Catching up with NEWAVE: Driving the future of water governance
The EU-funded NEWAVE(opens in new window) project was launched in 2019 to develop research and training for a new generation of water governance leaders. With Earth’s water resources a growing source of global conflict, the project sought to equip researchers with the necessary skills to better address global water challenges, thus pointing the way forward in the debate over water governance. NEWAVE ended in 2024, but it is still generating impact.
Research in action, stories from the field
One of the latest outcomes is a soon-to-be-launched documentary that brings to life the voices of NEWAVE’s early-stage researchers (ESRs). Drawing on fieldwork, critical reflection and lived experiences, the researchers reveal the hidden complexities behind how water is accessed, managed and contested across the world. As an example, among the featured researchers, Radhika Singh worked with smallholder farmers on rainwater harvesting in Kenya, showing that scarcity is driven less by natural limits than by unequal allocation, infrastructure and power dynamics. Nina Valin examined urban water governance in Europe, highlighting how policies, consumption patterns and institutional choices shape demand and use.
Lasting impact and tools for the next generation
The documentary reflects NEWAVE’s broader ambitions. Of the 15 ESRs it recruited, 11 have successfully defended their PhDs, while four are completing their doctorates and have secured positions that further the project’s scientific network and impact. Alumni now work across academia, public bodies and consultancies, with NEWAVE members playing a prominent role in global water governance. They are also still actively engaged in capacity-building initiatives. One such example is their collaboration with the Research School for Socio-Economic and Natural Sciences of the Environment (SENSE)(opens in new window) as invited speakers during conferences and career development workshops. Other key achievements include the NEWAVE Water Governance Atlas(opens in new window) to collect place-specific water governance stories from around the world and foster dialogue across diverse water realities. The atlas includes the NEWAVE Toolbox(opens in new window), a curated collection of methods, approaches and analytical tools for water governance research. The project has also released a free online lecture series(opens in new window) on water governance. It is available on the School of Water Governance(opens in new window) platform – a spin-off of the NEWAVE Network aimed at keeping the NEWAVE training experience alive by also hosting recordings of project training activities alongside lectures. The four courses currently offered in the series explore the fundamentals of water governance, the connections between water governance, knowledge and participation, the interplay between water resources and political power, and the legal and diplomatic dimensions of water governance. Additionally, the project’s newsletter – with over 2 700 subscribers – remains active and will continue to publish information on water governance. EU funding of about EUR 4 million was fundamental in enabling NEWAVE (Next Water Governance) to fully achieve its core objectives. “Thanks to EU support, NEWAVE was able to form an exceptional transnational network of water governance organisations, conduct cutting-edge research addressing key water governance priorities and train a new generation of researchers to contribute meaningfully to water governance in Europe,” comments NEWAVE Scientific Project Manager Caterina Marinetti, a research guest at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and Executive Secretary at SENSE. The ‘Life After’ feature shines a light on finished EU-funded projects and what they have achieved since the end of EU funding. If you are interested in having your project featured as a ‘Life After’ project, please send us an email to editorial@cordis.europa.eu and tell us why!
