Canals as Leverage

About this project

Water as Leverage (WaL) is an inclusive, design-led approach to urban water resilience that reframes water challenges as opportunities for transformation. Initiated by the Dutch government, WaL connects communities, governments, financiers, and designers to co-create integrated solutions that are socially just, ecologically sound, and economically viable.In Bangkok, the WaL Academy was launched in 2023 to explore the transformative potential water on different levels, including the city’s canal network. Once central to Bangkok’s identity and ecology, the canals today face pollution, unplanned urban growth, and social neglect. The Academy focused on a new way of working, bringing together diverse stakeholders to co-develop systemic insights and Nature-based Solutions (NbS) that reconnect water management to cultural heritage, urban liveability, and climate resilience.This continuation of the WaL Academy will build on the first cycle, deepening collaboration and translating ideas into spatial concepts and pilot opportunities. Through interactive workshops, design expertise, and accessible tools, the Academy will foster inclusive participation and create tangible pathways for NbS in Bangkok’s Canals. Creating actionable and scalable results for Thai stakeholders, such as the Bangkok Metropolitan Authority and Dutch organisations active in Thailand is aimed for.

Published by

Netherlands Enterprise Agency · Government

Countries

Thailand

Sectors

Water resources conservation (including data collection)Urban developmentDisaster Risk Reduction

Focus

Climate adaptation · Also contributes

Funded by

Netherlands Enterprise Agency

Accountable

Netherlands Enterprise Agency

Published by Netherlands Enterprise Agency to the International Aid Transparency Initiative (IATI), last updated 20 May 2026 and imported automatically. IATI identifier: NL-KVK-27378529-PVW525WAL1.

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