Water transformation pathways planning (Trans-path)

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development can only be realized if there are transformative changes that address the root causes of inequitable and unsustainable outcomes. In case of water and development centric transformations, transformations are needed towards increased recognition of interdependencies between water, society and environment, as well as new forms and practices for water policymaking and governance. Various kinds of transformations are required, ranging from transforming transboundary river basin conflict narratives into science-based mutual dialogues, to reversing degradation and encroachments of wetlands, improving the productivity of water use in agriculture, or a more circular economy of re-use in agricultural water management. Despite the variety in water-centric transformations, an important underlying question is what we can do, as water researchers and planners, to influence transformations onto more desirable pathways, and away from unsustainable and unequitable trajectories. It is difficult to control or steer transformations, but it should be our ambition to be more pro-active in the influence we have on these transformations.We will establish an international network of academics, postgraduate researchers, policy makers, activists, and water stewards from diverse countries, for participatory action research on each of the transformation sites, while fostering learning across disciplines and locations.