NWB Fonds

What NWB Fonds does

NWB Fonds is a Dutch foundation (Stichting NWB Fonds) established on 23 December 2006 by NWB Bank (Nederlandse Waterschap Bank) to fund and co-finance international water management activities of Dutch water boards (waterschappen). Headquartered in The Hague, the foundation operates with a small staff of six employees and is governed by a board that sets strategic direction, a program committee that evaluates funding applications, and a program office that handles execution and daily coordination.

The foundation's core offerings include the KIWI Programma and KIWI Next capacity-development programs for water professionals working internationally, the annual NWB Award video competition (active since 2022 with a €5,000 prize), and technical training programs such as the Decision Support System curriculum delivered to Romanian water managers using Delft FEWS and RTC Tools software in collaboration with HKV and Deltares. Through 17+ Blue Deal partnerships, the foundation funds projects in South Africa, Peru, Tanzania, Vietnam, Romania, and other countries, including the Blue Dragon natural riverbank erosion pilot in Vietnam's Mekong Delta.

NWB Fonds does not sell products or services and has no commercial pricing. Its funding flows from NWB Bank's founding capital and is distributed through grants and co-financing under a formal application process. The go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, leveraging the Blue Deal network, annual network days, NWB Award ceremonies, and the 20th anniversary jubilee event scheduled for October 2026. The foundation is not an investable commercial entity — it is a mission-driven intermediary that channels institutional capital into international water cooperation.

Name

NWB Fonds

Legal name

Stichting NWB Fonds

Website

https://nwbfonds.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

NWB Fonds is a Netherlands-based foundation established by NWB Bank in 2006 that funds and co-finances international water management projects of Dutch water boards across 17+ Blue Deal partnerships worldwide through grants, training programs, and capacity-development initiatives.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Water Management Funding

NAICS

Environmental Consulting Services (54162), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)

SIC

Water Supply (4941), Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

Water Resources, WASH & Integrated Water Management (BPADALAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Research & Science Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAI), Water, Wastewater & Hydraulics Engineering Consulting (BPAHAIAD)

Keywords

• Water management funding
• International water cooperation
• Water board financing
• Sustainable water projects
• Water governance training

Headquarters

HQ city

Den Haag

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Foundation Funding: NWB Fonds is a foundation established by NWB Bank in 2006 that provides funding and co-financing for international activities of Dutch water boards. The fund receives its capital from NWB Bank and distributes it through grants for water management projects worldwide.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

NWB Fonds is a foundation that funds and co-finances international water management projects led by Dutch water boards. It provides grants for water management projects worldwide, runs training programs (KIWI and KIWI Next) for water professionals, administers the annual NWB Award, and co-funds partnership projects such as Blue Dragon Vietnam and Decision Support System training in Romania under the Blue Deal program.

Product overview

NWB Fonds is a fund established by NWB Bank in 2006 that finances and supports international water management projects. The organization operates several interconnected programs: the KIWI Program and KIWI Next provide training for water professionals in international contexts; the NWB Award recognizes inspiring videos about international water work; and the fund finances project partnerships like Blue Dragon Vietnam and Decision Support System training in Romania. These programs work together to promote sustainable and effective water use worldwide through innovative solutions and strong international cooperation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• KIWI Programma: International training program for water professionals focusing on intercultural communication, personal effectiveness, and working in international contexts.
• KIWI Next

Products and services

• NWB Award Annual video award competition recognizing the most inspiring video about international water board work, rewarding winning teams with €5,000, wall-of-fame placement, and publication in Waterkracht magazine.
• KIWI Programma

Quantifiable outcome

• 20 years of supporting international water management
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Blue DealcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Blue Deal is a program of Dutch water authorities for international water management partnerships. NWB Fonds co-finances Blue Deal projects worldwide, including Romania (Decision Support System training), Vietnam (Blue Dragon program), South Africa, Peru, Tanzania, and 13 other countries.
• Waterschap ZuiderzeelandcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Dutch water board that leads the Decision Support System project in Romania. Project leader Michiel Heuser coordinates the training program for Romanian water managers.
• HKV (advisory bureau)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2024Dutch advisory bureau that provides training on Decision Support Systems for Romanian water managers, in collaboration with Deltares.
• DeltaresminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2024Dutch research institute that provides training on Decision Support Systems for Romanian water managers, using Delft FEWS and RTC Tools, in collaboration with HKV.
• Rijkswaterstaat (Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Dutch government agency involved in the Blue Deal Romania partnership for Decision Support System training.
• Partners for Water (Provincie An Giang)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Vietnamese provincial government partner co-funding the Blue Dragon natural riverbank erosion solutions pilot in the Mekong Delta (50/50 funding split with NWB Fonds for implementation).
• Rijkswaterstaat (KNMI Romania equivalent)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Romanian meteorological and hydrological institute participating in Decision Support System training for water reservoir management.
• Dutch Water AuthoritiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUmbrella organization for Dutch water boards that organizes network days and collaborates with NWB Fonds on international water projects and the NWB Award program.
• Haskoning VietnamminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEngineering consultancy hired to design the natural riverbank erosion solution pilot in An Giang province, Mekong Delta.
• KIWI Program Partners (Educational Institutions)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partners providing coaching, intervision, and knowledge exchange for water professionals in the KIWI Next international capacity development program.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• WaterAid: Large international NGO focused on water, sanitation, and hygiene in developing countries. Comparable mission and global geographic footprint, though significantly larger scale and broader programmatic scope than NWB Fonds.

Direct peers

• SNV Netherlands Development Organisation: Dutch development NGO with significant WASH and water management programming across Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Comparable in mandate (international development with water focus) and operating through country-level partnerships similar to NWB Fonds' Blue Deal model.
• Netherlands Water Partnership (NWP): Dutch cluster organization that coordinates Dutch water-sector expertise and partners internationally. Directly comparable as a Dutch-based intermediary connecting Dutch water authorities and firms with international water projects, complementing NWB Fonds' grantmaking role.
• IRC WASH: International foundation focused on WASH sector capacity building, knowledge creation, and advocacy. Comparable as a WASH-focused foundation/NGO with strong Dutch roots and ties to international water partnerships and learning programs.
• Aqua for All: Dutch foundation/fund focused on financing WASH and water-related entrepreneurship in developing countries. Same operational model of grantmaking and co-financing for international water projects, and one of the closest peer funders in the Dutch ecosystem.
• Vitens Evides International: International arm of Dutch drinking water utilities Vitens and Evides, providing water utility capacity building in developing countries. Comparable as Dutch-rooted, water-management-focused international development partner, operating in similar geographies (Africa, Asia).
• Global Water Partnership (GWP): International network for integrated water resources management, working to advance water governance. Comparable as a network/membership organization facilitating knowledge exchange and capacity building across countries on water management.
• Partners for Water (RVO): Dutch government program (managed by RVO) that co-finances international water projects involving Dutch expertise. Direct overlap with NWB Fonds as a Dutch public-affiliated funder of international water partnerships, frequently co-financing the same Blue Deal projects.

Others

• Deltares: Dutch applied research institute on water, subsurface, and infrastructure. Listed as an implementation partner for NWB Fonds' Romanian DSS training; comparable as a Dutch-rooted water-knowledge organization whose tools and expertise enable the foundation's technical programs.

Emerging players

• Acumen: International nonprofit impact fund that deploys philanthropic capital to address poverty through innovative solutions. Comparable as a mission-driven philanthropic funder with similar governance and portfolio approach, though broader sectoral focus than water alone.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nwb-fonds

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about NWB Fonds