Coastal and terrestrial water-sector interventions in developing countries: A protocol for a systematic review focused on climate change

The changing climate severely affects global water resources, threatening water security goals. However, our understanding of the impact of key interventions, particularly in coastal zones and certain types of terrestrial water projects, is limited. This review aims to systematically assess the effectiveness of coastal and terrestrial water-sector interventions at different scales in developing countries. The goal of this systematic review is to identify, assess and synthesize evidence on the effectiveness of eight intervention types: nature-based options, built infrastructure, technological options, informational/educational schemes, institutional interventions, financial/market mechanisms, social/ behavioural and coastal interventions conducted in non-Annex 1 countries as delineated in the Kyoto Protocol. The main outcome areas are adaptive capacity alongside mitigation co-benefits. A series of meta-analyses will be conducted for similar interventions and outcomes where effect sizes will be calculated. The results for selected intervention types will be reported whether significant or not. The evidence review contributes to the evidence base by deepening our understanding of the effectiveness of water-sector interventions and providing comprehensive evidence to guide project developers and policymakers in making informed decisions.