WORKSHOP REPORT CGIAR Initiative on Digital Innovation | on.cgiar.org/digital 1 Co-designing a Digital Twin for water resource management in the Limpopo River Basin: Outcomes from the Ideation and Stakeholder Workshop Mariangel Garcia Andarcia1*, Paulo Silva1, Chris Dickens1 1 International Water Management Institute (IWMI) *Corresponding author: M.GarciaAndarcia@cgiar.org Citation Garcia Andarcia, M.; Silva, P.; Dickens, C. 2024. Co-designing a Digital Twin for water resource management in the Limpopo River Basin: outcomes from the Ideation and Stakeholder Workshop. Report of the Limpopo River Basin Digital Twin Ideation and Co-design Workshop, Pretoria, South Africa, 7 May 2024. Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute (IWMI). CGIAR Initiative on Digital Innovation. 10p. INFORMATION Keywords Limpopo River Basin, workshop, human centered design, water management Flagship Digital Twin Work package Real-time Monitoring EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Limpopo River Basin Digital Twin Ideation and Co-design Workshop was conducted with the purpose of generating innovative ideas and collaboratively designing a Digital Twin platform tailored to the water resource management needs of the Limpopo Basin, ensuring that the design reflected the diverse user needs and data requirements across the basin. • Purpose: The workshop aimed to generate innovative ideas and collaboratively design a Digital Twin platform for water resource management in the Limpopo Basin. The workshop engaged 18 stakeholders and water resource specialists representing the Limpopo Watercourse Commission (LIMCOM) and four countries – Mozambique, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and South Africa – together with the IWMI project team and GWPSA, to ensure the design reflected user needs and data requirements. • Context: The workshop took place on May 7th, 2024, in Pretoria, South Africa, following a day of GWPSA led discussions with LIMCOM and the GEF Small Grants Programme (UNDP-GEF) regarding the data needs for managing water resources as part of the development of the Limpopo Management Information System (LIMIS). • Key Results: Stakeholders reinforced their commitment to adopt the Digital Twin as an additional tool for managing water resources. The workshop allowed the participants to outline the critical data needs, identify new target users for the platform, explore potential use cases for solving existing user needs, and generate innovative ideas for the project. Prioritization of data requirements, management actions, and future developments based on generated ideas were key outcomes. WORKSHOP OVERVIEW Workshop Objectives: • Facilitate a shared understanding of water resource management challenges in the Limpopo River Basin. • Co-design a Digital Twin platform that integrates real-time data, supports decision-making, and addresses user needs. Participants: • Water resource managers, researchers, LIMCOM representatives, GEF project staff, and IWMI specialists. Agenda/Structure: • Morning session: Presentation of Digital Twin technology and brainstorming on ideal future water management scenarios (water management "utopia"). In collaboration with:Supported by: Integrated Transboundary River Basin Management for the Sustainable Development of the Limpopo River Basin In partnership with: WORKSHOP REPORT CGIAR Initiative on Digital Innovation | on.cgiar.org/digital 2 • Afternoon session: Defining potential users of the Digital Twin, organizing and clustering ideas, and engaging in low-fidelity prototyping and iteration. PROBLEM DEFINITION Current Challenges: • Water scarcity, stressed resources, and a need for improved water management across a semi-arid, transboundary river basin spanning four countries. • Challenges in data availability, coordination among countries, and real-time water monitoring. Stakeholder Needs: • Stakeholders required timely, accurate data and tools to support decision-making processes in water management. • Other potential users like citizens and researchers expressed the need for accessible, understandable data in various formats. DESIGN THINKING PROCESS: Figure 1. Design thinking framework Design thinking is a human-centered approach to problem- solving and innovation. It involves understanding user needs, challenging assumptions, redefining problems, and creating innovative solutions to prototype and test. The process is iterative and typically includes five phases: • Empathize: Research and understand users’ needs. • Define: Clearly state the users’ needs and problems. • Ideate: Generate a wide range of ideas and solutions. • Prototype: Create tangible representations of ideas. • Test: Evaluate the prototypes with users and refine the solutions. WORKSHOP IMPLEMENTATION Figure 2. Results from the design thinking framework • Challenge presented to stakeholders, partners, and researchers: co-designing a Digital Twin solution