[en] Navigating the complexities of global and local water resources challenges requires collaboration and mutual learning among diverse knowledge systems and disciplines. However, Western philosophical approaches to generating knowledge have prevailed in water management and hydrology, often overlooking community priorities, practices and perspectives, and power asymmetries - including gender inequalities, racism, and colonial injustices. In this perspective paper, we explore the co-creation of water knowledge (CCWK) concept to value multiple and diverse forms of knowledge. We identify four overarching principles (inclusivity, openness, legitimacy, and actionability), highlighting the importance of establishing relationships and collaborative leadership, adopting key tools and techniques, and integrating knowledge for water resources management. Furthermore, we argue that prioritizing epistemic justice is essential for effective CCWK. To address these, we advocate for more interdisciplinary and reflexive research practices that challenge and disrupt Western scientific traditions shaped by functionalist and colonial legacies.
Research Center/Unit :
UEE - Urban and Environmental Engineering - ULiège
Disciplines :
Civil engineering
Author, co-author :
Castelli, Giulio ; Food, Environment and Forestry, University of Florence ; Environmental Governance and Territorial Development Hub (GEDT), University of Geneva ; University of Geneva
Howard, Ben C.; Imperial College London
Adyel, Tanveer M.; Centre for Nature Positive Solutions, School of Sciences, RMIT University
AghaKouchak, Amir; University of California
Agramont, Afnan; Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Aksoy, Hafzullah ; Istanbul Technical University
Alba, Rossella; IRI THESys, Humboldt Universitaet zu Berlin ; Humboldt Universitaet zu Berlin
Alencar, Pedro H.L.; Department of Ecohydrology, Technische Universität Berlin, Germany
Amanambu, Amobichukwu C.; University of Alabama
Aslam, Hasnat; School of Natural Resources, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Bharati, Luna; International Center for Water Resources and Global Change
Bos-Burgering, Liduin; Department of Ground Water Management, Deltares, Delft, The Netherlands ; Technical University of Delft
Bresci, Elena; Food, Environment and Forestry, University of Florence
Caramiello, Cristina; Architectural and Environmental Engineering, University of Naples Federico II
Cavus, Yonca; Istanbul Beykent University
Chaudhari, Kalpana; Shah & Anchor Kutchhi Engineering College
Chifflard, Peter; Philipps-University of Marburg ; Kompetenzzentrum Wasser Hessen
Choukrani, Hajar; Independent researcher and consultant on water resources management
Chun, Kwok Pan; University of the West of England, School of Architecture and Environment
Cudennec, Christophe ; Institut Agro, INRAE ; CNRS International Research Center on transformational sciences and technologies, Imperial College London
Cumiskey, Lydia; MaREI: The SFI Research Centre for Energy, Climate and Marine, Environmental Research Institute, University College Cork
Dakhlaoui, Hamouda; LMHE, École Nationale d’Ingénieurs de Tunis, Université Tunis El Manar ; École Nationale d’Architecture et d’Urbanisme, Université de Carthage
De Angeli, Silvia; Université de Lorraine, CNRS, LIEC ; Université de Lorraine, LOTERR ; Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Genoa
Madruga de Brito, Mariana; Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research
Dembelé, Moctar; International Water Management Institute (IWMI)
Dewals, Benjamin ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département ArGEnCo > Hydraulics in Environmental and Civil Engineering
Elshenawy, Ahmed; Desert Research Center
Gwapedza, David; University of Namibia
Hall, Caitlyn; University of Arizona ; State of New Mexico Environment Department, USA
Hermans, Leon; IHE Delft, Land and Water Management Department, the Netherlands ; Policy and Management
Höllermann, Britta ; Institute of Geography, Osnabrueck University
Jaramillo, Fernando ; Stockholm University
Jomaa, Seifeddine; Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research ‐ UFZ
Koren, Gerbrand ; Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, Utrecht University
Krause, Stefan; School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham
Lahsaini, Meriam; Institute of Geosciences and Earth Resources (IGG), National Research Council (CNR)
Mahé, Gil; HydroSciences Laboratory, IRD, CNRS, IMT Mines d’Ales, University of Montpellier
Manfreda, Salvatore ; Architectural and Environmental Engineering, University of Naples Federico II
Maynard, Carly; Environment and Society, Scotland’s Rural College
Merheb, Mohammad; Institut Agro, INRAE
Nóbrega, Rodolfo L. B. ; School of Geographical Sciences, University of Bristol ; Cabot Institute for the Environment, University of Bristol
Ocampo-Melgar, Anahi ; University of Chile
Olusola, Adeyemi ; York University
Orduna Alegria, Maria Elena; Kansas Geological Survey, University of Kansas ; Oregon State University
Owusu, Afua ; International Water Management Institute (IWMI)
Pacetti, Tommaso; University of Florence
Panchanathan, Anandharuban ; Water, Energy and Environmental Engineering Research Unit, University of Oulu ; Energy and Environment Institute, University of Hull
Panda, Subhabrata ; Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya ; All India Co-ordinated Research Project on Agroforestry (AICRP on Agroforestry), BCKV, Jhargram
Piemontese, Luigi; Food, Environment and Forestry, University of Florence
Pradhananga, Dhiraj; Tri-Chandra Multiple Campus, Tribhuvan University ; The Small Earth ; UNESCO Chair in Mountain Water Sustainability
Ajin, Rajendran Shobha; University of Florence
Rusca, Maria; Global Development Institute, University of Manchester
Scolobig, Anna; Equity and Justice Group, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis ; Institute for Environmental Sciences, University of Geneva
Thaler, Thomas; Equity and Justice Group, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis ; Institute of Landscape Planning, BOKU University
Tran, Bich Ngoc ; IHE Delft, Land and Water Management Department, the Netherlands ; Delft University of Technology
Triml-Chifflard, Daniela; Philipps-University of Marburg
Vanelli, Franciele Maria ; Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul
Villani, Lorenzo; Food, Environment and Forestry, University of Florence
Walker, David W.; Independent Consultant at Integrated Drought Management Programme (IDMP) of WMO
Zarif, Fardous; Desert Research Center
Buytaert, Wouter; Imperial College London
Ceperley, Natalie ; Geography Institute and Oeschger Center for Climate Change Research, University of Bern
EU CHIST-ERA-2019 PRIMA Programme the European Union - Section 2 PRIMA Programme the European Union - Section 1
Funders :
Dutch Research Council Royal Society ITU - Istanbul Technical University EU - European Union CNPq - National Council for Scientific and Technological Development ANID - Agencia Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo MIUR - Ministero dell'Istruzione, dell'Università e della Ricerca EC - European Commission Royal Society NRF - National Research Foundation South Africa
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