Citizen engagement is a key component of InnWater’s social innovation approach to renew multi-level and cross-sector water governance. Citizen engagement is framed both as a compliance imperative under Directive 2000/60/EC (information, consultation, involvement) and as a cornerstone of open government and accountability, spanning social and political accountability relationships among citizens, policymakers, and service providers.
One of the main results of the project is an InnWater Citizen Engagement Framework, a practical guidance tool and analysis methodology to define, plan, and assess citizen engagement locally, focusing on the notion of River Basin Water Forums as a conceptual and methodological approach.
The methodology emphasizes inclusiveness and representation—particularly of vulnerable groups and women per the Dublin Principles—while positioning engagement along the ladder of participation from information and consultation to deliberation and co‑creation. It provides a curated toolbox of approaches and assessment guidance to ensure processes are effective, transparent, and adaptable over time.
The five Pilot Sites of the project (Reunion Island (France), Brenta (Italy), Figueres (Spain), West Country (UK), and Middle Tisza (Hungary)) served as testbeds to contextualize problem characterization, stakeholder mapping, and the design of engagement mixes aligned to resources, timelines, and governance needs. The developedd that enhance citizen involvement in water policy decision‑making and strengthen trust and collaboration between citizens as users, policymakers, and service providers.
Contact:
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Citizen Engagement Framework: Joana Diaz-Pont (EURECAT)