with focus on target audience (end users) and capabilities (features, functionalities, data requirements). • IWMI provided a lecture on Digital Twins, the foundational technology underpinning Digital Twin solutions, and showcased some existing Digital Twins of natural environments. • The workshop consisted in both whole team and breakout group exercises, focused on 3 stages of the Design Thinking Process: Empathize, Define, Ideate • Some activities performed: Empathy Mapping, Role Playing, 6-3-5 Brain Writing, Value Matrix. EMPATHY STAGE (USER TYPES) Participants identified water management issues, data needs, and challenges through discussions and the creation of personas to understand diverse user perspectives (e.g., water managers, citizens). During the empathy phase of the workshop, participants used design thinking methods to develop a deep understanding of the various stakeholders who would be impacted by the Digital Twin for the Limpopo River Basin. This involved creating detailed personas to capture the needs, frustrations, and desires of the different user groups involved in water management. The personas helped to ensure that the Digital Twin design would effectively address the challenges faced by these diverse stakeholders. 3 user types were identified, Lorraine, representing citizens and farmers of Limpopo; Nerd, a researcher working in Limpopo; and Tendani, a water manager in charge of managing resources in the Limpopo Basin. The following personas were developed: 1. Lorraine – Citizen/Farmer Profile: Lorraine is a middle-aged African woman and farmer living in the Limpopo River Basin. She is heavily reliant on natural resources and especially the river for her livelihood. WORKSHOP REPORT CGIAR Initiative on Digital Innovation | on.cgiar.org/digital 3 Challenges: • Extreme Climate Events: Lorraine experiences significant crop loss due to unpredictable floods and droughts. • Lack of Timely Information: She often misses crucial information about weather conditions and water levels, as well as water rationing, which are critical for planning her farming activities. She complains that information is not shared with farmers. • Distrust of Information Sources: Lorraine has lost trust in non-official information sources and feels abandoned by the basin's managers, leaving her feeling vulnerable to natural events. She also feels that water quality has degraded to her detriment. Needs: • Reliable, Timely Data: She needs access to trusted sources of real-time data to make informed decisions about her farming practices. At present they get surprised by flood events with no warning. • Better Land Use Policies: Lorraine thinks that land use policies should be better enforced to protect farmers like her from environmental degradation. Emotions: • Lorraine feels frustrated by the lack of governance and transparency, and she often relies on her children to help decode information. • Actions: Despite the challenges, she tries to improve her crop yield and implements preventative measures. She also takes measures to secure her future related to several aspects of her farm. She employs local laborers, adapting as best she can to the conditions. Figure 3. Empathy map for a citizen farmer 2. Nerd – Researcher Profile: Nerd is a data-driven researcher focused on water management in the Limpopo River Basin. He is methodical and collaborative, often involved in analyzing data for practical water management solutions. Challenges: • Data Availability: Nerd struggles with the unavailability of reliable data, which limits his ability to perform accurate analysis to support decision-makers. • Research-Policy Disconnect: He feels that the Limpopo Basin is being left behind, while finding it challenging to translate his research into policies that can be implemented at the basin level, causing frustration. Needs: • Validated, Real-Time Data: He requires validated, high- quality data that is regularly updated to support his research and recommendations for water management. • Collaboration: Nerd values collaboration with other researchers and water managers and needs platforms that enable data sharing and validation across stakeholders. • Emotions: Nerd feels a mixture of frustration and determination. He is motivated by the potential to impact real-world water management but often struggles with the limitations of the data and systems in place. • Actions: Nerd is concerned about the lack of research skills and opportunities for multidisciplinary capacity building. He is constantly working on improving data validation, collaborating with water managers, and applying for funding to support research that could improve water resource management. Figure 5. Empathy map for a researcher WORKSHOP REPORT CGIAR Initiative on Digital Innovation | on.cgiar.org/digital 4 3. Tendani – Water Manager Profile: Tendani is a water resource manager responsible for overseeing water distribution and