In a world facing the pressing challenges of climate change, collaboration and innovation are essential for ensuring the sustainable management of water, a resource central to life and development.
RETOUCH NEXUS, TRANSCEND, and WE-ACT have joined forces in a pioneering partnership aimed at transforming water governance. This collaboration leverages our shared goals and complementary expertise to empower decision-making that benefits communities, ecosystems, and future generations.
Understanding RETOUCH NEXUS: A Path to Resilient Water Governance
At the heart of RETOUCH NEXUS is a commitment to improving decision-making processes surrounding water management. The project focuses on the WEFE Nexus—the intricate relationships between Water, Energy, Food, and Ecosystems. Its primary goal is to ensure that governance practices in water use are inclusive, sustainable, and adaptable to diverse contexts.
By examining how various stakeholders—government bodies, private sectors, NGOs, researchers, and citizens—interact and make decisions, RETOUCH NEXUS seeks to address the competing priorities in water management. Using tools like indicators and economic instruments, the project evaluates whether these decisions are beneficial to both society and the environment.
This integrated approach ensures that water-related policies are not only data-driven but also considerate of broader societal and environmental impacts.
Complementing Strengths: How WE-ACT, TRANSCEND, and RETOUCH NEXUS Align
The collaboration between RETOUCH NEXUS, WE-ACT, and TRANSCEND is built on a shared mission to enhance water governance. Each project brings unique strengths to the table:
- WE-ACT contributes its Decision Support System, a tool designed to empower policymakers by synthesising complex data into actionable insights.
- TRANSCEND focuses on Transformational Adaptation Policies, aiming to address water-related challenges in the face of climate change.
- RETOUCH NEXUS offers its Monitoring Framework and Dashboards, tools that facilitate tracking and analysis of water governance practices across various contexts.
Looking Ahead
Together, these initiatives aim to better understand how decisions are made, considering diverse stakeholder perspectives and adapting strategies to different regional challenges. With case studies spanning Europe and Asia, this partnership is poised to generate valuable insights into how localised actions can address global water challenges.
Strategies for Effective Collaboration
The success of this collaboration relies on a strong foundation of communication, coordination, and a shared vision. To this end, the three projects have adopted a multi-step approach:
1. Establishing an Informal Collaboration Framework
A coordination committee and ad-hoc working groups will guide joint initiatives, ensuring flexibility and focus.
2. Aligning on Common Goals
An initial workshop will serve as a platform to identify overlapping objectives and create a collaborative vision document to steer future efforts.
3. Promoting Knowledge Exchange
Informal webinars, roundtables, and knowledge-sharing sessions will foster learning and innovation, enabling the exchange of best practices and methodologies.
A Vision for Long-Term Impact
This collaboration aspires to create a lasting legacy in water governance. The ultimate goal is to equip policymakers and the public with robust tools for informed decision-making. The combined outputs of the projects—whether through WE-ACT’s Decision Support System, TRANSCEND’s policy recommendations, or RETOUCH NEXUS’ governance dashboards—aim to empower communities and institutions to make decisions that are equitable, sustainable, and forward-thinking.
By integrating scientific research, stakeholder engagement, and practical tools, this partnership has the potential to shape the future of water governance. Beyond addressing immediate challenges, the collaboration will influence broader policies, setting a precedent for effective, inclusive, and resilient water management worldwide.
