In water-stressed Cape Town, the SenseMaker project once again shows that knowledge co-creation at the community level empowers local actors and organizations, and is central for transformative adaptation. Academics and "activist researchers" in Cape Town worked together to integrate the rich experience of the latter on water-related issues in low-income communities, with the former's familiarity with scientific enquiry. The capacity built during this process helped ensure that previously excluded actors had a seat at the negotiating table, and the skills to substantiate their arguments.