Providing advice and assistance to manage change effectively and efficiently within our client’s organisation underpins much of our international work, in one form or another.

We have provided guidance in the adoption of new approaches to address water management issues that embrace review of legislation and institutional arrangements, through to increasing effective involvement of water users within the management process, and the introduction of new technology for water management. In each case we appreciate the need to involve those affected by the change in understanding the reasons why the change is being recommended, and to take positive steps to minimise any adverse effects of the changes being introduced.

The Water Resources Demand Management Assistance Project in China is an excellent example of the work we do to manage change. The main project driver is the need to introduce change within the Ministry of Water to focus on water management techniques that emphasise the saving of water over the traditional approach, which was to try to find more water resources to meet projected water needs. Sustained efforts at a range of levels within the organisation were necessary to improve knowledge, provide new technology, improve stakeholder involvement in management decisions and adapt water charging systems to sustainable levels in a way that is supported by all those involved in the process.

Other examples of our change management experience include work on transboundary river basin management we have undertaken in Eastern Europe, where we have advised on increased stakeholder involvement in management planning, legislative and institutional change, increased international and inter-regional cooperation and information exchange, and detailed changes to water quality monitoring laboratories including extensive training programmes. In all these projects we have worked closely with project beneficiaries to help them understand how to involve those directly impacted by the change in decisions of how the changes are introduced, and the steps needed to mitigate any adverse impacts of the change.