Following the success of the first Tailor-Made Training (TMT) in 2024, the second batch of the WE are Water Education (Indonesia) program was launched on 4 July 2025. The program is designed by Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and The Water Agency, in collaboration with the East Java provincial government, as part of the Orange Knowledge Programme supported by Nuffic and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It aims to build practical knowledge and skills for civil servants, with a focus on strengthening climate-resilient water management in the Welang River Basin. Learn more about TMT here and Batch 1 here.
Batch 2 brings together more than 70 participants from across the East Java Public Works and Water Resources Department (PUSDA), including divisions for watershed planning, construction, irrigation, rivers, reservoirs, coastal management, and public relations. Additional participants represent agencies such as the East Java Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) and the Forestry Department. Their professional roles span water resource managers, planners, IT specialists, legal analysts, field operators, and more. This mix of expertise adds diverse perspectives to the program and strengthens integrated, cross-sector collaboration across the province.
The launch was held as a hybrid event with representatives from PUSDA, The Water Agency, and the program participants. PUSDA opened the event by stressing the importance of institutional capacity in water management and the value of international cooperation. The session also highlighted the shared responsibility of tackling climate challenges across sectors. The Water Agency then introduced the background of Indonesia–Netherlands cooperation and how it shaped the TMT program. The participants were guided through the learning structure, introduced the Asia Water Academy platform, and outlined program expectations. The event also included a short session where participants tested and troubleshooted their access to the platform before concluding with an open Q&A.
From July to August 2025, the participants will complete four online modules covering early warning systems, disaster risk reduction, the economics of ecosystem services, and stakeholder engagement in river basin management. Courses are delivered through the Asia Water Academy platform, with lectures by both Indonesian and international experts. Learn more about the instructors featured in this program here. Each course includes structured learning materials, assessments, and a progress tracking system. Participants must achieve a minimum passing grade of 60 percent to receive certification, and top performers will be selected in early September.
Through this continuation of Batch 2, the TMT program strengthens local capacity while fostering practical, cross-country knowledge exchange in water and climate management.
