The PhD research focuses on water governance in Flood-based Livelihood Systems (FBLS) – a topic that has largely remained below the radar screen. Specifically, the interest is on (a) in-depth assessment of the centuries-old, yet little studied traditional farmer-led floodwater governance practices: how farmers share floodwater and resolve conflicts, how is operation and maintenance done and weaker interests are protected, (2) impact analyses of varied interventions (technical, institutional, farming practices) on traditional floodwater governance systems, and (3) balancing competing upstream and downstream needs. FBLS, which reply on temporary floods, are significant contributors to food security for an estimated 100 million rural farmers and pastoralists.