Science-Policy Interfacing in support of the Water Framework Directive implementation

The project proposes a number of concrete actions aiming to facilitate the communication between research scientists and regulatory instances by developing and implementing a “science-policy interface”, focusing on setting up a mechanism to enhance the use of RTD results in the Water Framework Directive implementation.

Many current water-related RTD projects have already established operational links with practitioners, in several catchments / river basins, which allow the needs of policymakers to be taken into account. However, experience has shown that this interrelationship is not as efficient as it could / should be. Often, RTD results are not easily available to policy oriented implementer (policymakers) and, vice versa, research scientists may lack insight in the needs of policymakers. SPI-Water proposes a number of concrete actions to bridge these gaps in communication by developing and implementing a ‘science-policy interface’, focusing on setting up a mechanism to enhance the use of RTD results in the Water Framework Directive (WFD) implementation.

As a first action, existing science-policy links will be investigated. RTD and LIFE projects that are of direct relevance for the implementation of the WFD will be identified and analysed. The results of these projects will be extracted, ‘translated’ and synthesised in a way that can efficiently feed the WFD implementation. Secondly, an information system (WISE-RTD Web Portal) will be further developed to cater for an efficient and easy to use tool for dissemination as well as retrieval of RTD results. The Web Portal will be tested in 4 selected river basins to better tune the ‘product’ to the needs of WFD stakeholders, policymakers and scientists. In parallel, the Web Portal will be disseminated to WFD stakeholders. This dissemination will focus on how to better access and use the RTD results and practical experiences. As third action, this science-policy interfacing of WFD related topics will be extended to non-EU countries taking into account their specific needs.

An assessment of recent practices and needs of non-EU countries, together with an in-depth analysis of the operational needs in two Mediterranean pilot river basins, will allow to prepare recommendations for an efficient transfer of knowledge.

Project number	044357
Subject(s)	INFORMATION - COMPUTER SCIENCES , POLICY-WATER POLICY AND WATER MANAGEMENT
Acronym	SPI-Water
Geographical coverage	Belgium, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, United Kingdom, Cyprus, Greece, Germany, France, Lebanon, Morocco
Budget (in €)	1070000
Programme	INCO MED (FP6)
Web site	http://www.spi-water.eu
Objectives	Analysis and evaluation of projects in the field of river basin management that are of potential use for the WFD implementation. To collect scientific knowledge, research results and demonstration projects; to select, based on established criteria, the projects for potential information useful for implementation of the WFD To analyse and evaluate the relevance and usefulness of the selected information with respect to the European WFD water policy, the policy implementation tasks and the related milestones in the implementation of the WFD To promote the obtained results to the end users, in particular in the context of the activities under the WFD Common Implementation Strategy (CIS) Dissemination activities through the use of a science-policy interfacing instrument in the context of the development of WFD river basin management plans To develop a science-policy interface linked to the WFD implementation, based on two components: a staffed communication-services centre and an operational WISE RTD Web-Portal To establish a reliable and user friendly science-policy interface, by filling the WISE-RTD Web Portal with information collected, analysed and linked with the WFD implementation tasks To disseminate the use of the WISE-RTD Web Portal, aiming to provide access to RTD and demonstration project information in the context of the development of WFD river basin management plans To involve existing related networks on river basin management in the establishment of the science policy interface Development of EU Water Initiative/WFD joint process activities for facilitating the implementation of integrated water resources management principles in non EU countries To review water policy experiences in non-EU countries and to compare with the current WFD practices; to perform a need assessment of 2 Mediterranean river basins To study the applicability of WFD practices to non-EU countries and to identify activities for facilitating its implementation in non-EU countries To disseminate the obtained results to non-EU countries
Period	[01/11/2006 - 30/11/2008]

Partners

HydroScan Ltd., Belgium

Coordinator	acts as project coordinator
Country	Belgium
Web site	http://www.hydroscan.be/
Contact	Dr. Patrick Swartenbroekx, Position: Managing Director Phone/fax: +32 (0)16 24 05 05, +32 (0)16 24 05 09 Email: info@hydroscan.be

Publications

SPI-Water Leaflet

Publisher	Katharina Kober
Type of document	Brochure
Rights	Public
File link	../PDF/SPI-WATER_leaflet (copy)
Source of information	SPI-Water project
Subject(s)	INFORMATION - COMPUTER SCIENCES , POLICY-WATER POLICY AND WATER MANAGEMENT
Geographical coverage	Belgium, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, United Kingdom, Cyprus, Greece, Germany, France, Lebanon, Morocco

brochure-du-projet-spi-water

Type of document	Brochure
Rights	Public
File link	n/a
File link local	Leaflet_French_12draft_FINAL_v2_FR_v4.pdf (application/force-download, 293 Kb)
Source of information	http://www.oieau.org
Subject(s)	INFORMATION - COMPUTER SCIENCES , METHTODOLOGY - STATISTICS - DECISION AID , POLICY-WATER POLICY AND WATER MANAGEMENT
Geographical coverage	n/a

SPI-Water project leaflet, November 2008

This leaflet provides the recommendations of SPI-Water project.

Publisher	Natacha Jacquin, Docteur en Sciences de l'eau / Water Sciences Doctor , Chef de projet / Project manager , Gestion locale de l'eau / Integrated water resource management , Démarches Participatives / Participatory approaches , Office International de l'Eau/ International Office for Water , 15 rue Edouard Chamberland - 87065 Limoges Cedex
Type of document	Brochure
Rights	Public
File link	http://www.spi-water.eu
File link local	Leaflet_SPI_Water_Non_EU-Countries_12draft_FINAL_v5.pdf (application/force-download, 289 Kb)
Source of information	OIEAU (L'Office International de l'Eau)
Subject(s)	INFORMATION - COMPUTER SCIENCES , METHTODOLOGY - STATISTICS - DECISION AID , POLICY-WATER POLICY AND WATER MANAGEMENT
Geographical coverage	n/a

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