Myanmar-Netherlands Water Challenge 2016 (Smart Delta)

The Ayeyarwady Delta is one of the world’s major deltas, running 300 km from east to west and 200 km from north to south. It is the main artery on which Myanmar’s livelihood depends, providing food, water and a place to live and work for millions of people. The Ayeyarwady Delta also plays an increasingly important role in Myanmar’s economic development as a regional trading route. At present the delta is still largely undeveloped but the exploitation of its resources in some areas may pose serious threats to the future health of the delta. sustainable development of the Ayeyarwady Delta needs smart solutions.

The SMART DELTA Myanmar- Water Challenge 2016 kicked-off with an exciting on-campus program by The Water Agency’s organizing at Yangon Technological University and Myanmar Maritime University. All together, more than a hundred students from nine universities and institutes participated in an informative and 3-Day Intensive Program, introducing the Smart Delta theme.

After the introductory presentations, the students worked and contributed on a mini “delta challenge’ with their own ideas and solutions, mentored by senior local & international experts from Arcadis, Deltares, NEPS, Royal HaskoningDHV, Myanma Port Authority, Van Oord and the Yangon City Development Committee. Under the Smart Delta theme, participants worked in four teams, representing key stakeholders in the delta: Smart Port, Smart River, Smart City and Smart Village. Each team had to analyse its own particular challenges and come up with possible solutions.

The Delta Academy program was closed with a Grand Final on 12 May 2016 where the teams presented their ideas and solutions on the big stage to senior representatives from ministries, NGO’s, universities, World Bank, WHO, KOICA, local private companies, Yangon City Development Committee and Myanmar Port Authority.

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