Having identified key social, institutional and policy issues with a stakeholder Delphi in WP5, including conflicts and tensions, activities in this work package will aim to reconcile differences amongst institutions, policies and processes and to formulate communication media that summarise the new knowledge generated, and in particular Better Practices related to the strategies identified and methodologies employed. Based on contacts and rapport established with local institutions, NGOs and CBOs during previous activities, action plans will be discussed in meetings and focus groups and where appropriate community members and stakeholders requested to participate in the decision-making process regarding implementation, monitoring and evaluation. Opportunities to address and reconcile specific conflicts between local and regional, national and international institutions and policy identified in WP5 will be discussed with stakeholders, raising awareness of the issues and identifying the most promising approaches.

Constraints and opportunities associated with advocating community participation in decision-making, strong leadership, mediation, consensus building, collective decision-making and participatory conflict resolution will be discussed and evaluated. This activity will be undertaken at each site to elucidate differences in local conditions, customs, institutional arrangements, notably the effectiveness of decentralisation and local government institutions, or the conflict demanding reconciliation that may affect the suitability or effectiveness of approaches proposed. Following this assessment the research teams will use the most appropriate strategies, modified as required, to facilitate the implementation of the selected approaches; where necessary support and training will be provided to third parties better placed to facilitate reconciliation. Where complete resolution is not possible within the timeframe of the project a suitable strategy to achieve the desired outcome will be outlined and promoted. Following action to address policy issues, focused here on the implementation of IAPs formulated in WP5, the process and impact will be evaluated and appropriate communication media, including Better Practice materials, developed and included in the toolkit (D2.2) to help others formulate strategies in support of action and policy initiatives to conserve highland aquatic resources and enhance dependent livelihoods in the region, and potentially globally.