Learning alliances for integrated and sustainable innovations in urban water management
In a rapidly changing and ever more complex world, ‘wicked problems’, which traditional, narrowly focused research struggles to grapple with, are becoming more and more common, including in the water sector. Here, numerous good practices derived through traditional research have shown a remarkable resistance towards scaling up. This paper discusses the Learning Alliance approach and its application to try to overcome the twin challenges of solving complex problems and scaling-up innovations in urban water management. Learning alliances are interlinked multi-stakeholder platforms formed at appropriate levels. Critically, the purpose of a learning alliance is to do things differently, rather than to do different things, in order to have more impact on policy and practice. The paper summarizes initial experiences and lessons learned in applying this approach in three urban water management projects.Arnold, E. and Bell, M. (2001) ‘Some new ideas about research for development’, in Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Partnership at the Leading Edge: A Danish Vision for Knowledge, Research and Development. Available from: http://www.um.dk/NR/rdonlyres/7CD8C2BC-9E5B-4920-929C-D7AA978FEEB7/0/CMI_New_Ideas_R_for_D.pdf [accessed 3 March 2008]. http://www.um.dk/NR/rdonlyres/7CD8C2BC-9E5B-4920-929C-D7AA978FEEB7/0/CMI_New_Ideas_R_for_D.pdf
Lach, D., Rayner, S. and Ingram, H. (2005) ‘Taming the waters: strategies to domesticate the wicked problems of water resource management’, International Journal of Water 3: 1-17.
Moriarty, P., Fonseca, C., Smits, S., Schouten, T., Butterworth, J. and Green, C. (2006) ‘Learning alliances for scaling up innovation and realising integrated urban water management’, SWITCH [online] www.switchurbanwater.eu/page/1346 [accessed 3 March 2008]. www.switchurbanwater.eu/page/1346
Pacanowsky, M. (1995) ‘Team tools for wicked problems’, Organizational Dynamics 23: 36-52.
Rittel, H. and Webber, M. (1973) ‘Dilemmas in a general theory of planning’, Policy Sciences 4: 155-69.
Rittel, H. and Webber, M. (1984) ‘Planning problems are wicked problems’, in N. Cross (ed.), Developments in Design Methodology, Wiley, New York.
Smits, S., Moriarty, P. and Sijbesma, C. (eds) (2007) Learning Alliances: Scaling Up Innovations in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene [online], Technical Paper Series 47, IRC International Water and Sanitation Centre, Delft, the Netherlands. Available from: www.irc.nl/page/35887 [accessed 3 March 2008] www.irc.nl/page/35887
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Arnold, E. and Bell, M. (2001) ‘Some new ideas about research for development’, in Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Partnership at the Leading Edge: A Danish Vision for Knowledge, Research and Development. Available from: http://www.um.dk/NR/rdonlyres/7CD8C2BC-9E5B-4920-929C-D7AA978FEEB7/0/CMI_New_Ideas_R_for_D.pdf [accessed 3 March 2008]. http://www.um.dk/NR/rdonlyres/7CD8C2BC-9E5B-4920-929C-D7AA978FEEB7/0/CMI_New_Ideas_R_for_D.pdf
Lach, D., Rayner, S. and Ingram, H. (2005) ‘Taming the waters: strategies to domesticate the wicked problems of water resource management’, International Journal of Water 3: 1-17.
Moriarty, P., Fonseca, C., Smits, S., Schouten, T., Butterworth, J. and Green, C. (2006) ‘Learning alliances for scaling up innovation and realising integrated urban water management’, SWITCH [online] www.switchurbanwater.eu/page/1346 [accessed 3 March 2008]. www.switchurbanwater.eu/page/1346
Pacanowsky, M. (1995) ‘Team tools for wicked problems’, Organizational Dynamics 23: 36-52.
Rittel, H. and Webber, M. (1973) ‘Dilemmas in a general theory of planning’, Policy Sciences 4: 155-69.
Rittel, H. and Webber, M. (1984) ‘Planning problems are wicked problems’, in N. Cross (ed.), Developments in Design Methodology, Wiley, New York.
