Nexus Interview Series // Ghada Amin, Technical Advisor in the MENA region
The interview series aims to provide a better picture of the people within the Nexus team and their perspectives on Water Energy Food Nexus challenges and opportunities. In this episode, we invite you to get to know Ghada Amin, Technical Advisor in the MENA region.
Ghada joined the Nexus Regional Dialogues Programme in June 2022 and is currently working as Technical Advisor for the Nexus Regional Dialogue Programme in the MENA Region. She supports the MENA Regional Coordinator with the smooth implementation of WEF Nexus activities within the region, ensures liaison with the League of Arab States (LAS) and other relevant partners in the region. She has 14 years of professional experience in Environmental Consulting and Public-Private Sector Partnerships.
Ghada is fluent in Arabic and English, has a background in Chemical Engineering and holds a master's degree in Water-Energy-Food Nexus Implementation from the Center for Sustainable Development (School of Sciences and Engineering) from the American University in Cairo.
What does the WEF Nexus approach mean to you and how would you describe it in your own words?
The WEF Nexus is an eye-opening approach. It is a key to prevent trade-offs between the different resources. Once you learn about its concept and how it works, you will start look at sustainability challenges differently. To me it represents a problem-solving tool, emphasising the importance of communication, inclusion and proper engagement of all relevant stakeholders and how they are always the first step froward towards overcoming sustainability challenges in the three interlinked resources of Water, Energy and Food.
What are the main Nexus challenges in the MENA region? Can you mention a specific example?
First, access to funds and financial support to farmers, this one is a significant challenge as without funds, farmers especially small-scale ones can’t upgrade their activities towards sustainable Nexus farming. Second, legislations that enforce the application of the WEF Nexus approach. Third, insufficient number of successfully operating models of WEF Nexus farms that can be used as a learning example for other farmers. Specifically in arid areas which are getting more vulnerable due to climate change impacts. Without successful models in place, farmers would have a strong tendency to stick to the conventional resource-depleting farming techniques.
What is the most promising approach for implementing/mainstreaming WEF Nexus in the MENA region? And why?
The most promising approach for implementing the WEF Nexus in MENA is by focusing on three pillars: one, capacity building of stakeholders on different levels, educating them about the WEF Nexus will change their mindset even while tackling their daily activities. Two: empowering farmers and guide them to properly network with the financial institutions so they can work on funding solutions together and Three: by providing successful examples of nexus farms so farmers can learn from and use as role models.
Thank you Ghada for taking the time to answer these questions!
More Information on the Nexus Regional Dialogue in the MENA region
- Nexus Regional Dialogue in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA)
- NRD MENA factsheet
- Impact of Solar Pumping Irrigation Systems in Tunisia
Read more interviews from the series
- Nexus Interview Series // Antonio Levy, Regional Coordinator in Latin America and the Caribbean
- Nexus Interview Series // Moussa Ibrahim, Advisor Nexus Regional Dialogues Programme in the Niger Basin
- Nexus Interview Series // Maria Ana Rodriguez, Head of the Nexus Regional Dialogues Programme
- Nexus Interview Series // Shamiso Kumbirai, SDG Water Investments Officer at Global Water Partnership Southern Africa
- Nexus Interview Series // Desire Sengoga, Regional Advisor for the support to the integrated management of water resources of lake Kivu and Ruzizi river