Joining the Dots: a Framework for Assessing Integration in Flood Risk

Middlesex University Research Repository An open access repository of Middlesex University research http://eprints.mdx.ac.uk Cumiskey, Lydia (2020) Joining the dots: a framework for assessing integration in ﬂood risk management with applications to England and Serbia. PhD thesis, Middlesex University. [Thesis] Final accepted version (with author’s formatting) This version is available at: https://eprints.mdx.ac.uk/29624/ Copyright: Middlesex University Research Repository makes the University’s research available electronically. Copyright and moral rights to this work are retained by the author and/or other copyright owners unless otherwise stated. The work is supplied on the understanding that any use for commercial gain is strictly forbidden. A copy may be downloaded for personal, non-commercial, research or study without prior permission and without charge. 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See also repository copyright: re-use policy: http://eprints.mdx.ac.uk/policies.html#copy Joining the dots: A framework for assessing integration in Flood Risk Management with applications to England and Serbia Lydia Ruth Cumiskey M00611055 Flood Hazard Research Centre Department of Natural Sciences Faculty of Science and Technology A thesis submitted to Middlesex University in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy March 2020 Thesis Abstract Over deCades the Concept of integration has been promoted to enhance alignment between poliCy domains and to manage trade-offs and maximise synergies aCross management praCtiCes. Integrated approaChes have the potential to enable better outcomes for Flood Risk Management (FRM) and society as a whole. However, aChieving integration in praCtiCe is a reCurring Challenge, espeCially for FRM where multiple aCtors need to work together aCross fragmented poliCy domains. To further advance the Concept of integration, this thesis develops and applies a framework for assessing integration in FRM and identifying different degrees of integration. The framework sets out the Context of integration, assesses the governance CapaCity for integration through the strength of relationships between different types of aCtors (bridging, bonding and linking) and the mechanisms (aCtor-, rule- and resourCe-based) that influence them, and the realisation of integration in FRM praCtiCe through knowledge, poliCies and interventions. The framework is applied to different FRM integration Challenges in England and Serbia using data ColleCted from in-depth interviews with FRM professionals (n=73), partiCipant observation at FRM related meetings (n=27) and document analysis at national, regional and loCal levels. The findings demonstrate the dynamiC nature of aChieving integration in FRM and how degrees of integration Can evolve for different integration Challenges in FRM and progress at various speeds. The researCh demonstrates the need to Create a Culture of Collaboration and Continuous learning within and aCross FRM and seCtor-speCific organisations to realise integration in FRM through multiple mechanisms. Five types of boundary spanning roles were identified (retiCulist, entrepreneur, interpreter, organiser and speCialist) that faCilitate aCtors’ ability to work within existing mechanisms (e.g. rules, funding mechanisms and partnerships) to jointly develop knowledge and Capture opportunities aCross seCtors to realise integration in praCtiCe. Creating such a Cultural shift that enables integration in FRM requires sustained resources, such as joint funds to generate and maintain such boundary spanning roles, as well as associated partnerships and training programmes, and appropriately designed rules in the long-term. Overall, the framework Can be applied by researChers, policymakers and praCtitioners to faCilitate a better understanding of integration in FRM and support its realisation. i Acknowledgements Firstly, a huge thank you to everyone willing to engage with me and my researCh both in England and Serbia. Meeting all of you and listening to your real stories about integration in flood risk management was my favourite part of the researCh and always reminded me why I embarked on this journey in the first place. Thank you. I hope I Can sustain the same amount of energy and enthusiasm, as shown by all of you, long into my career in flood risk management. Next, a huge thank you to Sally Priest for being such a dynamiC and friendly supervisor who has beCome both a Colleague and a friend. Thank you for pushing my theoretiCal boundaries as an ‘engineer turned social scientist’ and keeping my head up in moments of self-doubt. Meri Juntti, thank you for aCCepting to jump in as a supervisor less than a year before submission. Your input, experience and advice were extremely valuable and a true Compliment to the team. To Frans Klijn, Karin de Bruijn and Annegien Tijssen at Deltares, thank you for always Challenging me and pushing my thinking to another level. It was a pleasure to work Closely with you all. A speCial thanks to the European Commission for funding this study within the System-Risk ETN project under the EU’s Framework Programme for ResearCh and Innovation Horizon 2020 (Grant Agreement No. 676027). Well, where to start next. The day-to-day FHRC office Clan, espeCially Friederike, Josie and Simon - thank you for teaChing me how to not talk about work at lunch and laugh instead – yet always listening to my Conundrums as they arose. To the wider FHRC family – Edmund, Denis, Meg, Joanna, Damon, Cari, Marlies and Karin - thank you for your ongoing enCouragement and support throughout this process. Thanks to those in Delft for always giving me an injection of energy and motivation when visiting, espeCially Laura, Shristi, Nilay, Pato and Juanca. A big thank you to my ‘virtual’ friends and Colleagues at the Water Youth Network. Working with you all on our quest to build the CapaCity of young professionals working on DRR gave me a sense of ConneCtion and purpose, helping me to fight the loneliness of the PhD process. EspeCially thanks to Robert, my DRR side-kick for our Constant phone Calls exchanging PhD worries, sucCesses and dreams - knowing that we will get there in the end. To the System-Risk project team, thanks for being a sourCe of motivation, structure and friendship during our 3-year journey. ii To my friends in London, Leitrim and everywhere in-between thank you for positively distraCting me from this PhD with walks, talks and Crafts – espeCially in the final few months when I needed it the most. A speCial thanks to those who offered to read my Chapters. Last but not least to my family at home. Thank you for always believing in me, never asking too many questions and supporting me through the final weeks with plenty of tea and Chocolate over Christmas. A speCial thanks to my sister Marina for reviewing the final draft. It has been a ‘coalition of the willing’ that got me to this final point and who will take me further into my Career in FRM. A huge thanks to eaCh and every one of you. I look forward to returning this support in some way, shape or form in the future. For those reading this on their own PhD journey – you will get here too! iii Dedicated to everyone pushing their own boundaries to make life safer and happier for others. iv Table of Contents Thesis Abstract ........................................................................................................ i Acknowledgements ................................................................................................. ii Table of Contents .................................................................................................... v Table of Figures ...................................................................................................... x Table of Tables ..................................................................................................... xiii Abbreviations ....................................................................................................... xiv Glossary of terms ................................................................................................. xvi Chapter 1 Introduction ....................................................................................... 1 1.1 Flood risk management: the need for integration ......................................... 1 1.2 Problem identification................................................................................. 4 1.3 ResearCh Context and sCope ........................................................................ 5 1.4 ResearCh aim and questions .......................................................................

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