WaterCoG: Evidence on How the Use of Tools, Knowledge, and Process Design Can Improve Water Co-Governance

The European Union Water Framework Directive (WFD) encourages water managers to implement active stakeholder involvement achieve sustainable management. However, the WFD does not describe in detail how member states should operationalize participation. need for local experience and understanding of collaborative governance (co-governance) processes remains. WaterCoG project evaluated 11 pilot schemes. Building on participatory, qualitative evaluation schemes from Sweden, United Kingdom, Denmark, Netherlands, Germany, authors take a closer look at co-governance can improve governance, make best use tools knowledge, they process designs. results reflect social learning successful are linked. Social as shared complex ecosystem water-management issues be supported with citizen science. As such, processes, stakeholders technical access data knowledge memory. This enables them develop facilitates bringing together competing interests finding new solutions. Participatory became part by building trust based commitment. proficient design facilitation these more effective.