Water Futures

Blue Nile waterfall in Ethiopia
Blue Nile waterfall in Ethiopia.
Photo: IWMI

Water Futures conducts research to improve the understanding of the interplay between the decision-making environment (e.g. political economy, legal and governance factors) and the behavior of the physical hydrological systems. This is with reference to how the latter is affected by managerial, infrastructural and other human-induced pressures.

Research applies macro-economic/hydro-economic models to analyze future water use and security scenarios, explores the trade-offs inherent in water resources decision-making, such as the water-food-energy nexus, and assesses their socioeconomic and environmental impacts, and actively engages in shaping effective water management policies and practices at various scales.

At the global level, this theme coordinates IWMI’s involvement in processes such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. At the regional level, it coordinates IWMI’s work on water resources decisions taken in a transboundary context.

Contact: David Wiberg (d.wiberg@cgiar.org)