WEF-Tools: A multifaceted approach to support sustainable and socio-economic development in the SADC and MENA regions

Abstract:

The Water, Energy, and Food sectors are intricately interconnected and part of a complex system which is referred to as the Water-Energy-Food (WEF) nexus. The assessment of WEF interactions through the nexus approach is crucial to illustrate interlinkages, synergies, and to balance trade-offs among these three components when development plans are to be assessed. Water, energy, and food are the core of the plans and strategies of developing countries where the interest in the WEF nexus approach is rapidly growing. However, a lack of empirical evidence, appropriate approaches, and tools for quantitative WEF nexus assessment has been highlighted. The WEF Nexus Toolkit (WEF-Tools) project aims at supporting sustainable socio-economic development in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and Middle East and North Africa (MENA) regions. The approach applied in five selected case studies proceeds from conceptual mapping of the nexus system at the catchment level to the development of quantitative tools such as System Dynamics Models (SDMs) and identification of indicators for the assessment of different scenarios, management strategies, and then providing decision-makers with feasible development option pathways. Thus, it places local realities in a broader national and regional legislation and policy context. The WEF Nexus Toolkit provides a structured knowledge base, simulation tools, dashboards, and a composite nexus index co-developed, tested, validated, and refined through interactive collaboration with stakeholders. The toolkit supports the development of short-medium-long term strategies for sustainable integrated resource management and policy development at river basin as well as local, national, and regional levels. The project`s outcomes provide a means for government ministries, NGOs and development agencies to assess progress towards relevant Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in particular, SDGs 2, 6, and 7. Thus, WEF tools are aimed at supporting policymakers across these sectors to make decisions on environment, economy, and security.