Content
Integrating economic mechanisms into water governance works best when stakeholders can learn by doing. InnWater therefore combines digital tools that help users explore scenarios and visualise impacts, with learning formats that support shared interpretation and informed dialogue. The idea is simple: economic reasoning becomes much easier to apply when trade-offs are visible, comparable, and discussed with others.
A first layer is economic literacy. Training sessions and e-learning help users understand the basics of water economics (tariffs, cost recovery, and the logic of financial instruments). Peer learning and case studies then connect these concepts to real outcomes, so stakeholders can learn from what worked well—and what proved difficult—in different pilot contexts.
The digital tools below are designed to make decisions more concrete: users can test pricing models, explore modelling scenarios, and use comparative resources to ground discussions in evidence.
| Tool / resource | Main purpose | What it is used for in practice |
| Water Tariff Simulator | Test pricing models and visualise impacts | Adjust tariff structures (e.g., blocks, rates, social tariffs) and see immediate effects on revenue, affordability and water use |
| Economic Modeling Dashboard | Explore CGE/MSM scenarios | Compare policy options (tariffs, subsidies, investments) and see impacts across sectors, regions and user groups |
| ERC Calculator | Support ERC integration | Estimate Environmental and Resource Costs based on water use, pollution and ecosystem impacts |
| Comparative Pricing Table | Benchmark across sites | Compare tariff structures, cost recovery levels and affordability outcomes (successes and gaps) |
| Cost Recovery Exercises | Practice complex trade-offs | Scenario-based activities to adjust tariffs, project investment needs, and assess utility finances alongside affordability |
| Case Study Repository | Learn from real implementation | Structured cases (context, challenges, solutions, outcomes, lessons learned) to support adaptation and replication |
Digital exploration is complemented by participatory formats that help turn results into feasible choices. Scenario planning workshops, role-play sessions and decision-making workshops are used to compare options, understand constraints across actor groups, and refine strategies through feedback. This also links directly to an adaptive management mindset: monitoring outcomes (revenue, affordability, water use, ecosystem impacts) and adjusting tariffs, subsidies or incentives as new evidence and stakeholder feedback emerge.
Finally, these elements connect with the InnWater Governance Platform, which centralises tools, data and learning modules, and supports more transparent and collaborative decision-making.