River networks are among Earth’s most threatened hot-spots of biodiversity and are essential for human well-being. However, climate change and increased human water use are causing more rivers and streams to dry, but these drying river networks (DRNs) have received little attention. DRYvER is a Horizon 2020 project, which aims to collect, analyse and model data from nine DRNs in Europe and South America to create a novel global meta-system approach that incorporates hydrology, socio-economics, ecology and biogeochemistry in order to craft strategies, tools, guidelines, and recommendations for adaptive management of river networks in the EU and worldwide.