Institutions govern how decisions, information, incentives and behaviour can promote or constrain water security outcomes for the poor. Without inclusive governance, reflecting the priorities of the poor, progress may remain inequitable in how water resources and services are managed, monitored, and allocated between competing demands.

Our research is exploring how governments and researchers can collaborate to support institutional change in policy and practice. This includes the gap in providing safe water to schools and clinics, reducing river health hazards for riparian communities in cities, or the growth in the self-supply of water of uncertain quality in rural villages.