Science-Policy Briefs in support of Water Scarcity and Drought Policy An attempt to improve knowledge transfer Philippe QUEVAUVILLER Thierry DAVY

Research results Four stages to implementation Communication Dissemination Implementation Uptake EC FP7 PROJECTS International / National / Regional Policy and Research Research Courtesy of Peter Allen-Williams (IWRM.Net) & Bob Harris

‘Users’ of Science information The ‘cascade’ effect Water Directors Strategic Coordination Group Policy question & purpose Scientific / Technical Recommendations CIS Working Groups ‘Users’ of Science information (RBD level, local)  Implementation

Ideally INTERFACE: CIS-SPI? R&D, tools Research recommendations When needed (short to long-term) Scientific knowledge INTERFACE: CIS-SPI? Transfer & dissem. “usability” Data infrastructure “memory” Demonstration, practical works (at most appropriate scale) Interactive interface POLICY-MAKERS Member States Commission

Science-Policy Briefs Science-Policy Briefs should have a ‘cascade’ effect, starting from policy questions to which science contributes to bring responses (decision-makers), and providing technical/scientific recommendations with increased level of details (implementers) Briefs are an incentive to consider potentially interesting research outputs but they do not ensure themselves an appropriate transfer: needs for downscaling ‘relays’ and demonstration at river basin levels Usability conditioned by proper communication (guides?) and language barriers

A first attempt of policy briefs with the Xerochore project Xerochore project: an FP7 project starting in 2008 A research initiative dealing with water scarcity and drought, including 3 components: physical aspects, economics, and water management The project strived to establish links with policy makers (invited to workshops) A back to back meeting with SCG members on February 22

A first attempt of policy briefs with the Xerochore project All the deliverables of Xerochore on http://www.feem-project.net/xerochore In addition to the deliverables, five policy briefs have been produced 2 on physical aspects (article 4 of WFD) 1 on economic aspects (article 5 and 9 of WFD) 2 on water management (article 11 and 13 of WFD)

The Xerochore Science-Policy briefs Reveal the main findings of the project Identify the main gaps Make a link between xerochore findings and appropriate articles and annexes of WFD Identify policy millestones and relevant xerochore outputs Perhaps a first step for a science-policy interface in the frame of WFD implementation The exercise is still far from being perfect and opened to comments