Optimising WEF Nexus projects in Southern Africa

To promote coordinated and integrated development in the water, food and energy sectors, the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) member states have adopted a Water Energy Food (WEF) Nexus approach by planning and implementing projects that consider the interconnections between these critical areas. To this end, SADC has introduced the Regional Nexus Dialogue (NRD) programme: "Fostering dialogue on water, energy and food security linkages and multi-sectoral investment in the SADC region" within SADC’s 16 Member States: Angola, Botswana, Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eswatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, United Republic Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

The core objective of this project is to strengthen the capacity of SADC countries to undertake regional and national adaptation and mitigation actions in response to the challenges of climate change. So far at least 15 countries have held national dialogues, through which priority investment projects have been identified for their countries. These Dialogues were attended by participants from high levels of government, as well as experts in the water, energy, and food sectors, all of whom demonstrated clear political will and exceptional commitment with the institutionalisation of the Nexus approach. However, these projects could be further developed, and the various countries have been working towards securing funding to ensure effective implementation.

The political determination of these regions to tackle the issue is commendable. To date, the Global Water Partnership Southern Africa, in collaboration with national governments, has conducted national dialogues in Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eswatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

The project is currently in Phase Two which aims to institutionalize WEF Nexus and accelerate investments to enable transformation that will address water, energy, and food security in the changing climate of the SADC region. Under this phase, interventions are aimed at increasing application of the Nexus approach in planning, policymaking and implementation and increase interest from the public and private investors for projects applying the Nexus approach.

The National Dialogues have undoubtedly helped Southern African countries to identify some key challenges that hinder the implementation of an integrated WEF approach, such as inadequate financing and incapacitated governance structures, that tend to limit private sector participation in investment planning in the three sectors.

To ensure sustainability, priority projects have been added to the SADC WEF investment portfolio, where various regional instruments such as the Africa Water Investment Programme (AIP), the Great Green Wall Initiative (GGWI) and the SADC Regional Infrastructure Development Master Plan (RIDMP) will be used to mobilise funds for the implementation of these projects.

Generally, the Dialogues called for the need to move beyond theoretical analysis and academic formulation of concepts to action and the application of such knowledge in decision-making.

Check out these Nexus successes across our regions - presented in a visual storytelling format, with personal stories and expert insights.