Matthew McCartney
Research Group Leader – Sustainable Water Infrastructure and Ecosystems
Areas of expertise
Ecosystems Hydrology Infrastructure Climate Natural resource management Wetlands HydropowerMatthew was previously with the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (formerly the Institute of Hydrology). He contributed to commissioned research and assessments for many organizations, including the UK Department for International Development (DFID), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), the World Bank, African Development Bank, European Union and the World Commission on Dams.
Current projects
Latest news for Matthew McCartney
Poverty and food insecurity compounded by Ditwah
IFPRI-IWMI survey finds that just before Ditwah, over one in four households in Sri Lanka were poor and one in three experienced food insecurity ...
CGIAR’s BRIGHT National Survey reveals dramatic rise in poverty and food insecurity in Sri Lanka
The newly released national survey finds one in four households are experiencing multidimensional poverty, while one in three goes hungry ...
From genes to basins, water is everyone’s business
It’s been one year since the launch of the CGIAR Water Systems Integration Roadmap 2024-2030. As IWMI is working closely with CGIAR centers to help make it a reality, we ...
A systems approach to resolving the paradox of irrigation efficiency
Can the Irrigation Savings Allocation Framework sustainably shift water use from irrigation to ecosystems and cities more effectively? ...
Can constructed wetlands close the loop on wastewater?
As wetlands disappear, constructed alternatives are stepping in. In this feature story, we look at whether they can keep up ...
Water: The overlooked link in food systems
If water systems management is not prioritized, efforts to build resilient food systems in Africa will fall short ...
Why wetlands must be central to building hydrological resilience – beyond protection
At this year’s Ramsar Convention, IWMI and the Global Commission on the Economics of Water will champion wetlands as essential infrastructure for hydrological resilience ...
IWMI leaders call for the recognition of water and aquatic foods in agroecological principles and practice
Agriculture is the biggest user and polluter of water, but it is largely missing from agroecology ...
January-February 2025 Research Journal Roundup
Roundup of research, journal and other academic articles from January and February 2025 ...
A BRIGHT future for food, water and energy security research in Sri Lanka
A new CGIAR-led national survey of Sri Lankan households links water to their well-being ...
Towards a new generation of wetland stewards
Behavioural changes through wetland conservation and education are urgently required to alter the human-wetlands relationship ...
Reflections on water in the hottest year (so far)
The NEXUS Gains Talks series concluded by examining critical connections between global heating and water ...
Latest publications by Matthew McCartney
Journal Article
Optimizing the contributions of sand dam water storage through understanding their spatiotemporal variability: evidence from the Shashe Catchment, Limpopo, River Basin
Elsevier | February 15th, 2026
Report
Ecosystem service valuation in Kalu Oya and Mudun Ela basins, Sri Lanka
International Water Management Institute | February 13th, 2026
Brief
The Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystem Nexus approach to water infrastructure in Africa: integrated planning, climate resilience, and inclusive growth
International Water Management Institute | January 9th, 2026
