The role of adaptive governance in supporting sustainability transitions in the Global South: a case study of urban water in Bangladesh

This thesis reveals how adaptive governance attributes and principles can provide guidance for and foster practices associated with advancing sustainable urban water management in GS contexts. Drawing on the context of Bangladesh’s urban water sector, it further sheds light on the role of adaptive governance in improving capacities (i.e. institutional, organisation and individual actor) at different city-scales to influence the pathways to sustainable development. Developing these capacities to effectively guide sustainability transformational processes depends on key enablers such as multi-level and polycentric institutions, participatory approaches, networking and bridging organisations, leadership, and learning.