Smits, S., Moriarty, P. and Sijbesma, C. (eds) (2007) Learning Alliances: Scaling Up Innovations in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene [online], Technical Paper Series 47, IRC International Water and Sanitation Centre, Delft, the Netherlands. Available from: www.irc.nl/page/35887 [accessed 3 March 2008] www.irc.nl/page/35887
United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) (1999) ‘State of world population 1999’ [online] http://www.unfpa.org/swp/1999/chapter2d.htm [accessed 5 February 2008]. http://www.unfpa.org/swp/1999/chapter2d.htm
Arnold, E. and Bell, M. (2001) ‘Some new ideas about research for development’, in Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Partnership at the Leading Edge: A Danish Vision for Knowledge, Research and Development. Available from: http://www.um.dk/NR/rdonlyres/7CD8C2BC-9E5B-4920-929C-D7AA978FEEB7/0/CMI_New_Ideas_R_for_D.pdf [accessed 3 March 2008]. http://www.um.dk/NR/rdonlyres/7CD8C2BC-9E5B-4920-929C-D7AA978FEEB7/0/CMI_New_Ideas_R_for_D.pdf
Lach, D., Rayner, S. and Ingram, H. (2005) ‘Taming the waters: strategies to domesticate the wicked problems of water resource management’, International Journal of Water 3: 1-17.
Moriarty, P., Fonseca, C., Smits, S., Schouten, T., Butterworth, J. and Green, C. (2006) ‘Learning alliances for scaling up innovation and realising integrated urban water management’, SWITCH [online] www.switchurbanwater.eu/page/1346 [accessed 3 March 2008]. www.switchurbanwater.eu/page/1346
Pacanowsky, M. (1995) ‘Team tools for wicked problems’, Organizational Dynamics 23: 36-52.
Rittel, H. and Webber, M. (1973) ‘Dilemmas in a general theory of planning’, Policy Sciences 4: 155-69.
Rittel, H. and Webber, M. (1984) ‘Planning problems are wicked problems’, in N. Cross (ed.), Developments in Design Methodology, Wiley, New York.
Smits, S., Moriarty, P. and Sijbesma, C. (eds) (2007) Learning Alliances: Scaling Up Innovations in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene [online], Technical Paper Series 47, IRC International Water and Sanitation Centre, Delft, the Netherlands. Available from: www.irc.nl/page/35887 [accessed 3 March 2008] www.irc.nl/page/35887
United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) (1999) ‘State of world population 1999’ [online] http://www.unfpa.org/swp/1999/chapter2d.htm [accessed 5 February 2008]. http://www.unfpa.org/swp/1999/chapter2d.htm
Arnold, E. and Bell, M. (2001) ‘Some new ideas about research for development’, in Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Partnership at the Leading Edge: A Danish Vision for Knowledge, Research and Development. Available from: http://www.um.dk/NR/rdonlyres/7CD8C2BC-9E5B-4920-929C-D7AA978FEEB7/0/CMI_New_Ideas_R_for_D.pdf [accessed 3 March 2008]. http://www.um.dk/NR/rdonlyres/7CD8C2BC-9E5B-4920-929C-D7AA978FEEB7/0/CMI_New_Ideas_R_for_D.pdf
Lach, D., Rayner, S. and Ingram, H. (2005) ‘Taming the waters: strategies to domesticate the wicked problems of water resource management’, International Journal of Water 3: 1-17.
Moriarty, P., Fonseca, C., Smits, S., Schouten, T., Butterworth, J. and Green, C. (2006) ‘Learning alliances for scaling up innovation and realising integrated urban water management’, SWITCH [online] www.switchurbanwater.eu/page/1346 [accessed 3 March 2008]. www.switchurbanwater.eu/page/1346
Pacanowsky, M. (1995) ‘Team tools for wicked problems’, Organizational Dynamics 23: 36-52.
Rittel, H. and Webber, M. (1973) ‘Dilemmas in a general theory of planning’, Policy Sciences 4: 155-69.
Rittel, H. and Webber, M. (1984) ‘Planning problems are wicked problems’, in N. Cross (ed.), Developments in Design Methodology, Wiley, New York.
Smits, S., Moriarty, P. and Sijbesma, C. (eds) (2007) Learning Alliances: Scaling Up Innovations in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene [online], Technical Paper Series 47, IRC International Water and Sanitation Centre, Delft, the Netherlands. Available from: www.irc.nl/page/35887 [accessed 3 March 2008] www.irc.nl/page/35887
United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) (1999) ‘State of world population 1999’ [online] http://www.unfpa.org/swp/1999/chapter2d.htm [accessed 5 February 2008]. http://www.unfpa.org/swp/1999/chapter2d.htm
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