Operationalizing systems thinking in water governance: A framework for advancing regional water security

Abstract

Despite major advances in hydrological science and water management technologies, regional /national water crises persist. This study argues that these challenges arise less from scientific limitations than from fragmented governance systems that hinder coordination across sectors, scales, and institutions. We develop a systems governance framework that operationalizes systems thinking by embedding it within institutional practice through four interdependent mechanisms: leadership, organizational coordination, education/institutional learning, and stakeholder platforms (LOEP). Drawing on comparative analysis of China’s River Chief System and the United Kingdom’s Yorkshire Integrated Catchment Solutions Programme, we illustrate how the LOEP governance framework enables coordinated decision-making, policy integration, and sustained implementation. The findings show that systems thinking becomes effective only when supported by institutional arrangements that align knowledge production with governance processes. By reframing systems thinking as an operational governance capacity, this study provides a structured and operational framework that extends beyond existing analytical approaches for policymakers and practitioners seeking to advance water security and sustainability transitions under complex socio-ecological systems.