How networked organisations build capacity for anticipatory governance in South East Asian deltas

•Anticipatory governance needs a balanced combination of foresight tools and techniques with sound institutional arrangements.•Global networks deploying climate and hydrological modelling to South East Asian deltas are mapped and analysed.•Operational strategies and technology transfer projects are evaluated.•The research presents empirical findings of anticipatory governance in practice.•Analysing institutions enable discussions on knowledge sharing and preventive actions in climate change adaptation and risk management.