Short Description
Developed by a diverse community of over 100 stakeholders from 30 countries, the OECD water governance principles were adopted in 2015 and have been applied globally. They address roles and responsibilities (Principle 1), integrated basin management (2), policy coherence (3), capacity adaptation (Principle 4), data production (5), water finance (6), regulatory frameworks (7), innovative practices (8), integrity (9), stakeholder engagement (10), trade-offs (11), and monitoring (12).
Deliverable (D) 2.1 from Work Package 2 aims to develop methodologies for assessing water governance, addressing technical, policy, and institutional challenges (e.g., polluter pays principle (Art. 9 WFD), 2030 Biodiversity Strategy’s restoration of freshwater ecosystems, EU Green Deal). D2.1 builds upon the OECD Water Governance Principles and enhances them by incorporating sustainability and resilience dimensions, focusing on circular economy, environmental resilience, engagement of vulnerable groups, and integrated local strategies.
The circular economy approach emphasizes minimizing water pollution and over-abstraction through innovative reuse strategies, aligning with EU directives for sustainable resource management. Local empowerment underscores the role of decentralized governance in promoting water conservation and resilience, particularly crucial as urbanization increases. Engagement of vulnerable groups emphasizes inclusivity in water governance, addressing gender disparities and socio-economic inequalities to enhance environmental outcomes. Environmental resilience is highlighted for its role in adapting to climate impacts and protecting biodiversity, integrating ecosystem conservation into governance frameworks.
The developed assessment tool will be tested in EU pilot sites to refine both the water governance tool and process. It involves a thorough process encompassing preparation, assessment, and gap identification phases. Lead institutions, facilitated by WP2 partners, engage stakeholders from diverse backgrounds in workshops to gather qualitative and quantitative data. Results are presented using color coding and visual graphs to highlight key water governance challenges and areas needing improvement
Deliverable (D) 2.1 from Work Package 2 aims to develop methodologies for assessing water governance, addressing technical, policy, and institutional challenges (e.g., polluter pays principle (Art. 9 WFD), 2030 Biodiversity Strategy’s restoration of freshwater ecosystems, EU Green Deal). D2.1 builds upon the OECD Water Governance Principles and enhances them by incorporating sustainability and resilience dimensions, focusing on circular economy, environmental resilience, engagement of vulnerable groups, and integrated local strategies.
The circular economy approach emphasizes minimizing water pollution and over-abstraction through innovative reuse strategies, aligning with EU directives for sustainable resource management. Local empowerment underscores the role of decentralized governance in promoting water conservation and resilience, particularly crucial as urbanization increases. Engagement of vulnerable groups emphasizes inclusivity in water governance, addressing gender disparities and socio-economic inequalities to enhance environmental outcomes. Environmental resilience is highlighted for its role in adapting to climate impacts and protecting biodiversity, integrating ecosystem conservation into governance frameworks.
The developed assessment tool will be tested in EU pilot sites to refine both the water governance tool and process. It involves a thorough process encompassing preparation, assessment, and gap identification phases. Lead institutions, facilitated by WP2 partners, engage stakeholders from diverse backgrounds in workshops to gather qualitative and quantitative data. Results are presented using color coding and visual graphs to highlight key water governance challenges and areas needing improvement