Content
The InnWater project has developed a suite of interconnected digital tools and platforms aimed at renewing and strengthening multi-level, cross-sectoral water governance across Europe. Rather than offering only conceptual models, these tools provide practical, user-friendly resources that can be applied by a wide range of stakeholders. The three core components are described below:
Water Governance Assessment Tool (WGAT)
Purpose: The WGAT supports the assessment of water governance systems at different scales (local, basin and regional) by identifying levels of maturity, strengths, and governance gaps through a structured evaluation approach.
Framework: The tool is built on the OECD Principles on Water Governance, further enriched by research carried out within InnWater. It covers 16 principles grouped into four dimensions:
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effectiveness,
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efficiency,
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trust & engagement, and
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sustainability & resilience.
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How it works: the WGAT uses a mixed questionnaire, combining compulsory and optional questions across five macro-sections:
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Mega Trends & Resilience
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Policy, Institutions & Regulation
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Financing
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Data, Monitoring & Evaluation
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Stakeholder Engagement
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Output: Upon completion, the tool generates visual outputs (such as spider diagrams) and tailored narrative reports that identify strengths and governance gaps. It supports both basic and comprehensive assessments, making it suitable for multi-stakeholder processes and benchmarking exercises.
Accessibility: As an online, multilingual application, the WGAT offers adjustable levels of detail to accommodate users ranging from policymakers and regulators to water managers, practitioners and citizen groups.
Water Governance Diagnostic Tool
Purpose: Closely linked to the WGAT, the Diagnostic Tool is designed for rapid deployment and broad accessibility. It helps stakeholders identify and contextualize governance gaps and facilitate structured dialogue among different water-related actors.
Methodological basis: While drawing on the WGAT framework, the diagnostic version is simplified for quick digital self-assessment or use in workshops. It includes 29 priority questions organised across five key categories.
Functionality: Results are visualized through simple scoring systems, with accompanying narrative summaries that translate findings into practical insights. A notable feature is its capacity to map and compare multiple assessments of the same governance system , allowing different stakeholder groups to see where perceptions converge or diverge and to prioritise areas for improvement.
Integration: Serving as an “entry point”, the Diagnostic Tool connects to other InnWater resources such as economic dashboards and tariff-policy simulations, enabling a more holistic decision-support approach within the Governance Platform.
InnWater Governance Platform
Purpose: The Governance Platform acts as the central digital hub bringing together all tools, methods, and resources developed within InnWater.
Components: It hosts the WGAT and Diagnostic Tool alongside economic simulation dashboards, tariff models modules, a repository of case studies, and an e-learning environment.
Features:
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A modular, user-friendly interface tailored to different stakeholder groups.
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Multi-language support for all pilot countries.
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Data management and export options, (PDF, CSV, etc.)CSV.
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An AI-powered assistant providing guidance, answers, and recommendations.
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Learning pathways, interactive elements, and scenario-based navigation to support practical use of the tools.
Technical architecture: The platform is built upon the Drupal-based ePLANETe environment, ensuring scalability, flexibility, and secure data management.
Integration: Full interoperability allows results from governance assessments to feed directly into economic simulations or tariff-policy design. The platform is designed for use beyond pilot sites, supporting broader scaling and replication across Europe and internationally.