RETOUCH NEXUS Policy Briefs
Evidence-based recommendations for integrated water governance within the WEFE Nexus
About our Policy Briefs
The RETOUCH NEXUS project develops evidence-based policy recommendations to support effective, sustainable, and integrated water governance across the Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystem (WEFE) Nexus. Our policy briefs translate research findings into actionable guidance for decision-makers and stakeholders at local, regional, national, and European levels.
Each brief synthesizes insights from governance analysis, stakeholder engagement, and innovative practices to address the complex challenges of water management in a changing climate.
General Policy Recommendations
Cross-cutting policy briefs addressing broad governance challenges
Water resilience is built with better water governance
This policy brief examines the fundamental principles and practices needed to build resilient water governance systems. It addresses the institutional, legal, and participatory mechanisms that enable adaptive management in the face of climate change and increasing resource pressures. The brief provides recommendations applicable across diverse European contexts, emphasizing multi-level coordination, stakeholder engagement, and the integration of water security with broader sustainability goals.
Leveraging Economics for Water Resilience
This policy brief examines the role of economic instruments in building water resilience across Europe. It presents a structured economic toolbox, spanning price-based instruments, subsidies and Payments for Environmental Services, trading schemes, risk-management tools, and blended finance arrangements, and sets out the enabling governance conditions required for these tools to be effective. The brief also highlights how economic and Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystems (WEFE) nexus modelling, including Computable General Equilibrium approaches, can help policymakers assess trade-offs and distributional impacts before implementation. Published by the WaterGovernance2027 synergy group, bringing together InnWater, GOVAQUA and RETOUCH NEXUS.
What "Nexus"? Towards Resource Nexus Standardization
This policy brief, co-authored by RETOUCH NEXUS coordinator Dr. Maria Vrachioli and led by UNU-FLORES and the PRIMA Foundation, proposes a new definition of the Resource Nexus and outlines a concrete roadmap toward standardization and certification of Nexus projects. It demonstrates how a broader Resource Nexus Framework, extending beyond Water-Energy-Food to include soil, biota, marine ecosystems, and material resources, can improve policy coherence, manage trade-offs, and unlock synergies across sectors and scales.
Case Studies Policy Briefs
Regional pathways for improved integrated water governance across our demonstration sites
Júcar River Basin
Key Focus Areas
- Cross-sector stakeholder partnerships
- Water pricing and economic instruments
- Basin-wide WEFE nexus integration
Island Water Sustainability
Key Focus Areas
- Water-energy nexus integration
- Water reuse prioritization
- Stakeholder platform expansion
Building Effective Participation
Key Focus Areas
- Meaningful stakeholder engagement
- Organizational culture change
- Capacity building for participation
Upper Main River Basin
Key Focus Areas
- Multi-stakeholder partnerships
- Digital engagement platforms
- Nature-based solutions incentives
National Water Governance
Key Focus Areas
- Inter-ministerial coordination
- River basin-based planning
- Economic instruments and pricin
Blue Deal into Action
Key Focus Areas
- Decentralized water solutions
- Business models and financing
- Public-private partnerships
More Policy Briefs Coming Soon
Additional policy briefs addressing emerging water governance challenges will be published throughout the project duration. Check back regularly for updates.