institute of water policy
Mission and Vision IWP is a research institute at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore (NUS), recognised as the world’s number one university for water research. The institute houses a team of researchers and adjunct faculty who are internationally recognised for their high-impact research. IWP’s mission is to help improve water policy and governance in Asia through research, training, thought leadership and consulting. The institute produces policy-relevant research that helps shape the discourse on water policy in Asia. IWP was launched by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in 2008 during the Singapore International Water Week and is supported by PUB, Singapore’s national water agency.
Leadership IWP is led by Associate Professor Eduardo Araral (Co-Director) and Assistant Professor Leong Ching (CoDirector). Professor Araral has received 12 awards and recognitions, including fellowships from the research centres of 3 Nobel laureates (Economics), the Ostrom Prize for the Governance of the Commons, a Fulbright PhD award, US National Science Foundation grant, Finalist in the Best Dissertation Prize in Institutional Analysis, and Finalist in the Suez Water Prize. Professor Araral is the vice chairman of the Asia-Pacific Water Forum. Assistant Professor Leong is the recipient of the Wang Gungwu Medal and Prize winner 2013 (Best PhD Thesis in Humanities and Social Sciences).
The Team The institute has 4 senior research fellows, 4 research fellows, 6 research associates and assistants and 2 administrative staff. IWP also works with 6 faculty members from the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy and has 13 adjunct faculty and researchers. IWP also benefits from a 13-member International Advisory Panel that provides strategic direction and oversight on the development and management of the institute. Members include the Chairman of PUB, Singapore’s national water agency and the Vice-President for Knowledge Management and Sustainable Development at the Asian Development Bank.
Research Output IWP researchers have a strong track record of publishing in peer-reviewed journals and hold editorial positions in acclaimed journals.
IWP output since 2012 includes:
132 19 347 19
Journal articles Books (4 authored, 15 edited) Op-eds Book chapters
Research Water Security The core of our research focus and philosophy is the ability to access adequate quantities of water of an acceptable quality for human wellbeing and economic activity. Behavioural Studies Behavioural studies explore the activities and interactions among human beings to create policy that can bring about change through desirable behaviours. Projects include: • Experiment on smart showers in Singapore • Experimental studies on willingness to drink recycled water • Experiments on water consumption using rebates among households Water Economics IWP’s research on water economics takes various approaches from institutional economics, behavioural economics and experimental economics. Projects include: • Survey on water demand in Singapore (households, hotels, industries) • Hotel water-use efficiency in Singapore • Economic evaluation of sustainable drainage
Behavioural Studies
Digital Presence IWP has an active digital presence. The forum, WaterPolicy.online, makes water policy research accessible to policymakers, journalists and the general public through op-eds and summaries of the latest water policy research.
Funding IWP is supported through long-term funding from the Singapore Tote Board, PUB and the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy. The institute has also raised funding from the following prestigious institutions: • PUB, Singapore’s national water agency • US National Science Foundation
The geographical focus is Asia, where rapid development and increasing urbanisation pose great challenges for water management and new and innovative policies are needed.
• Asian Development Bank
IWP is also active on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.
• China National Research Foundation
• Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research • Timor Leste Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries • The National Foundation for Science and Technology Development, Vietnam • Singapore Ministry of Education • Université Sorbonne Paris Cité • Hong Kong Research Grants Council • NUS Institute of Data Science • Singapore National Research Foundation
Water Governance IWP’s research examines the political, social, economic and administrative systems that influence water resource use and management. Projects include: • Effectiveness of foreign aid on water supply • Megatrends in water • Governance of river basins and water diplomacy
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Economics
Water Security
Science
Governance
Water Science and Public Policy IWP’s work in this area focuses on the interaction of science, engineering and public policy. Projects include: • Flood hydrology and the effectiveness of engineering interventions • River catchment water, sediment, nutrients and pollutant flows • Extreme floods and droughts: probability, frequency and trends
Thought leadership
Eduardo Araral common pool resources
Arjen Hoekstra Water Footprint
Dale Whittington water pricing
Robert Wasson flood management and resilience
Jack Sim and Kamal Kar sanitation
Quentin Grafton water economics
Louis Lebel global environmental change
Asit Biswas and Cecilia Tortajada water governance
Lorenz Goethe behavioural experiments
Influence and Engagement Capacity building IWP has trained more than 200 leaders in water policy and governance and utilities management through the Temasek Water Leadership Programme–an intensive two-week Executive Education programme designed for water utility operators, regulators and urban policymakers in Asia. The programme provides participants with best practice examples of governance and effective management of water utilities, and helps develop strategies to cope with emerging institutional, financial and regulatory challenges.
Policy
Outreach
IWP supports Singapore’s PUB on a range of issues, including policy dialogue, conducting research on water demand management, evaluating its ABC Waters Programme, organising panels for the Singapore International Water Week, documenting the Singapore water story, and developing case studies. IWP’s research has been citied in parliamentary debates on water price increases. IWP also engages with policymakers in Asia (Indonesia, the Philippines, Cambodia, India, Bhutan, Vietnam and Nepal) and institutions such as the Asian Development Bank, PricewaterhouseCoopers and the World Bank.
IWP researchers regularly attend international conferences, organise research seminars for the general public and host and engage with visiting scholars. Media Researchers regularly contribute op-eds to The Straits Times, The Business Times, TODAY, Times of India, The Diplomat, Policy Forum, East Asia Forum, and The Conversation, among other publications. These articles cover a wide spectrum of issues including urban water management, floods and transboundary river governance.