Modern urban planning emerged in response to public health challenges in the post-industrial revolution period in Europe. It has since evolved through the colonial and post-colonial phases of the 19th and 20th centuries with international, national, and local specificities. In the 21st century, human societies are rapidly urbanizing, even in LMICs where half or more of the population still live in rural areas. Therefore public policies that shape the nature of urbanization and urban habitats will become ever more critical to human and planetary health and wellbeing.

The objective of this book is to broadly illustrate the key aspects of water governance, mapping the spectrum of decision-making from techno-centric and eco-centric approaches, to hybrid concepts and people-centric approaches. Topics covered include the challenges for water-governance models, the polycentric model, the integration challenge, water in the decision-making hierarchy, and the rise of water-sensitive design, while also taking into account interdependencies between stakeholders, as well as the issue of scale. The book’s content is presented in an integrated and comprehensive format, building on detailed case studies from around the world and the authors’ working experiences in the water sector. Combining essential insights with accessible, non-technical language, it offers a valuable resource for academics, technicians and policy-makers alike.

This is a theoretical and practical guide on how to undertake and navigate advanced research in the arts, humanities and social sciences.