Short Description
The InnWater project aims to test and implement innovative water governance strategies across five diverse pilot sites. These sites, selected for their varied spatial and topographical characteristics, serve as living laboratories for developing and evaluating new approaches to water management. These were carried out on five Pilot Sites including:
• La Reunion: A mountainous island with a height range (3,031m) and an area of 2,500km².
• Middle Brenta: A region characterized by a height range (2,115m) within a 1,700km² area.
• Figueres: Encompassing 1,150km² with a height range of 1,208m.
• Westcountry: A large coastal zone spanning 21,000km² with a height range (621m).
• Tisza: A landlocked lowland area covering 5,500km² with a minimal height range (27m).
The project emphasises a collaborative approach, bringing together a consortium of partners with expertise in thematic and geographic areas. The Pilot Site Committee plays a crucial role in coordinating activities across the sites, ensuring standardization and facilitating knowledge sharing. This collaborative framework is essential for the project's success, as it allows for the integration of diverse perspectives and the development of context-specific solutions.
Pilot sites have worked with 368 unique individuals, 14% were from NGO’s 34% from private organisations and 52% from public sectors. Of all 368 participants, 36% were women and 64% men. These percentages vary with the UK being the most even in terms of gender split and with the highest public to community split. Off all representatives 21 were from under-represented groups but Catchment Partnerships in the UK represent a wider array. Individuals represented 199 individual organisations (38 in La Reunion; 77 in La Brenta; 42 in Figueres; 11 in West Country and 31 in Tisza). The lessons learned from Pilot Site Communities are:
1. Stakeholder engagement is challenging and requires continuous effort: There are difficulties in involving and retaining certain stakeholders throughout the project, leading to attrition. This highlights the need for ongoing strategies to maintain engagement.
2. Interactive tools enhance stakeholder understanding: Using tools like the CGE model with live simulations improves stakeholder engagement and strengthens their understanding of complex issues like the WEFE nexus.
3. Balancing initial exploration with robust analysis is crucial: Finding the right balance between initial work and in-depth analysis is essential for ensuring the robustness of results while maintaining progress.
4. Digital tools have potential but require user support: Digital tools can enhance skills, but addressing usability issues and providing user support (like through the InnWater platform) is necessary for effective adoption.
5. Policy impact and tool dissemination need clear communication: Communicating the impact of project work on public policy and ensuring the dissemination of digital tools to local decision-makers requires clear strategies, such as policy briefs.
6. Institutional buy-in and communication are key for local implementation: In the Middle Brenta pilot site, lessons emphasize the importance of starting with institutional buy-in, keeping non-institutional stakeholders informed, and continuously evaluating and improving engagement strategies through communication refinement.
• La Reunion: A mountainous island with a height range (3,031m) and an area of 2,500km².
• Middle Brenta: A region characterized by a height range (2,115m) within a 1,700km² area.
• Figueres: Encompassing 1,150km² with a height range of 1,208m.
• Westcountry: A large coastal zone spanning 21,000km² with a height range (621m).
• Tisza: A landlocked lowland area covering 5,500km² with a minimal height range (27m).
The project emphasises a collaborative approach, bringing together a consortium of partners with expertise in thematic and geographic areas. The Pilot Site Committee plays a crucial role in coordinating activities across the sites, ensuring standardization and facilitating knowledge sharing. This collaborative framework is essential for the project's success, as it allows for the integration of diverse perspectives and the development of context-specific solutions.
Pilot sites have worked with 368 unique individuals, 14% were from NGO’s 34% from private organisations and 52% from public sectors. Of all 368 participants, 36% were women and 64% men. These percentages vary with the UK being the most even in terms of gender split and with the highest public to community split. Off all representatives 21 were from under-represented groups but Catchment Partnerships in the UK represent a wider array. Individuals represented 199 individual organisations (38 in La Reunion; 77 in La Brenta; 42 in Figueres; 11 in West Country and 31 in Tisza). The lessons learned from Pilot Site Communities are:
1. Stakeholder engagement is challenging and requires continuous effort: There are difficulties in involving and retaining certain stakeholders throughout the project, leading to attrition. This highlights the need for ongoing strategies to maintain engagement.
2. Interactive tools enhance stakeholder understanding: Using tools like the CGE model with live simulations improves stakeholder engagement and strengthens their understanding of complex issues like the WEFE nexus.
3. Balancing initial exploration with robust analysis is crucial: Finding the right balance between initial work and in-depth analysis is essential for ensuring the robustness of results while maintaining progress.
4. Digital tools have potential but require user support: Digital tools can enhance skills, but addressing usability issues and providing user support (like through the InnWater platform) is necessary for effective adoption.
5. Policy impact and tool dissemination need clear communication: Communicating the impact of project work on public policy and ensuring the dissemination of digital tools to local decision-makers requires clear strategies, such as policy briefs.
6. Institutional buy-in and communication are key for local implementation: In the Middle Brenta pilot site, lessons emphasize the importance of starting with institutional buy-in, keeping non-institutional stakeholders informed, and continuously evaluating and improving engagement strategies through communication refinement.