Partnership Forum at the Global South-South Expo 2013 // "The Water, Energy and Food Security Nexus", Nairobi/Kenya

As part of the Global South-South Development Expo (GSSD Expo) being hosted by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on 28-31 October in Nairobi, Kenya, SEI is hosting a forum to explain how a science-based, integrated approach to water, energy and food issues — the "nexus" framework — can help countries find more robust and sustainable solutions to their development needs. Developing countries are making enormous investments to support economic growth, improve living conditions and reduce poverty — including major new water and energy infrastructure. Yet many of these efforts could be undermined by conflicting priorities for the use of limited resources: water for electricity generation, for irrigation or for urban use; land for housing, to grow food or biofuel crops, or to support healthy ecosystems. Climate change is also exacerbating resource scarcity in many places. SEI researchers will explain the scientific basis for this approach, present SEI-built tools that facilitate integrated analysis and planning, and describe applications of the "nexus" approach in Ethiopia, Colombia, Thailand and other locations. The programme also includes a dialogue with policy-makers to explore how the "nexus" could better support planning and policy development in the Global South, gather feedback and answer practical questions. Our hope is that several new collaborations will emerge from our discussions.

Speakers

-Ambassador Johan Borgstam, Swedish ambassador to Kenya and head of mission to UNEP and UN-Habitat -Dr. Annette Huber-Lee, SEI nexus initiative leader -Dr. Louise Karlberg, SEI research fellow -Dr. Eric Kemp-Benedict, SEI Asia Centre director

Policy panel

-Johan L. Kuylenstierna, SEI executive director (moderator) -Dr. Tsegay Wolde-Georgis, Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation Agency -Dr. Wijarn Simachaya, Thailand Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment -Juana Mariño Drews, Alexander von Humboldt Institute, Colombia -Ambassador Shahira Hassan Wahbi, League of Arab States -Dr. Tony Simons, World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF), Kenya -Alfred Njagi, general manager, operations, Kenya Tea Development Agency -Professor M. Japhet Ntiba, principal secretary, Kenya State Department of Fisheries

Closing remarks

-Achim Steiner, executive director, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Space is limited; for more information or to request a spot, email Stacey Noel, SEI Africa Centre director, at {stacey.noel@sei-international.org}