In contextualising the serious water loss, inefficient resource utilization, and ineffective water utility management in Malaysia, the objective of this study is to understand the public’s perception of non-revenue water (NRW) management in order to provide policy inputs, and to determine ways to improve public participation in NRW reduction. Findings reveal that there is currently only meagre public participation in NRW management in Malaysia, with a majority of the respondents demonstrating a lack of knowledge and awareness on NRW; over-dependence on water utility and government agencies in reducing NRW rates; and failure to submit a report when a leaking pipe is noticed. Educating the public on the importance of reducing NRW and promoting public interests and concerns around water tariffs, is essential to improve NRW reductions in Malaysia. Community-led strategies to better engage the public in addressing NRW-related issues have to be enhanced. To this end, concrete policy implications derived from the findings of the study are outlined.

Blue economy worked as a policy tool or sustainable marine economic development model that drives economic growth and creates jobs. Human civilization is indebted to the oceans from decade to decade since the ocean is a vital source of food, energy, and minerals. It acts as the primary medium upon which global trade (e.g., seaborne international trade) takes place. Being an ocean-based country, Bangladesh has immense potential to be an advanced country by the year 2041. Sustainable use of blue economic development is must be ensured to achieve developed status. Lack of strong marine policy, weak ocean governance, and unsustainable use (e.g., IUU fishing, marine pollution, haphazard tourism, and unplanned coastal development) can be the huge risk factor for the effective execution of the blue economy. Blue economic development should be in an eco-friendly way and a special focus must be on the conservation of the marine ecosystem. A blue economy roadmap is necessary to provide a comprehensive strategy to ocean-based sustainable development that brings together the economy, environment, and society closely linked to the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The shift to a Blue Economy will require profound and structural changes in the regulatory-management-governance policy process using the ecosystem-based Marine Spatial Planning method. For sustainable Blue Development, strong ocean policy and ocean governance must be ensured.

The sustainability of surface water management schemes (SWMSs) has become a key policy concern, particularly in terms of their resilience to climate change. Coastal hazards pose significant threats to SWMS infrastructure, such as canals and ponds, yet empirical evidence on their resilience remains limited. This study evaluates the resilience of SWMSs implemented under the Smallholder Agriculture Competitiveness Project in coastal Bangladesh. It also proposes strategies to enhance their long-term capacity. A novel framework was used to assess resilience, incorporating four risk management components – preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery – across six development dimensions: social, economic, environmental, physical, institutional, and governance. Using 24 systematically developed indicators, a structured survey was conducted with 1,063 beneficiaries across 10 coastal districts. Results show that approximately half of the respondents perceive SWMS as moderately capable of anticipating, adapting to, and recovering from coastal hazards. A national-level participatory workshop identified five strategic directions, including short-, medium-, and long-term actions to transform SWMSs. Key policy recommendations include investing in climate-resilient irrigation infrastructure, addressing policy implementation gaps, mainstreaming gender, reforming water institutions, and promoting pond-based integrated farming systems.