Collaborative Modelling for Informed Decision Making and Inclusive Water Development

Ensuring availability and adequate management of water and sanitation for all is one of the key priorities for sustainable development. Integrated Water Resources Management is widely considered to be the best management process for securing water for all. However, implementing it remains a challenge for many decision makers and practitioners. In this article, we demonstrate an application of collaborative modelling to enhance and inform decisions and ensure an inclusive process. This collaborative modelling approach was applied to a river basin master plan for Pemali Comal River Basin Territory in Indonesia. Based on surveys of its development and the stakeholders and decision makers, collaborative modelling and traditional planning approaches for river basin planning were compared. The results of the evaluation demonstrate the benefits of collaborative modelling for structuring stakeholder participation in modelling processes, managing conflicts among competing water users and social learning.