Stef Smits is a senior programme officer and Co-director of IRC's Growth Hub. He has 20 years of professional experience in water supply and sanitation in over 25 countries in Europe, Latin America, Southern Africa, and South Asia. His main thematic expertise includes: institutional models for water supply, sustainability and enabling environment, monitoring, costing and financing of services and integrated water resources management.
Stef has led numerous projects on these topics, and published about them. In addition, he has ample management expertise: from consultancy assignments to multi-annual programmes, and units within an organisation. He has worked for a range of clients including bilateral donors, development banks, research funders and NGOs. Stef holds an MSc degree in Irrigation and Water Engineering from Wageningen University, The Netherlands.
A short review of the existing landscape of international financial flows to the water sector, with specific focus on climate finance. Read more...
Reflections on the blended course "Educating in Technology for Development", held in 2003 and aimed at 61 university professors in Spain. Read more...
Reflections on the blended course "Educating in Technology for Development", held in 2003 and aimed at 61 university professors in Spain. Read more...
Het is tijd voor 'nieuwe waterambities'. Read more...
This study contributes to both literature and practice by identifying the relative importance of factors to consider when designing collaborative... Read more...
This presentation describes how a blend of public and concessional financing is being used to attract larger investments for public water supply... Read more...
Addressing the financing challenges that result from the adoption of the water Sustainable Development Goal (SDG). Read more...
This guide shows leaders and development practitioners how to navigate this complexity and manage their initiatives/organisations successfully... Read more...
Elke derde dinsdag in september is het weer spannend: hoe zien de koopkrachtplaatjes eruit? Wat verandert er in de puntenwolken van besteedbaar inkomen? Ondanks alles ziet het koopkrachtplaatje van Minister Buitenlandse Handel en Ontwikkelingssamenwerking, Lilianne Ploumen, er voor 2017 nog goed... Read more...
A country needs to meet a certain development or income threshold before aid can prove to be effective and aid flows tend to have diminishing returns. Read more...
In reactie op een artikel dat deze week verscheen in NRC over fraude met Nederlands ontwikkelingsgeld voor schoon drinkwater in Benin, schrijft Stef Smits deze blog. Terugkeren naar projecthulp is geen optie, zegt hij. Read more...
Nederland doet goede toezeggingen om drinkwater- en sanitaire voorzieningen aan te leggen. Maar het moet niet voor een dubbeltje op de eerste rang willen zitten. Read more...
The King's speech marks the opening of the Dutch parliamentary year. This year he drew attention to the important position of the Netherlands in the international water sector. The budgets that were presented alongside the speech also reflect this, notably with a 6% increase for the budget for WASH... Read more...
Several Dutch water sector organisations have written to Minister Ploumen (Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation) about the Dutch targets for water supply. Read more...
Stef Smits legt uit wat er in de brief over de internationale drinkwaterdoelstelling staat die de water sector vandaag aan Minister Ploumen aanbiedt. Read more...
Background note to the 3rd IRC event on the limits of aid and the future of trade and presentations of the Keynote presentations by DGIS, Simavi and... Read more...
If you want to take on the real water bucket challenge, donate to government! Read more...
Veel van de geschenken die NGO's hebben gebracht zijn Trojaanse paarden gebleken, betoogt Stef Smits, senior programme officer van IRC, in deze opiniebijdrage voor Vice Versa . Maar hij is hoopvol over de strategische partnerschappen tussen ministerie en maatschappelijk middenveld. 'Ik hoop op een... Read more...
Territorial approaches to rural water supply were a hot topic at this week's Triple-S annual meeting. Read more...