Project: Research-based Assessment of Integrated approaches to Nature-Based solutions

Acronym	RainSolutions (Reference Number: WaterJPI-JC-2018_11)
Project Topic	There is a need to close the demand and supply gap in terms of quantity and quality of water resources. Therefore, the project “Research-based Assessment of Integrated approaches to Nature-based SOLUTIONS” (RainSolutions) aims to develop an integrated framework of methodologies to manage nature-based solutions (NBS) for the restoration and rehabilitation of urban water resources systems. The objectives are: (a) to identify stakeholder and ecosystem needs for knowledge in NBS planning and design during engagement activities (addressing WP1,2&4); (b) to review and capitalize upon existing experiences of good practices (addressing WP1–4); (c) to simulate the impact of climate variability on NBS within scaled pilot laboratory and field installations (addressing WP2,3&5); (d) to develop an integrated indicator system for the evaluation of key NBS in terms of closing the water quantity and quality gap addressing also socio-economic aspects (addressing WP2,4&5); (e) to map ecosystem services delivered by NBS for an evaluation of the best technology to implement in different urban contexts to support sustainable water management (addressing WP1–6); (f) to create a NBS planning and design framework supported by machine learning to generate recommendations addressing challenges associated with climate resilience and well-being in urban areas (addressing WP5&6); and (g) to disseminate the self-sustainable web-based framework in collaboration with national stakeholders fostering the transfer of NBS knowledge and communicate the project impact (addressing WP4&7). The project methodology is split into eight work packages (WP): WP1. Building on existing knowledge WP2. Improving landscape, environmental and water quality aspects of urban water resources WP3. Increasing urban resilience to climate pressures WP4. Legal and institutional arrangements to sustain NBS for social inclusion WP5. Integrated framework development WP6. Framework application to selected case studies WP7. Dissemination, stakeholder engagement and communication WP8. Project management and coordination WP1 informs WP2–4 supporting innovations, which include the framework development (WP 5). Impact will be created in WP6 and WP7, which is managed in WP8, and showcased in the case studies. All WP are dynamically inter-connected to each other to maximize the internal synergy effect and overall project outcome. RainSolutions will close the water cycle gap promoting active stakeholder engagement (addressing objectives a, b and g). The most promising NBS for each case study will be screened and performance indicators identified. A strength, weaknesses, opportunities and threats analysis for each case study city will be undertaken to identify missing pieces in creating a truly holistic approach to improving water and climate change resilience as well as enhancing ecosystem service (objectives c–e). RainSolutions will provide evidence-based knowledge regarding NBS that were successful (objective b). RainSolutions will organise this knowledge using a catalogue. New NBS business models supported by the proposed framework will be created (objective f). International cooperation between project partners will represent a bridge for market opportunities. The consortium will create guidelines for cost-effective urban water system restoration and ecological rehabilitation measures (objective f). RainSolutions will create a decision-support framework (objective g). The project will create a NBS catalogue describing technologies. Key performance indicators are number of stakeholders involved in the networking events, number of cities attending the workshops, etc. (objective g). RainSolutions will increase awareness of the benefits delivered by restored ecosystems (objective g). This will be achieved with the creation of tools (objective f) to foster the public participation in designing and planning of NBS (e.g., Living labs, Communities of Practices and winning-twinning workshops).
Network	WaterWorks2017
Call	Water JPI 2018 Joint Call Closing the Water Cycle Gap

Project partner

Number	Name	Role	Country
1	Lund University	Coordinator	Sweden
2	Johannesburg University	Partner	South Africa
3	University of Pretoria	Partner	South Africa
4	Federal University of Technology	Partner	Brazil
5	Técnica y Proyectos SA	Partner	Spain
6	University of Tartu	Partner	Estonia
7	VESI Environmental	Partner	Ireland
8	Arctic University of Norway	Partner	Norway
9	Wageningen University and Research	Partner	Netherlands
10	Danube Delta National Research and Development Institute	Partner	Romania