This working paper presents a learning stocktake from the early phase of the Fair Water Footprints initiative, a multistakeholder partnership working to make water use in global supply chains fairer and more sustainable.
Drawing on two years of implementation, research and engagement, the paper explores how change is beginning to emerge in practice. It highlights key dynamics shaping progress, including the role of coalitions and trust, the power and limits of evidence, the influence of incentives and accountability, and the non-linear nature of change.
The paper also sets out priorities for strengthening impact and offers practical insights for other initiatives working across complex systems.