This project will develop a conceptual framework for analysing deltas as highly interdependent humanwater systems to examine the interplay between hydrological (flooding, riverbank erosion, waterlogging) and social processes (demographic shifts, urbanization processes, governance) in the urbanizing delta of Bangladesh and the urbanized delta of the Netherlands. Obvious differences aside, both countries are involved in long-term climate change-induced system planning in dynamic deltas. The project will acknowledge the dynamic interactions and feedback loops between demographic and physical changes, urban processes, mobility and flood risk. This advanced understanding will be used to: shift existing simplifying policy discourse on climate refugees and negative perceptions of urban migration; improve the implementation and coordination between existing policies; reduce vulnerability for migrants and support sustainable pro-poor development approaches in Bangladesh; increase flood resilience in the Netherlands and Bangladesh. A trans-disciplinary research approach will work at the interface between social science and hydrological science to question key assumptions regarding the one-way processes of environmental and climate migration now guiding urban DRR and delta policies and dominating the media. The research will also work at the policy/research interface to inform policy discourse and raise awareness of policy makers and planners in regards to the linkages between demographic and hydrological flows, and the impacts of this relationship on existing plans and policies. The project will include two PhD studies based on coordinated fieldwork primarily in Bangladesh that will focus on understanding how the interactions and feedbacks between water and human systems impact on DRR strategies and urban development, and vice versa. It will pay particular attention to ways in which governance processes in both physical disaster sites and host locations affect migration and human interventions, which will (in turn) affect the physical environment. A post-doctoral position will combine the empirical data and the outcomes of the two PhD studies to: explore how demographic transitions in southwest Netherlands impact Dutch flood management policies; develop a conceptual model for understanding flows of water and flows of people; examine how post-urbanisation trajectories such as that followed by the Netherlands may inform future planning elsewhere, with Bangladesh as a focus country. A third, overarching research programme to be carried out by the more senior consortium members and MSc students under their guidance, will integrate research findings from both the Netherlands and Bangladesh.

The project will address knowledge gaps between community management of natural resources, local adaptation innovations and national policy debates over climate change and conflicts related to natural resource access. The Ganges-Brahmaputra basin hosts over 500 million people highly vulnerable to climatic changes, particularly in Bangladesh floodplains and Nepal uplands, but the findings will be more widely applicable. This research will generate evidence from multiple levels. Extensive data on a wide range of community management groups will be collected. Intensive quantiative baseline and impact surveys will cover community organisations and control sites representing key climate stressed environments and types of natural resource conflict. This will be complemented in a sub-set of locations by in depth qualitative case studies,and assessments of policies and their implications. The approach blends participatory action research and testing adaptive learning methods, with a formal research design including control sites and surveys to generate robust evidence. It will assess the potential and challenges of community led adapative learning innovations in fostering suitable institutional arrangements and stakeholder cooperation in situations of climate stressed resource management and conflicts. Adaptive learning among networks of community organisations comprises the action part of the research. The project will support testing and documenting innovative adaptation practices, pro-poor local governance, and community-policy stakeholder linkages. Linkages of community networks and individual CBOs with meso-level processes will be a crucial component, because this level is well positioned to steer conflict management and responses to climate induced shocks and stresses. In addition the meso-level can help develop economies of scale, translate national policies into practice, and bridge communities with higher level policy spheres. Relevant policies will be reviewed and analysed to understand vertical linkages or disjuncture among households, communities, local government and national policy processes. This is particularly critical as national policy reform and adaptation debates in Bangladesh and Nepal are hardly informed by community adaptation practices. Donors including DFID are making large investments for climate change adaptation and local adaptation planning (LAPA). As an action research project engaging with local communities, government, and donors, the study will generate knowledge and understanding to inform them and build capacity. Policy dialogue informed by scientific evidence and local knowledge will be facilitated through the community networks complemented by capacity building, and champions among key stakeholders. The project will share knowledge within the two countries, between community networks and policy makers, and with wider regional and international audiences.