Exploring water leadership

Abstract

In the slipstream of the Rio þ 20 Earth Summit in 2012 which articulated 'The future we want', on 29-31 May 2013, at the 5th Delft Symposium on Water Sector Capacity Development, UNESCO-IHE convened development practitioners, researchers, sector specialists, policy makers and capacity development specialists to examine who will take the lead in developing capacity 'from Rio to reality'. This paper maps some of the major challenges and choices to increase water security in the 21st century, outlines trends and relevant models in leadership development, and explores how leadership can be nurtured and catalyzed through capacity development for individuals, organizations and networked communities to deliver on our shared visions, especially in developing countries. Leadership practice, by individuals and organizations, is examined in a range of short cases studies. The authors propose the adoption of modern approaches that will expand individual and collective leadership at all levels and combine cognitive competencies, including in-depth knowledge of integrated water resources management (IWRM), with transformational individual development.

Understanding Six Water Leadership Roles: A Framework to Help Build Leadership Capacity

“…In 2013, a partnership between UNESCO‐IHE, the IWC, and Nyenrode University was formed to build a new IWLP. This initiative aims to help mid‐career, emerging water leaders from developing countries to build the capacity to exert influence and drive change to deliver more sustainable forms of water management (see Lincklaen Arriëns and Wehn de Montalvo 2013). In comparison with the established IWC Water Leadership Program, the IWLP proposes to have a more diverse target audience, greater involvement of leaders from developing countries, and greater capacity to address a broader range of water leadership roles.…”

“…In comparison with the established IWC Water Leadership Program, the IWLP proposes to have a more diverse target audience, greater involvement of leaders from developing countries, and greater capacity to address a broader range of water leadership roles. The design of this programme also provided the opportunity to build on the preliminary role descriptions developed by the IWC to incorporate more recent descriptions of water leaders, such as descriptions provided by Brouwer and Biermann (2011), Herrick and Pratt (2012), Lincklaen Arriëns and Wehn de Montalvo (2013) and Subijanto et al (2013).…”

“…Broad acceptance of the need to drive substantial change in the water sector and the importance of leadership in this process has led to calls for increased efforts to build leadership capacity. For example, at the fourth Delft Symposium on Water Sector Capacity Development, there was a call for 1,000 water leaders to be developed in Africa and Asia (Lincklaen Arriëns and Wehn de Montalvo 2013).…”

“…They are targeted, as they typically have enough time to attend a comprehensive programme; they have many years left in their careers to apply new knowledge and skills; and are not yet 'set in their ways' (see Adair 2005). This focus also reflects a new paradigm where “leadership is no longer seen as limited to the domain of executives” (Lincklaen Arriëns and Wehn de Montalvo 2013, p. 20) and the concept of leadership is not confused with authority (Flower 1995).…”

Developing T-shaped water professionals: reflections on a framework for building capacity for innovation through collaboration, learning and leadership

“…For the ambitions of integration in water management to be realized, whether they lie rooted in IWRM or more recent dialogues around the water-energy-food nexus or socio-technical regimes, there is a need for water professionals to become skilled in stimulating and driving processes of change in a variety of contexts (see also Lincklaen Arriens & Wehn de Montalvo (2013) in this special issue). Building knowledge, skills, power, networks and confidence in driving change represents a significant capacity building challenge.…”