About this Research Topic
Our contemporary society is characterized by complex challenges whose dynamics defy simplistic solutions, and come with dire socio-economic consequences if not addressed. Such challenges are animated in the context of water governance. Given that water is essential for the stability of every country on the planet, understanding water security by looking beyond immediate supply to political, economic, social and environmental impacts is critical for effective water governance and attainment of the SDG. Increasingly, countries continue to experience water stress, whilst drought and desertification exacerbate these trends. With climate change and variability comes unstable rainfall patterns and extreme temperatures, creating shorter rainy seasons and longer dry seasons. These shifts severely impact lives and livelihoods. However, some countries have committed to prioritize progress for those who are furthest behind. Water governance is one of the most critical areas through which to improve the sustainable development of water resources and services. Since it involves diverse stakeholders with diverse priorities and interdependencies, problems are inevitable.
This Research Topic seeks to investigate and comprehensively understand how co-governance of water in different socio–ecological contexts may influence supply and security. It also explores the challenges of interdependencies between the different sectors and water security.
For this collection of articles, we welcome manuscripts that address the following themes:
• Water-use efficiency across sectors: focus on issues of socio-economic inequality and how inadequate measuring performance have contributed to weak co-governance. Our collection aims to examine attempts to ensure sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity and considerably reduce the number of people suffering from water scarcity.
• Water Supply and Security: we welcome studies in how climate change and land-use patterns are affecting water supplies and how this is impacting food security and poverty reduction. This requires looking beyond immediate supply to socio-economic, and environmental impacts.
• Institutional responses to managing water resources: our Research Topic aims to receive studies contributing to the study of co-governance issues, specifically in the context of the complex interaction of water and its diverse uses and how vertical and horizontal structures have been or are being formulated to respond to this. Of paramount interest here is to understand the ways in which power operates, particularly within spaces to determine the level of stakeholder engagement in policy processes. These include engagement, systemic approaches inclusiveness, devolving of power structures to communities, how the responsible state institutions are addressing the underlying issues of water governance, water supply and water security.
This Research Topic seeks to investigate and comprehensively understand how co-governance of water in different socio–ecological contexts may influence supply and security. It also explores the challenges of interdependencies between the different sectors and water security.
For this collection of articles, we welcome manuscripts that address the following themes:
• Water-use efficiency across sectors: focus on issues of socio-economic inequality and how inadequate measuring performance have contributed to weak co-governance. Our collection aims to examine attempts to ensure sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity and considerably reduce the number of people suffering from water scarcity.
• Water Supply and Security: we welcome studies in how climate change and land-use patterns are affecting water supplies and how this is impacting food security and poverty reduction. This requires looking beyond immediate supply to socio-economic, and environmental impacts.
• Institutional responses to managing water resources: our Research Topic aims to receive studies contributing to the study of co-governance issues, specifically in the context of the complex interaction of water and its diverse uses and how vertical and horizontal structures have been or are being formulated to respond to this. Of paramount interest here is to understand the ways in which power operates, particularly within spaces to determine the level of stakeholder engagement in policy processes. These include engagement, systemic approaches inclusiveness, devolving of power structures to communities, how the responsible state institutions are addressing the underlying issues of water governance, water supply and water security.
Keywords: Water governance, Water Supply, Water Security, Governance, Water Resources
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