quality in the Limpopo River Basin. He works closely with policymakers and other stakeholders to ensure water is used efficiently and equitably across the region. Challenges: • Coordination Issues: Tendani faces challenges with coordinating water allocation among different countries and sectors. Poor infrastructure, water losses, poor water quality and a lack of reliable data often hinder his work. • Illegal Water Use: He also deals with illegal water abstractions and activities that degrade water resources. Needs: Real-Time Monitoring: Tendani requires tools for real-time monitoring of water use, water quality, and flow to make informed decisions quickly, however this remains a distant possibility due to lack of resources. Improved Communication Tools: • Tendani needs better communication channels between policymakers, citizens, and stakeholders to ensure that water use policies are enforced and understood. • Emotions: Tendani feels frustrated by the lack of timely data and the slow pace of policy implementation. He is determined to improve the water management systems, but often feels constrained by the existing challenges. • Actions: Tendani works on managing water permits especially around allocations, conducting stakeholder meetings, and constantly pushing for better coordination and real-time monitoring of the basin’s water resources. He is also striving to improve operations and maintenance of water infrastructure. Figure 6 Empathy map for water managers. Conclusion of the Empathy Phase: These personas provided a human-centered perspective that helped frame the challenges and opportunities in designing the Digital Twin for the Limpopo River Basin. By empathizing with Lorraine, Nerd, and Tendani, the workshop participants were able to create solutions that were not only technically sound but also aligned with the real-world needs of the basin's stakeholders. The empathy phase set the foundation for ensuring that the Digital Twin platform would deliver practical, user-focused outcomes. DEFINE STAGE (PROBLEM STATEMENTS) During the Define Stage, the workshop participants used insights from the empathy phase to craft clear How Might We (HMW) questions. These questions were designed to address the specific challenges faced by each person (Lorraine, Nerd, and Tendani), and were crucial in framing the ideation phase. The key HMW questions identified in the workshop include: Lorraine – Citizen/Farmer Lorraine is a farmer who is deeply impacted by water scarcity, environmental degradation, and a lack of timely information. She struggles with trusting non-official sources and often feels abandoned by water managers. Her challenges revolve around access to real-time data and better land use policies. HMW Questions for Lorraine: • HMW improve the timely delivery of information to help farmers like Lorraine make better decisions regarding water use and farming? • HMW help citizens/farmers understand policies and regulations governing water access, so they can improve their agricultural practices? • HMW ensure that Lorraine has access to reliable, real- time data on water availability and environmental conditions? • HMW improve communication channels between water managers and citizens like Lorraine to foster trust and transparency? Nerd – Researcher Nerd is a data-driven researcher who faces challenges related to data availability and the disconnect between research and policy implementation. He wants to make his research more impactful by improving data validation and collaboration with other water managers. HMW Questions for Nerd: • How can I build awareness of the challenges facing water resources managers so that I can respond with relevant and WORKSHOP REPORT CGIAR Initiative on Digital Innovation | on.cgiar.org/digital 5 appropriate research? • How do we unlock funding that will satisfy research as well as the needs of basin managers. • How do we get access to training to develop multidisciplinary capability to carry out water resources research? • How do we overcome the lack of skills of different disciplines in both researchers and customers of research? • How can we ensure that the research has impact and informs operational and governance decisions. • How do we solve the issue of inadequate, validated and relevant water resources data in different languages. Tendani – Water Manager Tendani is a water manager who deals with the practical challenges of coordinating water distribution and maintaining water quality in the Limpopo River Basin. He faces obstacles like illegal water use, poor infrastructure, and a lack of real- time data. HMW Questions for Tendani: • HMW improve real-time monitoring of water resources to help Tendani make faster and more informed decisions? • HMW enforce water use policies and combat illegal activities in the basin, so that water resources are protected? • HMW ensure that Tendani has access to reliable data on water flow, quality, and