Unlocking collaborations for transformation: Towards a platform for data and knowledge sharing

This project aims to understand and influence how various stakeholders, including community groups, industries (i.e., irrigators) and others, will navigate challenges, share knowledge and seize opportunities within the context of reduced water availability in the Murray–Darling Basin.

About this project

The Murray-Darling Basin is facing critical challenges due to reduced water availability. Various stakeholders, including community groups and industries, need to navigate these challenges and seize opportunities for transformative change. This project aims to understand and influence how these stakeholders can anticipate change and share knowledge effectively.

The project’s primary goal is to improve climate adaptation strategies by mapping the networks of programs and stakeholders in the Murray–Darling Basin. By identifying gaps in current practices and knowledge, particularly in collaboration, the project seeks to enhance data sharing and inform future practices to benefit both people and the environment.

The project follows a scaffolded approach with three sequential work packages:

1. Setting the baseline:

• Conducting meta-analyses and social network analysis to explore the relationships and knowledge structures of past projects and key actors in the basin.
• Taking stock of existing knowledge and practices to set a solid foundation for further research.

2. Emergent action-based research and case studies:

• Utilising rapid prototyping to enable collaboration and explore new possibilities for data and knowledge sharing
• Conducting case studies to test and refine these collaborative approaches in real-world settings.

3. Developing a business case:

• Creating a compelling business case for a data-sharing platform, designed to serve as a cornerstone for future interventions.
• Ensuring the platform has defined capabilities and user requirements, supported by clear evidence and user feedback.

Outcomes

This project will create:

• Social network naps: Visual representations of the relationships and interactions among stakeholders.
• Data toolkit prototype: A rapid prototype of a data toolkit to facilitate effective knowledge sharing.
• Business case: A comprehensive business case for a data-sharing platform to guide future initiatives.

Put together, this project promises to revolutionise knowledge sharing and decision-making in the Murray–Darling Basin, ultimately enhancing the region’s resilience and sustainability.