Based on a design-oriented, co-learning living labs approach, this project aims to co-develop inter- and trans-disciplinary insights and tools that support farmers, Waterboards, Provincial Governments and other public and private stakeholders in the Netherlands in the process of upscaling private and collective water storage for robust agricultural systems. It does so by bringing together innovative insights from agricultural sciences, hydrology, law and governance studies with knowledge from day-to-day practices on the ground. It does so by using diverse participatory and iterative modelling and visualisation tools for multiscale scenario development to develop innovation pathways for agricultural and governance innovation.

The proposed research project will examine the impact of transitional justice (TJ) measures upon democratic institution building in societies emerging from conflict and authoritarian rule. More specifically, it will seek to identify whether, and if so how, such TJ mechanisms contribute to, or impede, democratic institution-building. The research involves empirical, comparative country-based case studies in eight transitional societies as well as an assessment of democratic institution-building. The research seeks to contribute to scholarly literature on both TJ and democratic institution-building, and to develop insights for policymakers working on democracy promotion and justice in transitional and conflict-affected societies.

Building on the prior NWO project, exploring the nexus between Women Peace and Security (WPS), water and environmental peacebuilding, this project aims to strengthen women’s leadership in transboundary water diplomacy by developing the Women in Water Diplomacy Network South Caucasus (WWDN SC) as a platform for informal diplomacy, peer-learning and support. In a conflict-senstive region with shared environmental challenges, the network fosters trust and inclusive engagement across divides. It will bring women experts from Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia together for a workshop to build relationships, co-develop strategies for sustainable peace and retain momentum. Gender-inclusive diplomacy is key to resilience.

This project studied the way in which civilian communities navigate rebel governance under international law, studying what this means for their civilian protection and also their ability to carry on everyday lives. Bringing together analysis from international law and political science, it questioned how how armed groups navigate – and are being navigated by – international and domestic law and other norms, in a manner that is sometimes helpful for civilian communities and sometimes unhelpful.

Businesses often contribute to immense human suffering in war, for instance by operating in war zones and supporting belligerents. This project researches the role and limits of international humanitarian law in the regulation of business in and for war. It also considers the relationship between international humanitarian law and other applicable legal frameworks. Finally, the project critically evaluates the law against the backdrop of the global system of political economy.