Big investments need strong project management. That is why Cynthia Roose and Alice Fermont from World Waternet ran interactive sessions at N.V. Surinaamsche Waterleiding Maatschappij (SWM). The department heads and directors worked together on a clear basis for project-based work.
A system under pressure and preparing for what is next
N.V. Surinaamsche Waterleiding Maatschappij (SWM) is entering a decisive phase. With major investments ahead, the organisation is taking a closer look at a critical question: can it deliver these projects in a structured and reliable way?
Building on the momentum of the recently signed Memorandum of Understanding with SWM, World Waternet facilitated a series of intensive sessions in January 2026, bringing together department heads and board members. Led by project manager Cynthia Roose and asset management specialist Alice Fermont, the sessions focused on one central theme: strengthening project management across the organisation.
The urgency is clear. As SWM Head of Planning and Research and programme manager Virangni Soekhoe put it:
We need to learn how to manage our projects properly, how to manage and plan our budgets, how to plan our activities, and how to pay and schedule people. And World Waternet will help us with that
Beyond experience: building structure and alignment.
During the mission, teams worked in groups and answered questions about the level of project management within SWM. This helped SWM see clearly where the organisation stands today and what needs attention next. Director Clifton Lienga joined the group work and encouraged staff to learn as much as possible and apply this knowledge in their work.
In his speech, Clifton Lienga also spoke about learning in phases and using knowledge until it becomes part of how you work. He used practical examples to show that deep learning helps an organisation avoid future problems.
From project management to asset management and a supply plan
Alongside project management, the team also covered asset management and a supply plan. Alice Fermont explained that asset management includes everything needed to produce groundwater and manage water production processes well. She stressed that the goal is to use financial resources and other resources in the best way, so SWM can produce reliable drinking water at an acceptable price.
The mission also included sessions on a supply plan. This plan sets out what SWM needs for drinking water services over the next five years. It also maps how the drinking water supply is organised today, which stations exist, and which developments and forecasts are expected. Cynthia Roose explained that SWM worked in depth on this in 2024 and that the basis for the plan is now in place
Learning across departments and breaking silos
One of the most immediate outcomes of the sessions was stronger interaction across departments. By working in mixed groups, participants were able to compare how projects are handled across teams, identify inconsistencies, and share practical approaches.
Julian Pawiroredjo, Head of Production, Distribution and Monitoring, noted:
We can learn a lot from each other within SWM, while also benefiting from the experience Wereld Waternet brings.
This broader perspective is essential for moving towards organisation-wide consistency rather than isolated improvements.
What comes next
The mission is complete, but the SWM project team continues its work. Later in the year, World Waternet will return for a new mission to go deeper into the topics and support the next steps.
