Urbanising Deltas of the World (UDW)

Deltas form a challenging focus for integrated (interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary) scientific research with water as the linking element. The objectives of Urbanising Deltas of the World (UDW) research and innovation programme are:

• Knowledge and research: generating new theory, knowledge and insights
• Relevance for development: adapting or providing new tools, technologies and perspectives for action for pro-poor sustainable development
• Capacity development: enhancing the capabilities of individuals and organisations to innovate.

The first call for proposals was aimed at North-South consortia, working in public-private partnerships. Consortia were invited to submit a proposal for an Integrated Project that would run for four to five years. Seven research proposals were awarded funding as a result of the first call, with a combined budget of approximately 5.5 million euro. A second call for proposals was launched late 2014, the deadline for applications was 16 March 2015. Six projects were awarded.

In 2019, a third call was launched 'Connecting Worlds of Knowledge', with a specific focus on enhancing the use and translation of UDW research results.

UDW is a joint activity of the NWO thematic focus areas Water and Climate and Connecting Sustainable Cities (VerDus). The programme is funded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Environment and various NWO divisions. The programme receives strategic support from the Netherlands Water Partnership and the Knowledge for Climate programme.

The organising structure of Urbanising Deltas of the World includes a Steering Committee (SC) and an International Advisory Committee (IAC). The Steering Committee is responsible for all funding and strategic decisions. The Steering Committee is advised by the International Advisory Committee.

Steering Committee (SC)

The SC consists of representatives of the funding agencies:

• Directorate General of Development Cooperation (DGIS) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands
• NWO (Domain Science, Domain Social Sciences & Humanities and WOTRO Science for Global Development).

Current members of the SC are:

• Prof. I.S.A. (Isa) Baud (Chair), University of Amsterdam, representative for NWO-WOTRO Science for Global Development
• Prof. dr. M.Z. (Margreet) Zwarteveen, IHE Delft, representative for NWO-Social Sciences and Humanities
• Mr P. (Piebe) Hoeksma, Senior Policy Advisor Water, representative for the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• Dr M. (Maarten) van Aalst, Head International Red Cross Climate Centre, representative for the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• Mr P.O.H. (Peter) de Vries, Water expert at Embassy of the Kingdom of The Netherland, Bangladesh, representative for the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• Prof. ir. J.C. (Han) Winterwerp, Delft University of Technology, representative for the Domain of Applied and Engineering Sciences
• Prof. F. (Fulco) Ludwig, Professor at Wageningen University & Research, representative for the Domain Science

International Advisory Committee (IAC)

The IAC consists of senior researchers with an interdisciplinary background and practitioners with a scientific background.

The members of the IAC of the first call for proposals are:

• Prof. András Bárdossy (Chair), University of Stuttgart - Institute for Modelling Hydraulic and Environmental Systems, Germany
• Prof. Simin Davoudi, Newcastle University - School of Architecture, Planning & Landscape, UK 
• Prof. Jurg Keller, University of Queensland - Advanced Water Management Centre, Australia
• Prof. Dominic Mazvimavi, University of the Western Cape - Department of Earth Sciences, South Africa

The members of the IAC of the second call for proposals are:

• Prof. András Bárdossy (Chair), University of Stuttgart - Institute for Modelling Hydraulic and Environmental Systems, Germany
• Prof. Simin Davoudi, Newcastle University - School of Architecture, Planning & Landscape, UK
• Priyanka Dissanayake, Regional coordinator Global Water Partnership, South Asia, Sri Lanka
• Prof. Jurg Keller, University of Queensland - Advanced Water Management Centre, Australia
• Gary Mocke, Director Coastal, Ports and Marine Terminals (AEM), South Africa
• Mark Redwood,Vice President, Water Sanitation and Environment Cowater International, Canada
• Prof. Coleen Vogel, Global Change and Sustainability Institute, University of the Witwatersrand

Managing tasks

The day-to-day management is carried out by the office of NWO-WOTRO Science for Global Development.