usage to improve coordination across the basin? • HMW enhance communication and collaboration between policymakers, stakeholders, and water users to help Tendani implement water policies more effectively? Conclusion of the Define Stage: These HMW questions served as the foundation for the ideation phase, providing a clear direction for brainstorming potential solutions. By framing the challenges faced by Lorraine, Nerd, and Tendani into actionable questions, the workshop participants were able to narrow their focus and develop targeted, user-centered ideas for improving water management in the Limpopo River Basin. The questions centered on improving data access, communication, policy enforcement, and the real-world impact of research—key areas critical to the success of the Digital Twin platform. Table 1 summarizes several of the ideas and solutions proposed. Priority Class Lorraine (citizen) Nerd (Researcher) Tendani (Water Manager) High impact, low effort Regular vulnerability report to citizens and policy makers. Link to stakeholder engagement platforms or joint basin survey. Do a transboundary consultation to ask farmers for requirements. Receive information Bulletins and Newsletters with regular data and information targeted at citizens. Simplified application for citizen access linked to data system for information. FAQ (frequently asked questions) library for customers. Portal linked to LIMIS for farmers access to data for planning. Portal should provide access to location relevant policy and also FAQs. Search tool with keywords linked to interactive map. Visualisation of hotspots. Citizen science portal for farmers to contribute data on crops, water use, upload photos etc. Decision support application for Farmers Hypothesise solutions for water resource management. Stakeholder consultation to establish user needs. Co-design and run solutions, validation and verification. Work to understand the DPSIR causal chain. Develop with member states and seek donor and government funding. Stakeholder Engagement Platform. Develop advanced data visualisation tools and search function linked to GIS. Engage skilled personnel. Prioritise training on operations and management for artisans etc. Budget better the operations and management. Implementation of policies. Invest in rehabilitation and expansion of water infrastructure. Table 1. Innovative ideas and solutions ranked in terms of impact and effort WORKSHOP REPORT CGIAR Initiative on Digital Innovation | on.cgiar.org/digital 6 Priority Class Lorraine (citizen) Nerd (Researcher) Tendani (Water Manager) High impact, high effort Early warning system for floods. Interactive GIS based system for location specific data that includes projections and predictions. Allow for what-if analyses. Data Validation Platform Work with member states to ensure that policy is supportive of sustainable water resources management while ensuring it remains implementable. Develop a water resources strategy that is binding on all. Work to obtain genuine social justice, ensuring data is accessible and beneficial. Develop harmonised vision and effort between member states Aim to meet the SDG targets. Develop national support for the programme while reducing donor dependency. Better monitoring systems with near real-time data. Mobile gauging device. Low impact, low effort None Collaboration Hub for Researchers and Water Managers to access data but also to request data that is not available. Ensure effective interaction with data. Combine the perspectives of different agents. Engage with citizen science efforts. Build capacity especially around O&M. Low impact, high effort Provide information on effects of poor land-use to inform policy makers. Hotline or form for reporting of issues, illegal activities etc. Ensure durability of the data over time. Ensure data quality and embed quality assurance programme. Consider frequency of monitoring. Reliable measuring tools. Table 1 (cont.). WORKSHOP REPORT CGIAR Initiative on Digital Innovation | on.cgiar.org/digital 7 PROTOTYPE STAGE In the prototype phase, we presented the Digital Twin prototype to the stakeholders. It was interesting to see that many of the solutions proposed during the co-design process were already aligned with the needs of researchers and water managers. However, we realized that the Digital Twin is not yet designed to reach end users such as farmers. This presents an opportunity to co-design with stakeholders and develop user-driven solutions to address this gap. During this phase, we also delved into the science behind each of the project’s scientific products. The first version of the prototype was demonstrated, and we gathered valuable feedback. Key takeaways from the session: • A strong emphasis on the need for transparency of the data being used. • A transparent validation process, and equal representation of data sources from various countries. • The stakeholders stressed