Delta Alliance achieved a lot in its second phase. The network has officially been launched, its first projects have been completed, and both in terms of organisational as network development many activities have been undertaken. However, for the third phase (starting in January 2011), many challenges lie still ahead.

Organisational development
The launch of the international Delta Alliance network was a central focus point in the second phase. To outline the objectives, working strategy and financial plan, a Strategic Framework was created and updated regularly during the second phase. Inputs for the Framework were gained through scoping activities which explored opportunities for the international delta network with partners in California, Indonesia, The Netherlands and Vietnam. It was discussed during a strategy session in Shanghai in June 2010, including partners from other delta countries. The many comments derived from this meeting were used to create the “Delta Alliance Declaration”; a declaration which outlines the mission of Delta Alliance and guides its members through its activities.
During the Advisory Board meeting on October 1, 2010 it was decided that steps should be taken to legally establish Delta Alliance as a foundation with the name ”Delta Alliance International”. Delta Alliance International will become a non-profit organization comprised of the following bodies: International Governing Board, Executive Board, Director, Advisory Committee and International Secretariat.

Network development
The development of the Delta Alliance network in phase 2 included the organization of scoping workshops and follow-up meetings in various Wings, missions to expand the network and (co)organization of various events and workshops by Delta Alliance representatives. At the beginning of phase 2, Delta Alliance started with 4 core delta regions or delta Wings, namely Indonesia, Vietnam, California and The Netherlands. These Wings built the network and organized various events to identify critical issues in their delta and to expand the network in their respective region.

Network development under the Netherlands Wing consisted amongst others of organizing a scoping workshop in April 2010, the realization of the project “Comparative assessment of the vulnerability and resilience of 10 deltas” together with colleagues in the various Wings, an Electronic Board Room session during the Rotterdam conference and the implementation and coordination of the Assessment studies for the Mekong Delta Plan project.
Activities under the Vietnam Wing were the organization of a scoping workshop and a follow-up workshop on capacity building. Also, the Vietnam Wing assists in organizing the Delta 2011 conference in Hanoi. 
The Indonesia Wing organized a round table meeting and scoping workshop. It also prepared its contribution for the World Delta Summit 2011 together with Bakosurtanal during the Indonesia Delta Forum conference in Semarang. The workshop and project “Methods and tools for water-related adaptation to climate change and climate proofing” in Bandung was also organized in cooperation with the Indonesia Wing. The Wing is also involved in the implementation of the “Jakarta Climate Change Adaptation Tools” project.
The California Wing worked closely together with the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission to launch a new initiative called “Adapting to Rising Tides”. Steps have been taken to link Delta Alliance to the newly established Delta Stewardship Council which aims to develop a new Delta Plan for California by 2012.

Next to the four initial core delta regions, 3 more delta members joined Delta Alliance (Egypt, USA-Louisiana and China). Further, there are 3 candidate member deltas (Bangladesh, Brazil and Argentina) and several potential candidate members (Mozambique, Taiwan, other USA deltas, and European deltas).

A large network activity undertaken by Delta Alliance was the participation in the World Estuary Alliance conference in Shanghai in June 2010. Next to these network activities, various missions were undertaken to visit conferences and potential funding agencies.
The network activities reached a climax with the conference ‘Deltas in Times of Climate Change’ from September 29 to October 1 in Rotterdam. Various sessions were organized by Delta Alliance in which the focus of Delta Alliance was further defined, examples of current projects were given and the winners of the DeltaCompetition 2010, organized in  cooperation with Royal Haskoning, were announced.

Projects
Two projects funded by the Knowledge for Climate (KfC) program were carried out during phase 2: the “Bandung workshop” and  the “Comparative assessment of the vulnerability and resilience of 10 deltas”. Another KfC funded project, “Jakarta climate change adaptation tools”, initiated and implemented by Royal Haskoning, was also brought under the umbrella of Delta Alliance at the end of phase 2. Additionally, Deltares, Alterra and Infram are currently working on a Netherlands funded Partners for Water project called “Assessment studies for the Mekong Delta Plan” under the umbrella of Delta Alliance.

Delta Alliance: strong position, great momentum
Delta Alliance has developed well during phase 2. The Delta Alliance gained a strong position in the national and international arena and the success of the official launch ceremony during the International Conference Deltas in Times of Climate Change on September 30, 2010 in Rotterdam created great momentum. The expectations are high! The idea of starting with 4 core deltas has worked out well. The discussion in the relatively small Advisory Board and the support of its members contributed largely to the current position of Delta Alliance. Good contacts have been established with many other initiatives and networks that are already contributing to the development, integration, and exchange of knowledge related to deltas networks. None of them have disputed or obstructed the creation of the Delta Alliance. On the contrary,  good working relations have been established with most of them. Both in the policy as in the science arena the creation of Delta Alliance has been welcomed.

Delta Alliance: many challenges ahead
At the end of the second phase and the start of the 3rd phase, a number of challenges are lying  ahead, e.g.:

• The remaining funding from the Knowledge for Climate program is limited. Delta Alliance will have to find external funding to keep the network running. For that purpose a strategy is being developed
• In principle, Delta Alliance prefers to continue working with a relatively small secretariat. As a result, it will be a challenge to organise all the foreseen activities
• The real added value of Delta Alliance would be the execution of inter-delta cooperation projects on knowledge sharing and development. The question is whether there will be enough interest from member organisations and donor organisations to make such projects possible

Outlook to the third phase
The start of the third phase of Delta Alliance is foreseen on January 1, 2011. Activities in phase 3 will be focused on concrete inter-delta cooperation projects focusing on knowledge sharing and development, exchange of staff and students between deltas, expansion and consolidation of the network, strengthening of the organizational structure and attracting external funding. We are looking forward to it!