Water Resources and Emergency Management: New Horizons for Kazakhstan-Netherlands Partnership

The Hague, February 20, 2025 – Representatives of the Dutch Disaster Risk Reduction and Rapid Response Program (DRRS) visited the Embassy of Kazakhstan in The Hague to discuss the prospects of expanding bilateral cooperation in emergency response and water resources management.

During the meeting, Ambassador Kairat Abdrakhmanov expressed his gratitude to the Dutch government and DRRS experts for their timely support during the devastating floods in Kazakhstan in April 2024. This assistance once again underscored the strong friendship between the two nations, as highlighted by the Dutch Ambassador to Kazakhstan, Nico Schermers, who joined the meeting online. The Dutch side highlighted the professionalism of Kazakh specialists and the efficiency of inter-agency cooperation demonstrated in mitigating the aftermath of the floods. DRRS expert Dr. Fredrik Huthoff, who has visited Kazakhstan multiple times and conducted training courses, also noted the significant potential of the local emergency response services.

The Kazakh Ambassador also thanked Kazakhstan’s Honorary Consul in the Netherlands, Henk Nieboer, for his prompt response and readiness to assist, which enabled him to travel to Kazakhstan at short notice to help combat the flooding.

A key topic of discussion was the three-year cooperation plan aimed at strengthening Kazakhstan’s preparedness for emergencies and improving water resource management strategies. One of the key aspects of this program is the implementation of educational initiatives under the “Bolashak” scholarship program, which includes close cooperation between the IHE Delft Institute for Water Education and the newly established Kazakh National University of Water Management and Irrigation in Taraz. This project is expected to significantly enhance the qualifications of Kazakh specialists in the field of water resource management and disaster risk reduction.

Both sides reaffirmed the importance of prompt and coordinated action for effective responses to climate challenges and their commitment to deepening cooperation to develop sustainable solutions for disaster risk management and rational water resource utilization.