WaterFinns - operating principle

WaterFinns started its activities in 2001 and is open to everyone interested in water related issues. The NGO operates in the fields of water resources, water environments, waters, agriculture & irrigation, water supply & sanitation and waste treatment.

Going international

Since it might be difficult for young Finnish professionals to get experience of tasks in international projects, the activities and development cooperation projects undertaken by WaterFinns offer an excellent opportunity to gain experience of project planning, implementation and international contacts to its members.

Development cooperation

The board and active members of WaterFinns prepare the project proposals and applies for development cooperation funding mainly from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland. The nominated project coordinators manage the projects under implementation.

The first development cooperation projects were started in 2002 in India and Sri Lanka. In 2004 a project was started in Mali, West Africa, and in 2005 three new projects were started in Indonesia, Tanzania and Karelia. The project in Tansania is still running with the two projects in Nepal.

Project planning is undertaken by the more experienced members of WaterFinns together with younger members. A young member taken part in the project planning and committed to the project will be the responsible person during the implementation phase of the project. The projects are also planned together with local partner NGO’s, who will be responsible for the day-to-day implementation of the project. Project management and follow-up are taken care of mainly in Finland.

Project planning and management as well as operating of WaterFinns are on voluntary basis. In addition to external financial sup-port WaterFinns needs to have its own funding. Therefore the NGO seeks for cooperation partners, for example from water sector companies, to cover share of own funding.

Meetings and member evenings

To meetings and member evenings experts in the water sector are invited to initiate discussions of interesting current affairs. In addition to regular meetings activities of WaterFinns include member evenings, conversation circles, training events, participation in water related debates and occasions, and – the most remarkable activity – preparation and implementation of development cooperation projects in developing countries and countries in transition.

To become a member...

Please read the instructions from here how you can join WaterFinns.