INTERNATIONAL WATER MANAGEMENT INSTITUTE IWMI

Their core work

IWMI is a Sri Lanka-based international research center focused on sustainable water management in developing regions. They study the interconnections between water, food, energy, and climate — particularly in Central and South Asia. Their H2020 work addresses small-scale hydropower deployment, the water-energy-food nexus in transboundary river basins, and the socioeconomic impacts of migration on agricultural communities. They bring deep expertise in water resource governance from a Global South perspective to European-led research consortia.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

IWMI's earliest H2020 involvement (DAFNE, 2016) focused on analytical frameworks for water-energy-food trade-offs in complex transboundary settings. By 2019-2021, their work expanded in two directions: the social dimensions of rural change through migration research (AGRUMIG), and applied renewable energy through sustainable small-scale hydropower in Central Asia (Hydro4U). The trend shows a shift from pure water resource analysis toward applied energy solutions and socioeconomic research tied to rural livelihoods.

IWMI is moving toward applied energy infrastructure in Central Asia with growing investment — their most recent and largest project (Hydro4U) signals a deepening commitment to small-scale renewable energy in water-scarce developing regions.

How they like to work

IWMI operates exclusively as a participant, never coordinating H2020 projects — consistent with their role as a non-EU partner contributing specialized Global South expertise to European-led consortia. With 40 unique partners across 20 countries in just 3 projects, they work in large, diverse consortia. This broad network suggests they are a sought-after partner for projects needing water management expertise in developing regions, rather than a repeat collaborator with a narrow circle.

Despite only 3 projects, IWMI has built an unusually wide network of 40 partners across 20 countries — reflecting their participation in large international consortia. Their geographic focus bridges South Asia, Central Asia, and Europe.

What sets them apart

IWMI is one of the few CGIAR research centers active in H2020, bringing decades of water management research across Asia and Africa that most European partners simply cannot replicate. Their base in Colombo gives them direct field access to water-stressed developing regions, making them an essential partner for any project that needs ground-truth data and local implementation capacity outside Europe. For consortium builders, IWMI provides both scientific credibility and developing-world operational reach in a single partner.

Highlights from their portfolio

• Hydro4U
  Their largest H2020 investment (EUR 1.07M) and most recent project, focused on deploying sustainable small-scale hydropower in Central Asia — a region where IWMI has strong field presence.
• AGRUMIG
  An unusual thematic departure into migration governance and rural change, showing IWMI's ability to contribute beyond pure water/energy research into socioeconomic dimensions.
• DAFNE
  Their entry into H2020, establishing IWMI's role in decision-analytic approaches to the water-energy-food nexus in transboundary basins.