News

It’s inspiring to see the Norfolk Water Strategy Programme and its partners turning nature-based solutions into action for rivers, wildlife, and communities. Nature for Water is grateful to have supported part of this journey, and we’re excited to see the work continue to grow.

Watch the film to meet some of the people making it happen.

This week, partners working on the Black Volta River Basin in Ghana and the Lower Kafue Water Fund in Zambia are learning from the experiences of the Upper Tana-Nairobi Water Fund Trust and Eldoret-Iten Water Funds in Kenya.

The learning visit is creating space to exchange practical lessons on some of the building blocks of successful watershed investment programs, including:
▪️ Governance and public-private collaboration
▪️ Sustainable funding mechanisms
▪️ Watershed restoration and management
▪️ Meaningful community engagement
▪️ Monitoring progress and impact

Most importantly, the teams are exploring how these lessons can be adapted to their own contexts and translated into practical next steps back home.

We’re excited to see this cross-country learning in action and the ideas it sparks for the journey ahead!

Nature for Water’s Call for Proposals is officially open! If you’re developing Nature-based Solutions to address water scarcity, flooding, or water quality challenges, this is an opportunity to receive pro-bono technical assistance from the N4W team to strengthen and scale your program.

Apply before October 16

Our Annual Network Survey is now open, and your feedback will help shape future resources, learning opportunities, and community engagement.

Tell us what’s working, where you need support, and how we can make the Network even more valuable to you.

Join us for Financing Water Security: Proving Value and Unlocking Funding, a two-part webinar series exploring the journey from building a compelling business case to mobilizing the funding needed for implementation.

October 1: Building the Business Case. Register here

Save the Date! On September 29, 2026, Nature for Water will launch its 6th Call for Proposals, inviting organizations working at the forefront of water security to partner with us.

Through this Call, we support local champions developing Nature-based Solutions at landscape scale to address pressing challenges related to water scarcity, flooding, and water quality. Selected applicants receive in-kind technical assistance from the Nature for Water team to support program preparation and capacity-building. Eligible applicants include water utilities, river basin organizations, and water sector consortia.

N4W will host an Introductory Webinar on September 30, 2026. The session will cover: An overview of Nature for Water, call for Proposals objectives and guidelines, the application process and key requirements and live Q&A with the N4W team. The webinar will be held in English with Spanish and Portuguese translation. 

When: September 30, 7:30–9:00 AM UTC-5

We’re proud to share that 𝙒𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙤𝙛 has been named a finalist for the 2026 Autodesk Design & Make Awards.

The Design & Make Awards recognize customers using Autodesk technology to create meaningful impact across architecture, engineering, construction, product design and manufacturing, media and entertainment, and other Design & Make industries.

Communities around the world are increasingly looking to nature to reduce flood risk, improve water security and adapt to a changing climate. But determining which solutions will deliver the greatest benefits in a specific location often requires significant time, expertise and investment.

WaterProof 2.0 helps change that.

By combining cutting-edge science, cloud-based technology and an open-access platform, WaterProof breaks down the traditional barriers to investment, allowing users to quickly understand the potential for nature-based solutions to address their water security needs.

New in Version 2.0: WaterProof adds a flood mitigation module that helps analyze the return on investment (ROI) of NbS aimed at reducing flood risk, helping users build the case for action like never before.

Join us for the launch of WaterProof 2.0 and discover how The Nature Conservancy is making it easier than ever to evaluate, prioritize and invest in nature for water security.

09 September 2026
10:00 AM Bogotá | 11:00 AM New York |4:00 PM London | 6:00 PM Nairobi

Developed through the Norfolk Water Strategy Programme, the Norfolk Water Fund is a practical delivery mechanism to scale up investment in Nature-based Solutions (NbS) and tackle Norfolk’s water security challenges.

The report highlights a series of significant milestones, with the fund moving from development into full delivery and establishing a strong pipeline of projects across the county.

Key highlights include: 
- Formal launch of the Norfolk Water Fund in April 2025 
- Delivery funding secured from corporate partners 
- NbS projects delivered across the Wensum and Yare catchments 
- Feasibility funding being used to build a strong pipeline for future delivery 
- Integration with Anglian Water’s Advanced WINEP programme 
- New opportunity maps, benefits assessment tools and monitoring guidance developed 

Our team was recently in India advancing the Resilient River Ghod dashboard and data capture system, working closely with local partners to bring data and implementation closer together.

The visit was an important step forward: gathering key inputs to strengthen the system, engaging directly with stakeholders, and gaining a deeper understanding of how the project is unfolding on the ground. A workshop with local partners highlighted strong interest in scaling these tools to other projects, a promising signal for what’s ahead.

This work reinforces the critical role of Program Intelligence in N4W’s approach. Reliable, accessible data helps enable consistent reporting, strengthens decision-making, and ensures that the impact of nature-based solutions can be clearly captured and shared.

As part of the newly launched Cape Water Performance-based Bond, a first-of-its-kind, nature-linked outcomes bond valued at R2.5 billion (USD $150M*), The Nature Conservancy in South Africa (TNC-SA) today announced it will receive R150M in conservation funding in the form of donations and related catalytic funding.

The total conservation funding donated to TNC-SA from the bond, which equates to roughly USD $8.8M*, will enable TNC-SA to continue and scale its invasive alien plant (IAP) clearing and catchment restoration work through the Greater Cape Town Water Fund (GCTWF) over the next five years.

