THE GLOBAL CONTEXT

Water risk is already reshaping the world.

ÆGIR RESILIENCE helps governments, municipalities and the private sector move from reactive water-crisis management to proactive planning, creating early warnings instead of emergency responses.

4 billion

People live under severe water scarcity for at least one month each year

Source: Science Advances, 2016

1.81 billion

People are directly exposed to significant flood risk worldwide

Source: Nature Communications and the World Bank, 2022

$307 billion

Estimated annual global cost of drought-related losses.

Source: UNCCD, 2024

32 billion m³

Water is physically lost from urban supply systems every year.

Source: World Bank

A SYSTEMATIC CHALLENGE

Water risk is not one isolated problem.

Drought, flooding, infrastructure stress, environmental degradation, rising demand and governance weaknesses rarely act in isolation. ÆGIR RESILIENCE brings these dimensions together to show where vulnerability is building, what is driving it and where attention is needed first.

Understanding water resilience therefore requires more than measuring physical water availability. It requires a structured view of the wider system surrounding it.

Reactive management

• Fragmented information

• Static or infrequent assessment

• Decisions taken after conditions worsen

• Emergency-led interventions

• High social and economic disruption

ÆGIR RESILIENCE's approach

• Integrated vulnerability assessment

• Continuous surveillance where required

• Earlier identification of emerging pressure

• Clear interpretation of risk drivers

• Recommendations linked to planning and action

A DIFFERENT WAY TO PREPARE

From emergency response to early action.

Water-related disruption is often addressed only after conditions have become critical. ÆGIR RESILIENCE supports earlier, evidence-based planning by translating interconnected risk signals into a structured assessment.

01 - MEASURE

Overall Vulnerability Index (OVI)

A clear score from 1 to 10 that summarises the overall level of hydro-strategic vulnerability across four interconnected dimensions

A DIFFERENT WAY TO PREPARE

Three outputs. One connected decision process.

ÆGIR RESILIENCE combines a clear vulnerability signal with detailed interpretation and context-specific guidance.

03 - ACT

Policy Advisory Document

A context-specific set of recommendations that translates the assessment into practical policy, planning, management or investment priorites.

02 - UNDERSTAND

Hydro-Strategic Assessment Report

An analytical and interpretative report that explains the OVI, identifies the main drivers of vulnerability, highlights strengths and pressure points, and examines emerging patterns.

Climate

Temperature trends, droughts, rainfall variability, heat stress, and extreme weather can alter both water supply and demand.

Seismic and infrastructure

Seismic exposure and the fragility of dams, pipelines, reservoirs, and treatment systems can directly affect water availability and service continuity.

Environmental

Land-use change, ecosystem degradation, wetlands, forests, soil conditions, and pollution influence the natural systems supporting water resilience.

Socio-economic

Consumption, agriculture, industry, infrastructure efficiency, governance, and institutional capacity determine how water is used and managed.

A MULTIDIMENSIONAL ASSESSMENT

Four dimensions shape the full picture.

Water resilience is influenced by physical hazards, infrastructure, ecosystems, economic activity, and institutional capacity.

Strategic planning and public resilience

Support for territorial planning, adaptation priorities, infrastructure decisions and long-term resilience.

Infrastructure and operational awareness

Structured insight into system vulnerabilities, geographic exposure and areas requiring closer attention.

Investment and risk evaluation

Water-risk intelligence that can inform asset assessment, due diligence and long-term planning.

Location-specific exposure

Assessment of how water-related conditions may affect operations, assets, supply chains, and strategic choices.

HOW ÆGIR RESILIENCE CAN HELP

How ÆGIR RESILIENCE can support you with earlier, better decisions

ÆGIR RESILIENCE's assessment structure support different kinds of organisations facing water-related exposure, planning challenges or resilience decisions.

SCIENTIFIC FOUNDATION

Built on research. Designed for decisions.

ÆGIR RESILIENCE's approach draws on interdisciplinary research connecting water systems, climate resilience, infrastructure, environmental conditions, governance, and socio-economic capacity.

The scientific foundation includes research into Hydro Nexus Analytics (HNA), the system underlying ÆGIR RESILIENCE's hydro-strategic assessments, and the Integrated Water Resilience Index (IWSRI), which demonstrates why water resilience must be understood beyond physical water availability alone.