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The governance tools developed within InnWater, including the Water Governance Assessment Tool (WGAT), the Diagnostic Tool, and the InnWater Governance Platform, were intentionally designed to respond to persistent governance gaps and evolving needs at both the EU and local levels.
Responding to Governance Gaps
At the EU level:
InnWater’s tools directly address challenges identified in major European policy frameworks. The WGAT translates the OECD Principles on Water Governance into a usable assessment model that is fully compatible with the Water Framework Directive (WFD) and with the broader objectives of European Green Deal. Through systematic, multi-dimensional assessments, the tools help bridge the gap between high-level EU recommendations and diverse local realities, supporting benchmarking, identifying areas for improvement, and fostering cross-sector dialogue.
At the local level:
Pilot sites encountered governance issues such as weak coordination among actors, limited stakeholder involvement in decision-making, and insufficient capacity for evidence-based adaptation. By applying structured stakeholder mapping, participatory assessments, and digital reporting tools, local teams were able to clarify roles, increase transparency (e.g., in tariff reform processes), and ensure that consultations results translated into concrete policy adjustments. The modularity of the platform allowed flexible adaptation to different local regulatory and administrative contexts.
Examples of Policy Integration from Pilot Sites
Brenta (Italy): The WGAT and complementary tools supported a redesign of water tariffs to include environmental costs for the first time, meeting WFD requirements and enabling the introduction of new incentives mechanisms such as green bonds, and dedicated restoration funds. These measures were tested and adopted locally, demonstrating the integration of governance tools into real policy reforms.
La Réunion: Social tariffs and targeted subsidies were developed based on diagnostic mapping of economic vulnerabilities and stakeholder priorities. This approach strengthened the legitimacy of subsidy allocation and aligned local measure with EU social inclusion objectives.
Westcountry (UK): InnWater’s participatory mechanisms, catchment partnerships, citizen science initiatives, enabled community-generated data to influence management decisions, regulatory adjustments, and new engagement models. These tools helped beyond siloed governance and supported more adaptive, responsive management approaches.
Figueres (Spain): Diagnostic assessments and participatory platforms informed the implementation of pilot Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) schemes and social tariffs. These reforms were grounded in multi-actor consultations and robust scenario analysis, increasing acceptance and ensuring alignment with both local and EU policy goals.
Middle Tisza (Hungary): The allocation of restoration subsidies and EU funds was supported by participatory mapping and diagnostic tools, ensuring alignment between local needs, ecological objectives, and wider regulatory expectations.
In summary, InnWater’s governance tools were expressly designed to address gaps in both top-down European frameworks and bottom-up local practice. Across the pilot sites, they have supported integration, enabled innovation, and informed policy reform, showing how structured, participatory tools can enhance the effectiveness and legitimacy of water policy.