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Transformative Water Diplomacy: A Research Methods School

Abigail Adedokun and Anup Kumar Saha, early career researchers at the project CroWD (Cross-regional learning for transformative water diplomacy) recount activities and take-home of a Research Methods School to study and transform water diplomacy.

The participants to the Research Methods School in Nepal (Credit: Anup Kumar Saha)

The Water and Development Partnership (WDPP)-funded project “Cross-regional learning for transformative water diplomacy (CroWD)” aims to create and nurture a community of open-minded and engaged early-career and advanced scholars researching transboundary water across Asia, Africa, Europe and Northwest America. As part of CroWD, a research methods school brought together young scholars from Afghanistan, Finland, India, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Nigeria, Sudan, the US, and Uzbekistan to train them in critically engaging with different approaches and understandings of water diplomacy and develop adequate analytical frameworks. Building on the momentum after the first Research Methods School, held in Almaty, Kazakhstan, in 2024, a second one took place from the 31st of March to the 1st of April 2025, in the vibrant city of Kathmandu, Nepal.

The school brought together participants from diverse cultural (e.g., Middle East, South and Central Asia, West and East Africa, Europe, and Northwest America) and disciplinary (e.g., science, engineering, social sciences, geography) backgrounds to learn water diplomacy research methods from different perspectives and thematic angles. The aim was to continue the mission of providing early career scholars with essential analytical tools for better understanding water diplomacy research. The main questions that participants are trying to answer altogether are: How can we study water diplomacy? And how can its transformations happen? This meeting served as a continuation of the first training, promoting a more thorough examination of multidisciplinary methods, comparative research, and collaborative learning in addressing transboundary water governance.

The program focused on three key learning objectives: i) understanding and applying interdisciplinary approaches in comparative research; ii) applying diverse quantitative and qualitative methods for data collection and analysis, and iii) communicating and collaborating effectively in interdisciplinary teams. Through interactive sessions, group exercises, and peer feedback sessions, participants gained hands-on experience in integrating different research methods and perspectives. For example, to bring comparative, single and multiple trans- regional case study and various discursive research techniques. The hybrid format ensured inclusivity, allowing both in-person and virtual participants to engage meaningfully. Beyond technical skills, the Kathmandu gathering fostered a strong spirit of collaboration, encouraging young researchers to bridge divides and co-create meaningful and sustainable solutions for the shared water challenges of our time.

Field visit at the ICIMOD Knowledge Park, Kathmandu, Nepal (Credit: Anup Kumar Saha)

The first day of the school set the stage for understanding the importance of interdisciplinary approaches in research design. A key highlight were the group presentations, where the five research groups shared their ongoing work and received peer feedback. The topics included:

  • Group 1 focused on how the presence of refugees influences conflict and cooperation over shared water resources in Yarmouk, Lake Chad, and Helmand basin.
  • Group 2 examined the cultural and spiritual connections to water quality in Ganga- Brahmaputra- Meghna, and Columbia transboundary river basins
  • Group 3 explored the role of technology and data transparency in enhancing cooperation between states sharing water resources in Aral Sea, Mekong, and Blue Nile basin.
  • Group 4  concentrated on collaborative approaches to mitigating water-related conflicts and enhancing security in Rhine, Zambezi, and Amudarya river basins.
  • Group 5 investigated how climate change impacts discussions and policies surrounding transboundary water governance in Lake Chad and Aral Sea Basin.

Later in the day, the young researchers were introduced to social science methods for data collection, including qualitative interviews and quantitative surveys. Dr. Jenniver Sehring, Associate Professor of Water Governance and Diplomacy at IHE Delft and Alyssa Offutt, a PhD student at IHE Delft guided participants through practical exercises, helping them refine their skills in qualitative and quantitative data collection. Participants were able to understand those practical value of these approaches, for example, how critical discourse analysis helps to understand power dynamics, and narrative analysis allows for a deep exploration of human experiences applying in practical settings through rigorous research training among those groups.

The second day of the school delved deeper into advanced research techniques, with a focus on discourse analysis and narrative analysis. Dr. Medha Bisht led participants through the intricacies of critical discourse analysis, encouraging them to rethink how language and power dynamics influence water diplomacy. For example, how culture (both symbolic and language) as a medium of communication can facilitate dialogue (power) in transboundary water diplomacy (Bisht and Ahmed, 2021). This session prompted participants to reflect on how to incorporate discursive methods into their own research on transboundary waters.

The day culminated with a group reflection session, where participants shared their revised research design and discussed the next steps in their projects. The opportunity to work on methodological planning and receive constructive feedback from peers was invaluable in refining participants’ approaches. As the school wrapped up, the group discussions and reflections ensured that each participant left with not only enhanced research skills but also a clearer direction for applying these skills in the field.

As the school concluded, participants also mapped out the road ahead for their collaborative research. Each group was tasked with developing a work plan, with the goal of completing their research projects by the end of 2026. Fieldwork is expected to begin this year, with study visits planned either this year or the next, depending on each group’s needs and timelines.

As the Transformative Water Diplomacy Research Method School wrapped up in Kathmandu, Nepal, it left participants with more than just research skills, it sparked fresh inspiration and meaningful connections. Beyond learning new methods and approaches, the school built a supportive network of emerging scholars dedicated to addressing shared water challenges. With stronger collaborations, broader interdisciplinary perspectives, and a shared commitment to cooperation, participants left equipped and motivated to bring these insights into their work, fostering more sustainable and peaceful solutions in transboundary water governance. 

As the Research School took place back-to-back with the 7th Water and Peace Seminar, which resulted in the Kathmandu Declaration on Inclusive Water Cooperation, it could directly build upon these discussions in an effort to connect political practice with academic education to make both more meaningful.

The Research Methods School is part of the Cross-Regional Learning for Transformative Water Diplomacy (CroWD) Project funded by the Water and Development Partnership Programme of IHE Delft

ANUP KUMAR SAHA
ANUP KUMAR SAHA
Anup Kumar Saha is a Doctoral Candidate in the Department of International Relations at South Asian University, New Delhi.

OpenEdition suggests that you cite this post as follows:
ANUP KUMAR SAHA (July 29, 2025). Transformative Water Diplomacy: A Research Methods School. FLOWs. Retrieved June 14, 2026 from https://doi.org/10.58079/14g27


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1 Response

  1. 14/10/2025

    […] groups have been established, drawing on the experience of other similar initiatives at IHE — such as the Research School for Transformative Water Diplomacy — to study issues including climate adaptation, water resources management, and the […]

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