Research Article // Navigating drought and food security in Southern Angola: A water-energy-food nexus system approach
By Epalanga et al. This article examines the water-energy-food (WEF) resources in southern Angola and proposes strategies to address the challenges of drought, population growth, and food insecurity, through an integrated approach to manage the rederred resources.
Abstract
Southern Angola has been facing water scarcity, drought, and food insecurity due to climate change. The provinces of Namibe, Cunene, and Huila have experienced a sustained and unprecedented decline in rainfall, which has adversely affected water, energy, and food production. This research examines the water-energy-food (WEF) resources in southern Angola and proposes strategies to address the challenges of drought, population growth, and food insecurity, through an integrated approach to manage the referred resources.
A model was developed using Stella® Architect software to simulate and predict WEF system in southern Angola over 10 years. Three scenarios were created to assess a sensitive evaluation. The first scenario, Food Security, emphasizes the current conditions of the region in terms of population and the corelated resources. The second scenario focuses on optimizing greenhouse gas emissions by replacing fossil fuels in some processes. The third scenario explores how increased food production could impact the corelated resources and resilience, thereby enhancing opportunities for the regional economy.
The findings indicate that through aligned strategies, integrated management, and sustained infrastructure development, food and water security in the hotspot can be improved within the coming years. Notably, the most prominent scenario, focusing on food self-sufficiency, projects an energy gap widening from 100 GWh to 50,000 GWh over a 10-year period, alongside a water surplus increasing from 101 million m³ to 1,770 million m³. These interventions would not only reduce the vulnerability of local communities but also generate economic oppor tunities while mitigating the impacts of environmental degradation and climate change.
Published
04 October 2026
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