The Cape Water Performance-based Bond involves FirstRand Bank (as issuer, project agent, and conditional funding donor) and RMB (as arranger, structurer and distributor). Conservation Alpha is acting as the independent design and technical agent, providing verification oversight to ensure environmental outcomes are robustly measured. 

Last week, our team was on the ground in Anápolis (Goiás, Brazil), connecting directly with local partners working to strengthen water security through NbS. Field visits like this are a reminder of what this work is really about. Beyond models and strategies, it’s about understanding local realities, listening to different perspectives, and seeing firsthand the challenges and opportunities, shaping each watershed.

What stood out most in Anápolis was the strength of collaboration. A solid governance structure is already in place, and stakeholders across the basin share a clear understanding of the importance of protecting water resources, and a genuine commitment to act. These moments of connection on the ground help build the trust, alignment, and motivation needed to move from planning to implementation. We’re looking forward to building on this momentum in the next phase of the project.

The Nature Conservancy (TNC) is looking for an Engagement Consultant to join Nature for Water, supporting the design and development of watershed investment programs powered by Nature-based Solutions.

This role is ideal for someone with a strong analytical and financial background, interested in working at the intersection of water, sustainability, and investment strategies. You’ll help build financial models, evaluate funding pathways, and contribute to programs that deliver real impact on the ground.

At N4W, you’ll be part of multidisciplinary teams working with partners around the world to turn science into actionable, scalable solutions for water security.

The position is fully remote and can be based in any country where TNC can hire in Latin America & Caribbean.

We are launching an Expression of Interest to expand our network of consulting partners supporting watershed investment programs across Latin America and the Caribbean.

We are looking for firms with strong experience in project management, governance, socio-economic analysis, and stakeholder engagement to join our blended teams and help design and deliver Nature-based Solutions for water security.

This is an opportunity to collaborate on a growing global portfolio of watershed programs, working alongside local partners to turn science into practical, on-the-ground impact.

Submission deadline: April 24, 2026
Send applications to: cfp@nature4water.org
 

Innovative conservation financing mechanisms like the new Cape Water Performance-based bond announced today are bringing NGOs, public institutions and private capital together at a time when speed and scale have never been more important to meet our goals.

Learn how this new, landmark bond is unlocking critical funding for conservation and enabling The Nature Conservancy in Africa to continue its work through the Greater Cape Town Water Fund. 

This new collaboration in Croatia is a great example of how nature and water are deeply connected and why protecting key landscapes is essential for long-term resilience.

By working with Hrvatske šume, this initiative focuses on places like Lonjsko Polje and the Spačva Forest, where healthy ecosystems play a critical role in regulating water, supporting biodiversity, and sustaining local livelihoods.

What’s especially important is the approach: combining science with local knowledge to identify practical, investable solutions that can be implemented on the ground.

We’re excited to see this work move forward!

As South Africa marks National Water Week, this work from WILDTRUST OFFICIAL highlights what it takes to safeguard one of the country’s most strategic water sources.

The Upper uThukela Water Fund brings together partners around a shared goal: strengthening water security through nature-based solutions that restore ecosystems, support livelihoods, and build long-term resilience.

What stands out is the scale of impact: from upstream landscapes to the communities and economies that depend on them downstream.

We’re glad to be part of the broader partnership supporting this effort.

We're expanding our APAC team and looking for passionate people to help advance nature-based solutions for water security across the region. See open roles:

🤝 𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐫: you're the person who makes things happen.
This is a senior delivery role for someone who can lead project execution, hold their own in technical client conversations, and make smart course-corrections in real time. More here: https://lnkd.in/eCb5fguX

📄 𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭: you're a project powerhouse with range.
This role is for someone who thrives in unstructured environments, can manage complexity across multiple workstreams, and brings real consultancy or project finance chops to the table. More here: https://lnkd.in/eZ7Yix_K

🔬 𝐒𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝: you're the technical anchor on water and watersheds.
We need someone who has done the hard modeling work — not just GIS or engineering, but real hydrological analysis — and who can now take ownership of designing analytical approaches and coordinating project-level science delivery. More here: https://lnkd.in/ehiRdyWz

🧪 𝐒𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐞: you're a hydrologist ready to do meaningful work.
You've got solid modeling experience and you're looking for a role where your technical skills connect to real-world water outcomes. You're ready to roll up your sleeves in a dynamic, mission-driven team. More here: https://lnkd.in/eJddxN8E

Open to candidates based in Thailand & the Philippines. The Nature for Water Facility is a TNC-led program. These positions are employed through an employer-of-record arrangement and are not direct TNC employment.

Nature for Water is proud to have partnered with CAF -banco de desarrollo de América Latina y el Caribe- on a collaborative effort focused on advancing how nature can be better integrated into water‑related decision‑making.

This work reflects the value of trusted partnerships, shared learning, and a common ambition to explore more sustainable approaches across Latin America and the Caribbean.

It also highlights N4W’s role in supporting development banks as they advance their green financing objectives.

Grateful for the openness, engagement, and collaboration throughout the process — and excited about what this relationship can enable going forward. Looking forward to continuing the conversation. 

Water security starts long before a river reaches a city. It begins in headwaters, wetlands, and rangelands, in the landscapes that quietly sustain communities and economies downstream.

This new film from Kruger to Canyons Biosphere Region NPC brings that upstream–downstream connection to life in the Blyde catchment, showing how healthy ecosystems underpin water, livelihoods, and resilience across the region.

It’s a powerful reminder that investing in nature-based solutions is ultimately an investment in people and place.

We’re grateful to collaborate alongside partners supporting this work and the broader Kruger to Canyons landscape.