Effective management of water resources and mitigation of water-related disasters are essential for human well-being, ecosystem health, and socio-economic development. However, the challenge lies in translating scientific insights into actions and decisions, resulting in a disconnect between knowledge production and practical decision-making. SERVIR, a collaborative initiative by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the U.S. National Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA), addresses this gap by partnering with regional organizations worldwide to integrate Earth Observation (EO) data into practical applications. This paper evaluates SERVIR’s experience translating cutting-edge science into actionable information for water security/water resources management through a collaborative approach, co-developing tools within diverse cultural contexts, and emphasizing capacity building. By discussing case studies and engagement strategies from SERVIR’s extensive experience, we highlight its collaborative efforts with regional bodies, governmental agencies, and other partners to transform water resources research into practical insights, supporting decision-making at various levels. This paper underscores the importance of continuous capacity-building workshops, stakeholder engagement, and adapting to technological advancements, such as cloud computing, for sustained impact. It also addresses the need for effective translators to navigate the complex EO toolkit, ensuring the appropriate application of tools for specific water management decisions. By reflecting on SERVIR’s journey, this paper offers guidance for decision-makers, practitioners, and researchers, encouraging dialogue, innovation, and collective action to support reliable access to water for all and sustainable water management. The insights and opportunities derived from SERVIR’s experience provide a framework for future initiatives, advancing water security and water resource management strategies.

The Lower Mekong is facing an increasing impact of droughts and at the regional level, the Mekong River Commission (MRC) is mandated to work with government agencies on creating and distributing flood, drought, water resource governance and use to improve policy and practice. The MRC is striving to provide regional, locally calibrated and downscaled information on drought forecasts and real-time monitoring through a portal. The Regional Drought and Crop Yield Information System (RDCYIS) is built on regionally and locally calibrated Regional Hydrologic Extreme Assessment System (RHEAS) framework that integrates the Variable Infiltration Capacity (VIC) and Decision Support System for Agro-technology Transfer (DSSAT) models, allowing both nowcast and forecast of drought. This model is co-developed by NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and the SERVIR-Mekong teams. In this work, we outline how the MRC Drought Team’s requirements were met via RHEAS. Driven with earth observation data, the main aim of this service is to improve present regional and national drought monitoring and forecasting services to Lower Mekong countries for their water allocation and drought mitigation information needs. We provide an overview of the model calibration and validation methodology, and we find reasonable reliability of the soil moisture model results with the satellite based observations from the SMAP and SMOS retrievals. Through this support to MRC in integrating new drought assessment, monitoring and warning methodologies using RHEAS, more data and analyses will be available to support them to develop improved advice on drought early warning to the National Mekong Committees across the Mekong countries. MRC’s assistance is envisaged to enable comprehensive, accurate and useful warnings for the decision-makers at local and provincial level to take effective action. Ultimately this service is expected to assist farmers to make preemptive decisions about their water use, cropping and planting patterns and market decisions which should reduce crop loss and support livelihoods from farming, including from appropriate compensation to farmers from the governments, wherever this is in effect.