Policy analysis for transformations in water governance

Exploring the case of water allocation and rights in Indonesia

Bibliographic Data

ID21697151
AuthorsAditya Riski Taufani (0009-0008-3778-970X, a IHE Delft Institute for Water Education, Delft, The Netherlands, corresponding author), Leon Hermans (0000-0002-5294-9045, a IHE Delft Institute for Water Education, Delft, The Netherlands), Sharlene L Gomes (0000-0002-6871-7513, a IHE Delft Institute for Water Education, Delft, The Netherlands), Jill H Slinger (0000-0001-5257-8857, Delft University of Technology)
Year2026
Volume28
Issue5
Pages693-712
Publication date2026-05-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueWater Policy (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1366-7017 • E-ISSN: 1996-9759
PublisherIWA Publishing (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.2166/wp.2026.016
OpenAlexW7161034901
LanguageEN
References cited62

This article examines how policy analysis can support transformations in water governance and management, especially under contested situations. Transformations aim to achieve deep and widespread change toward a more sustainable future. In response to pressing water challenges, transformations may be required within water allocation and rights systems, which are practiced in diverse frameworks across the globe. However, processes of transformation can be highly contested due to the varying knowledge, values, interests, and power relations that exist among involved actors. Research on navigating these contested transformations is limited; however, the field of policy analysis has long developed concepts and tools for addressing contested problems. Accordingly, we propose a framework comprising policy analysis activities to support navigating contestations across transformation approaches. We illustrate the usefulness of this framework through a case study of water allocation and rights in Indonesia. This analysis highlights that a diverse range of policy analysis activities have been undertaken across the three different transformation approaches, each of which exhibits contestation. However, policy analysis activities that support community-led transformations appear more limited, suggesting an important area of untapped potential in this and other water transformation contexts

Corporate governance · Policy analysis · Sustainability · Transformation processes · Sustainability and Climate Change Governance · Water Governance and Infrastructure · Water Resources and Sustainability