the importance of capacity building, signalling that any Digital Twin solution would require substantial efforts in training and support for users to fully leverage its potential. This would be the key point of entry for potential institutionalization of the Digital Twin Figure 8. Presenting the prototype to LIMCOM Executive Secretary and country representatives. Credit: IWMI TESTING STAGE Following the workshop and stakeholder feedback, the development team prioritized the feedback to plan the development backlog. The decision was made not to release the current version of the Digital Twin until all products are thoroughly validated and tested. For this first phase, the development will be guided by these priority needs. Key actions taken include: • Implementation of FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) data practices to ensure transparency in the process. • Publication of all data sources to increase accessibility. • Validation of the seasonal forecast provided to enhance reliability. • Allocation of resources to initiate capacity-building efforts, ensuring that stakeholders can effectively utilize the Digital Twin once released. PROGRESS ON ENGAGEMENT The engagement with LIMCOM has been very positive. We have held monthly meetings to report progress, and they are highly enthusiastic about the Digital Twin's development. From the initial expectations set in February, moving through the co-design phase, and showcasing the first prototype in May, we received valuable feedback during the 10th World Water Forum in Bali in May 2024. The monthly progress reports began in July, helping to maintain momentum. Figure 9. 2024 Roadmap WORKSHOP REPORT CGIAR Initiative on Digital Innovation | on.cgiar.org/digital 8 • MoU Signed with AWARD: To support the Digital Twin's development and integration with discharge stations. • Letter of Intent with UNICEF: To contribute citizen science data for the Digital Twin. • MoU with LIMCOM: Planned for signing in October 2024. • LIMIS Digital Blueprint Integration: The Digital Twin has been incorporated into LIMCOM's digital blueprint as part of the LIMIS initiative. • Capacity Building Request: LIMCOM has requested capacity building to fully adopt the Digital Twin and eventually become independent in its usage. • A complete report on progress was published at: https:// www.cgiar.org/news-events/news/digital-twin-of-the- limpopo-basin-advances-with-new-prototype/. • Formulating Data Sharing Agreements: A letter was submitted to LIMCOM specifying the data requirements to conclude the project, we provided guidance on best practices. Figure 10. Sérgio Sitoe, LIMCOM Executive Secretary, at 10th World Water Forum in Bali discussing the importance of co-design for the Digital Twin. Credit: Joanna Fatch-AMCOW WORKSHOP REPORT CGIAR Initiative on Digital Innovation | on.cgiar.org/digital 9 No Activity Date 1 Two-day integration workshop for the United Nations Development Program-Global Environment FundFacility (UNDP-GEF). Digital Twin concept for the Limpopo River Basin. Engaged 30 stakeholders https://www.iwmi.cgiar.org/blogs/visionary-integration/ February 7-8 2 LIMIS User Needs Assessment Workshop Summary and Digital Twin Co-design workshop in Pretoria, South Africa. Engaged 18 stakeholders in collaboration with GEF-UNDP. https://www.linkedin.com/posts/limpopo-watercourse-commission-limcom-06bbb2288_digitaltwin- limpoporiverbasin-activity-7193906125619003392-0tj3?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_ desktop May 6-7 3 10th World Water Forum. Two presentations were made by LIMCOM: • Intervention of LIMCOM Sérgio Sitoe and Eddie Riddel at the African Pavilion in Bali. Managing water resources sustainably: Leveraging Earth Observation and Diverse Data Sources. The African Ministers’ Council on Water (AMCOW) expressed interest in partnering to explore how these approaches can be incorporated into the Blue Africa initiative. • Dr. Eddie Riddell from LIMCOM presented the potential value of the Digital Twin in the session chaired by Abdul Karim from IWMI 'Managing water resources sustainably: Leveraging Earth Observation and Diverse Data Sources' • Digital Twin of the Limpopo Basin advances with new prototype - LIMCOM. https:// limpopocommission.org/article/digital-twin-of-the-limpopo-basin-advances-with-new-prototype/ May 24 4 • Online progress report for LIMCOM: 'Advancing Water Management - A Prototype Digital Twin for the Limpopo River Basin Based on Co-design with LIMCOM.' Attended by ~30 stakeholders and country representatives. https://www.iwmi.cgiar.org/blogs/can-digital-twins-help-river-basin- management-in-developing-countries/. • Deliver second version of the prototype • Deliver the first version of the chatbot supported by Microsoft • Created Public Repository with DOIs. https://dataverse.harvard.edu/dataverse/LimpopoRiverBasin. July 3 5 First products deployed on ODC. https://odc-explorer.digitaltwins.demos-only.iwmi.org/. August 