TOOLKIT: Water-Sensitive Infrastructure Development : (Polycentric Approaches of Urban Water Resources Management in South-East Asia)

The Water-Sensitive Infrastructure Development Toolkit is designed within the framework of the Polycentric Approaches of Urban Water Resources Management in South-East Asia (PUW) project. This toolkit is tailored to support polycentric urban development and integrated water management in rapidly growing cities and peri-urban areas of Southeast Asia, with pilot projects in Kratie (Cambodia), Sariharjo (Indonesia), and Sam Neua (Laos). The toolkit comprises 12 practical tools categorized into project management and stakeholder decision support. These tools facilitate three key planning phases: baselinecassessment, vision building, and transformation pathways. The toolkit serves a diverse range of stakeholders, including government agencies, urban planners, researchers, private sector participants, and NGOs, ensuring inclusive and sustainable urban water management. Each tool is accompanied by a fact sheet, step-bystep usage guidelines, case studies from pilot cities, and access to full tools and related resources via links.Notably, the toolkit leverages innovative technologies, such as drones, and utilizes open-source datasets to enhance data collection and analysis in regions where data is scarce. This approach enables more accurate assessments and informed decision-making. The present report aims to achieve an effective implementation of water-sensitive infrastructure, recommending that cities adopt polycentric approaches that integrate blue, green, and grey infrastructures to enhance resilience and inclusivity. The use of Nature-based Solutions (NbS) for water resource management should be promoted, as they offer effective and sustainable ways to mitigate urban water challenges. Additionally, fostering collaborative governance structures that involve multiple stakeholders in decision-making processes is crucial for ensuring sustainable and equitable urban development initiatives. Finally, supporting capacity building among local stakeholders is essential to effectively implement and manage water-sensitive infrastructure, ensuring long-term sustainability and adaptability. The toolkit also provides links to similar resources to facilitate broader learning and collaboration. These links connect users with global best practices in water-sensitive urban design, offering insights into successful projects and strategies that can be adapted to local contexts.