Adaptive multi-level governance through social learning: River basin management in the Netherlands

This paper presents a case study of a new adaptive, multi-level governance approach for river basin management designed to stimulate social learning and to be adjusted based on lessons learnt and changing political and economical context. The floods of 1993 and 1995 in the Netherlands and climate change triggered a paradigm shift in flood management. The 2.3 billion Euro flood safety programme Room for the River was launched to increase flood safety by giving the rivers more room instead of merely enforcing the defence systems. This programme is studied as a major stepping stone in the transition to integrated flood risk management and spatial planning and stimulating multi-level governance and multi stakeholder decision making. This research analysed how the programme was organised to draw lessons on adaptive multi-level governance. It comprised: 55 qualitative interviews, a survey amongst professionals and politicians (n=152) and extensive document analysis. First results indicate that the governance architectures of Room for the River were designed with flexibility to accommodate these new approaches finding a balance between short term project delivery and a long term process of adaptation. A flexible framework was adopted based on social learning that stimulated adjusting collaborative working and decision-making processes based on lessons learnt. Moreover the governance approach could adapt to the changed economic situation and changing political views on integrated flood risk management, climate change, and management of large-scale infrastructure projects. The social learning approach proofed effective in programme delivery and especially in stimulating these broader transitions