up, of which 100.000USD already secured as a loan from
Low Carbon Energy Foundation
Q: Did investors have an exit so far?
A: No, not yet. Investors committed to 5-6 years.
Q: What has to be done if the filter doesn’t work / in case of maintenance need ?
A: Nazava Water can be reached via sms (number provided on the equipment). A new water filter
will be sent through the nearest reseller. Resellers also sell replacements.
Q: Are there similar products you have to compete with? Now? When the business just started?
A: When Nazava Water started there was virtually no competition in Indonesia. Nazava Water filters
cost 20USD, the next cheapest available costs 60USD.
Notes and Q&A on presentation success story multi stakeholder partnership WNF Naivasha, Kenya
by Joris van Oppenraaij, Netherlands Water Partnership
-
-
There are different perspectives on what a PPP is. The classic PPP is a partnership between
government and private sector to share risks. In the development cooperation setting it is
often understood as multi-stakeholder collaboration whereby different actors try to create a
shared value.
Role NWP: 1)informs about opportunities and policy, 2)advocate to keep water on the
agenda in Dutch policy environment 3) connect Dutch water sector actors 4) profiling the
Dutch water sector, match demand and supply. Focus is on delta countries, but also active in
other countries, e.g. Kenya. Focus is on 1) from aid to trade and 2) positioning the NL water
sector within bilateral programmes 3) link propositions to finance/funding other then
embassy funds.
Q: there are many examples of PPP’s where things went wrong. E.g. PPP in Somalia. What is NWP’s
role in getting things going – how to avoid a one man show?
A:Publically owned – operated in a private way to cover costs….your country needs to be ready for
this…Rebel group made inventory of which countries are PPP ready
It is not about public or private – as long as transparency, costs are recovered and….it should be
tailor made
Q: We see that many countries are copying the NWP model. However, the water partnership model
is about tied aid. What about the legal aspects thereof?
A: Tied aid is indeed not permitted by (international) law. NWP aims at local development, while
putting the Dutch in a competitive advantage – trying to create linkages. NWP generates for example
country platforms – NWP tries to foster PPP’s, once they are established, they are out. (meetings,
support, coaching – linking supply and demand)
Q: what about sustainability principles within PPP formation?
A: Indeed, sustainability issues are often still overlooked. FIETS has been a great advocacy
achievement. NL has procurement proceedings that are quite good on sustainability issues.
Q: A key challenge in creating an institutional framework is that it requires a lot of incubation to get
institution growing – how do you see that happening?
A: People have to let go of power – power needs to be balanced. For example: Bangladesh textile
industry – consumers are getting very much aware of conditions. Prices need to increase in EU.
People might/might not accept – local governments need to support this by providing frameworks
and educating consumers. In the example of Naivasha, equal governance is being implemented but it
takes a lot of time and effort.
Assignment group work:
Output requested on business case development / PPPP project development.
Think as a ‘blue’ entrepreneur – not as an NGO 
The winning case answers the following:

8. Practical output. Specific case that is practical and precise. And realistic for a specific context setting.
Case is about water harvesting for WASH, climate change adaptation, food security or any other
theme you are interested in.
Value of the case is not the amount of money, but how well developed it is.
Take into account as much as possible:
 Blue principles: output = input; locally available resources; systems thinking; multiple cash flows;
hidden cash flows
 Integration of business environmental sustainability, social development is prominent.
 Strategic partnership is clear. Win-Win is created. Multi stakeholder collaboration for added
value: who is involved (types, maybe even names); roles are defined.
 Criteria BidNetwork
 Scheme NWP (see presentation)
Four cases were presented:
Nepal/ India: Pure Pokhara Pani: bottling rainwater
Ethiopia: 3R and the reuse of coffee husks
West Africa: Espoir pour le Sahel: sand dams and MUS
Kenya/Uganda: EcoFarm
Thursday December 12
Agenda:
Item
Who
Objective
Supporting material
Excursion to ‘Polderdak', Green
Business Club Amsterdam
Kasper Spaan,
Waternet
and
Sacha Stolp, Zuidas
Learn / exchange on the initiative of
one of the nominees for the Dutch
Water Innovation Price 2013
Annex 13
RAIN Environmental Sustainability
Event:
Think Big, Act Small
Open to public
Interactive programme on circular
aspects of water, food and energy
---
Celebrate and dance!
---
RAIN Party
Notes:
During the excursion to Polderdak, courtesy of Waternet, Amsterdam Zuidas Green Business Club
and INBO Architects, Kasper Spaan and Sacha Stolp explained the in and outs of the partnership that
led to the ‘Polderdak’ initiative and provided insight in the business case that ‘Polderdak’ is aiming to
illustrate. More information (in Dutch) can be found on http://polderdak.nl.
During the RAIN Environmental Sustainability Event, four presentations were held followed by an
interactive discussion. The event was filmed by Pakhuis de Zwijger. You can view the recording via
our website from February 2013 onwards. For a general description and the announcement of the
programme: http://www.dezwijger.nl/89657/nl/de-circulaire-stad-6-think-big-act-small
RAIN celebrated its 10th anniversary and presented its new brand. This video captures the
rebranding of RAIN as well as the new strategy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsBIj8r2xD8.
Pictures of the party can be viewed on
http://www.flickr.com/photos/111647943@N07/with/11402343915/and on
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jollyphotobooth/sets/72157638636497883/

9. Annexes
Annex
Annex
Annex
Annex
Annex
Annex
Annex
Annex
Annex
Annex
Annex
Annex
Annex
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
Partner Exchange Meeting 2013 Background
Detailed Agenda PEM2013
Presentation Robert Meerman on South South Exchange in practice
Presentation Guus Paardekooper on RAIN reorientation
Presentation Bright Future Lab on the blue economy
Presentation Bright Future Lab on entrepreneurship without money
Presentation Bart Romijn on Knowledge sharing, learning and networking
Recap Entrepreneurship without money
Recap Knowledge, learning, networks
Presentation BidNetwork
Presentation Netherlands Water Partnership on PPPs
Presentation NWP, adopted version WNF Water for All Naivasha case
Presentation Polderdak