Facing global transitions in water management: Advances in knowledge and capacity development and towards adaptive approaches

Abstract

The significance, approaches, and instruments of knowledge and capacity development (KCD) in water management are reviewed, and priorities for the future are proposed. These concepts have become more mainstream, critical in helping water organisations decide on and implement policies, and generating economic returns. Their application still tends to be often limited to education or 'training'. KCD requires an understanding of the physical world, how institutions must be strengthened to manage it, and how pedagogical and knowledge-management tools, in turn, strengthen the institutions. The private sector first applied knowledge management. The international development theory highlighted the deficiency of governments in implementation capacity. The health and environmental communities are developing an 'implementation science' to enhance the capacity to operationalise know-how faster. Advances in KCD include the following: (1) knowledge and capacity converging in nested levels (individual, organisational, institutional, and societal) to cause effective action; (2) six arenas/contexts of KCD application; and (3) pedagogy and knowledge-management through which learning occurs and knowledge is imparted. KCD is a 'sticky', slow process. Policy analyses tend to overlook the role of KCD. The water sector is facing acute challenges: a new one of building resilient water-and-land systems and adapting to climate change, and the outstanding one of achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Thus, the current KCD must be scaled up, and also structured with a longer-term perspective to support change and reform at policy and organisational levels building on iterative adaption. Policies should become pro-active shaped by modelled forecasts; and organisations more able to change and adapt to future scenarios that are complex, uncertain, and evolving rapidly. Enhancing the capacity to implement policies, establish 'learning organisations', and design iterative adaptive pathways requires sustained political commitment. While adopting a long-term programme, supportive KCD activities should stay realistic and manageable.