The comprehensive baseline assessments for the partner cities Sam Neua/Laos and Sarihajo/Sleman/Indonesia are now available (both documents will be accessible in the download area from January 2023). These studies and the strategy recommendations elaborated in them are based on analyses of the socio-economic and natural change dynamics to which the cities are exposed and the resulting urban planning and water management challenges.Here, the DPSIR framework has proven to be a robust tool: Driving forces such as demographic, economic, social and climate change induced causes of urban transformation may translate into pressure on water and natural resources, such as higher water demand. The state of water resources is captured by information on water quantity and quality and overuse of natural water resources that may have an impact on public health and ecosystems. Improved land use planning and infrastructure development may be appropriate responses to mitigate pressures and to achieve development targets.For a detailed analysis, the PolyUrbanWaters project has developed a polygon of water-sensitive urban development. “Water” is elaborated with this tool as a cross-cutting issue of sustainable urban development. In this way, the dimensions of urban planning and water management challenges in Sam Neua and Sarihajo/Sleman could be specified as a cross-sectoral task and solutions corresponding to local capacities could be worked out.
