Waterways are more than just channels for waterborne transportation. Canals and rivers can fulfill many other functions for the benefit of the entire society or of parts of it.
The new Working Group WG 203, established in 2018 and still in the stage of kick-off is to combine the multifunction of waterways, given by the manifold uses with the awareness of IW managers for social and environmental issues being necessary for operating and maintaining the waterways in a sustainable way. IW managers have the key role by taking into account those issues in their day by day activities.
In a first part, the WG is to focus on the general concept “Social and Environmental Awareness of Waterborne Infrastructure Managers”, also called CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility). Then, in a second part, subtitled “Multifunction of Inland Waterways – Chances and Challenges for IW Managers“examples and case studies showing how these concepts of “Social and Environmental Awareness” and “Multifunction of IW (also called Co-Creation)” are suitable to establish an useful guideline for IW managers will be given.
The session’s presentations will reflect both parts, as follows:
1. Introduction into the topic of WG 203, coming from the Terms of References (TOR)
2. What is "Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)”?
This presentation gives an overview what CSR means and how this, at a first glimpse, more philosophical concept can be applied through the reality and further development of the Multifunction of Inland Waterways, which are chance and challenge for IW Managers at the same time.
3. Presentation on Values or Uses of Inland Waterways
The presentation reflects on the outcome of the former InCom Working Group 139 describing the 12 principal uses of inland waterways, which are navigational, but also non-navigational uses and how these uses can be evaluated in terms of economic, social or environmental aspects.
4. Context of Values or Uses of and Interests in Inland Waterways
The uses as described are suitable to make the waterways more attractive to large parts of our society, represented by a wide range of stakeholders. The presentation will show how the complex of interests and the belonging stakeholders challenges the regular acting of IW managers.
5. How to go on?
Concluding and summarizing the results so far. This part of the session will give thesis and open questions on how to use the concept of CSR for IW managers, giving them a guideline for working with people and their interests. The opportunity for discussion will be given.