This deliverable describes the ethical management plan of the project. It outlines the guidelines and procedures to ensure ethical standards and integrity throughout the project. It includes a comprehensive ethical evaluation to ensure compliance with legal frameworks and enhance the overall quality of the research. The plan provides guidelines for ethical decision-making, research ethics, and accountability in data management during the project’s lifetime, as well as for the design and implementation of pathways to outcomes and impacts in the medium to longer term; and establishes governance bodies to monitor and where necessary revise the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). It presents the scope and instruments adopted for an ethical management of the process in both online and in person communication, including scientific publishing and policy communication and stakeholder engagement through training, workshops, and serious games. Overall, the Ethics Management Plan guides the TRANSCEND project in upholding ethical principles, complying with legal requirements, and ensuring the highest standards of research integrity. It aims to protect participant rights, advance knowledge ethically and responsibly, and contribute to addressing water scarcity and climate change through ethical research practices.
