Science funding could contribute more towards achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Science–practitioner partnerships illustrate how a patient and outcome-based approach could improve water security for millions of vulnerable people.
Four policy insights are featured:
– How outcome-based funding models can be applied successfully
– Accelerating the transition from ‘science directs’ to ‘science serves’ – partnerships must be adapted to policy priorities in dialogue with government and local stakeholders
– Invest in long term, interdisciplinary and instrumented observatories to design, execute and evaluate results before scaling up
– Strengthen partnerships through targeted investment in resources and training for research agencies and policy units that link science with sustainable development goals