6 Funding matching: • The Enabel proposal was awarded, securing 2 years of funding (300K) to integrate citizen science data into the digital twin. Starting October. • CGIAR has expressed interest in continuing support for the digital twin as part of the initiative roadmap for 2025 • AWS is interested in offering support with credits and potentially serving as an implementation partner. August– September 7 World Water Week 2024 The global community gathered in Stockholm, Sweden, from August 25 to 29, for World Water Week 2024. DIWASA: Improving water security in Africa using next-generation datasets Presented a demonstration of the portal and chat bot about 70 attendees on the decision with positive feedback overall on the work. https://event.trippus.net/Home/Index/ AEAKgINwoafUOTY0oW53dgzJNGXw8gNEd8UeZ8jQ_ rxTt9LQIqFfJLPhC1jNXurmHv6UpVWCE5N5/AEAKgIMgfLVpyqEio5bKw5tn4lZGBhnyOHByeFn- cWE-dXwGWp8fJzGZA-f84F-tWrfx9ApVi10L/eng?page=80031&session=264974. August 25 to 29, 8 First Cairo Water Week | World Water Council. https://www.worldwatercouncil.org/en/first-cairo-water- week October 14-15 9 Signing MoU with LIMCOM + Progress Report 25th WaterNet/WARFSA/GWPSA Symposium to be held online and at the Avani Maseru Hotel, Kingdom of Lesotho Title: Enhancing Transboundary Water Management through Research and Data Management: The IWMI- LIMCOM Partnership 30 October – 1 November 2024 Table 2: Indicative milestones for Pillar IV. WORKSHOP REPORT CGIAR Initiative on Digital Innovation | on.cgiar.org/digital This publication has been prepared as an output of the CGIAR Initiative on Digital Innovation, which researches pathways to accelerate the transformation towards sustainable and inclusive agrifood systems by generating research-based evidence and innovative digital solutions. This publication has not been independently peer reviewed. Responsibility for editing, proofreading, and layout, opinions expressed, and any possible errors lies with the authors and not the institutions involved. The boundaries and names shown and the designations used on maps do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), CGIAR, our partner institutions, or donors. In line with principles defined in the CGIAR Open and FAIR Data Assets Policy, this publication is available under a CC BY 4.0 license. © The copyright of this publication is held by IWMI. We thank all funders who supported this research through their contributions to the CGIAR Trust Fund. 10 CONCLUSION The Limpopo River Basin Digital TwinIdeation and Co-design Workshop successfully brought together a diverse group of stakeholders from LIMCOM, representing Mozambique, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and South Africa, to collaboratively design a Digital Twin platform tailored for water resource management. The workshop not only reaffirmed the commitment of these stakeholders to adopt the Digital Twin as a valuable tool but also highlighted the critical data needs and new user groups that must be addressed to ensure the platform's effectiveness. Through the use of design thinking methodologies, participants were able to empathize with various user personas, define specific challenges, and generate innovative ideas for the platform. These ideas were systematically prioritized based on their impact and feasibility, setting a clear roadmap for the next stages of development. The workshop concluded with a strong emphasis on the importance of transparency, data validation, and capacity building, which are essential for the successful implementation and long-term sustainability of the Digital Twin. The engagement with LIMCOM and other partners, including the planned capacity-building efforts, reflects a solid foundation for the continued development and deployment of the Digital Twin, ensuring it meets the real-world needs of the basin's water management stakeholders. Overall, the workshop was a crucial step forward in the co- design process, laying the groundwork for a Digital Twin platform that is not only technically robust but also user- centered, addressing the diverse and complex challenges of water resource management in the Limpopo River Basin. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT The LIMCOM-UNDP/GEF project, implemented by LIMCOM in partnership with the Global Water Partnership Southern Africa (GWPSA), supported by UNDP and funded through the Global Environment Facility (GEF), aims to uplift the living standards of the basin’s population and conserve its resources and ecosystem services through various community- level interventions. Leveraging CGIAR’s digital innovation, Digital Earth Africa and IWMI’s extensive experience in water research and near real-time basin hydrological modeling, supported by The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust, this aims to harness state-of-the-art technologies to enhance water management in the Limpopo River Basin.