Online Course Water Policy Analysis: A Systems Approach

Adequate water and environmental policy is a prerequisite of sustainable development. However, experts and analysts working on policy processes know that simply preparing scientific reports or policy briefs does not lead to successful implementation of policy.

This course is designed for professionals interested in learning the tools and methods used to connect sound analysis and science to address ongoing complex policy problems, especially in the water sector.

Formulating policy problems in a way that is clear for different stakeholders and decision-makers is a critical process in policy analysis. However, clarifying the problem is only one step. Policies will not be effective if they are not based on a good understanding of the actors involved, the system they aim to influence and the factors that may support or hinder their implementation and the achievement of pursued goals.

In this course you will learn modern concepts of policy analysis and use hands-on methods to apply a systems approach to structure complex problems and develop effective designs for policy analysis. 

This course, together with the course Multi-stakeholder Strategies, is part of the program Water Strategy and Planning, offered by TU Delft and IHE Delft. This program provides state-of-the-art approaches and tools required to deal with complex and multi-actor challenges in the water sector.