Executive summary:
This report, alongside its counterpart “Rules of Engagement” (D1.2), marks the initial phase of stakeholder engagement, promoting inclusive research and innovation, a defining characteristic of the TRANSCEND project. Stakeholder engagement is instrumental to the successful implementation of transformative water reforms. Considering water as a precious and limited resource, its efficient management necessitates active cooperation and coordination among a range of stakeholders, comprising government entities, civil society organizations, water consumers, and the private sector. The TRANSCEND consortium is committed to involving these stakeholders in a meaningful way to ensure our research reflects their needs and perspectives and is ultimately beneficial to those empowered by our outcomes. As part of this commitment, we will foster an interactive environment wherein stakeholders actively contribute to the creation of models and action plans, thereby fostering a sense of co-ownership over the results.
Water, being a pivotal resource in achieving Sustainable Development Goals, is faced with issues of scarcity, pollution, governance, climate change, and justice. The TRANSCEND project aims to address these challenges, implementing transformative agendas across seven pilot laboratories in various countries and fostering collaboration among different sectors. This report presents initial stakeholder mapping results from the 7 living laboratories, providing a succinct overview of the water governance arrangements in the countries encompassing the living laboratories. It also details the water organizations operating within these labs, describes their responsibilities in key aspects of water governance decision-making, and further elaborates on the roles, competences, skills, and expertise of these organizations.
The results of the mapping gives preliminary insights into the dynamics of water governance systems, helping in the identification of key experts, institutions, communities, and local action groups. These insights are crucial for aligning knowledge-sharing and mutual learning activities with diverse stakeholder groups’ needs and perspectives. This process also contributes to understanding the stakeholder landscape, which will continuously be enhanced as the project progresses. The various roles of stakeholders in water governance across the pilot basins mirror the collaborative nature of water management. In-depth comparative analyses will be conducted to assess diverse water governance aspects and the potential barriers to transformative adaptation (see D5.1 for a first assessment). The project will proactively identify and address potential challenges, conflicts, and divergences, fostering synergies and promoting sustainable, resilient water management policies.