Sharing knowledge on the Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystems (WEFE) Nexus
Our mission is to advance cross-sectoral solutions in international development by promoting the Nexus approach and sharing best practices for sustainable management of water, energy, food, and ecosystems.
About
The Nexus Resource Platform is the leading global knowledge hub for managing and sharing resources on the Water, Energy, Food and Ecosystems (WEFE) Nexus. It provides practitioners, researchers, and policymakers with curated knowledge, tools, and engagement opportunities to think and act beyond sectors – with the overarching goal of ensuring sustainable access to water, energy, food and ecosystem services for all.
The platform is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). It is administered within the framework of the Sector Programme “Water and Sanitation Policy – Innovations for Resilience (InnoBlue)” of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and functions as an independent information and facilitation tool.
Mission
Our mission is to help mainstream the WEFE-Nexus approach into high-level policy dialogues, investment planning, and international cooperation. Through fostering exchange, evidence-based decision-making, and cross-sectoral thinking, the Nexus Resource Platform contributes to building more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable systems worldwide.
Impressions from the Nexus Regional Dialogues Programme
Our History
- 2010
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The WEF Nexus approach has moved up the international agenda after first being promoted at international policy-making events in 2010.
- 2011
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The Bonn 2011 Nexus Conference organised by the German Government presented evidence on how a WEF Nexus approach can enhance water, energy and food security by increasing efficiency, reducing trade-offs and building synergies while improving governance across the different sectors.
- 2014
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Starting in 2014, GIZ on behalf of the BMZ started to implement Nexus Regional Dialogues Programme (NRD) activities.
- 2016 – 2023
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The Nexus Regional Dialogues Programme: Funded by the EU and BMZ, the NRD Dialogues Programme promoted the integration of the WEF Nexus approach into policy and planning. In its first phase, the programme supported multi-stakeholder dialogues and capacity building across five regions. Phase II built on this foundation by further institutionalising the WEF Nexus within governance and investment processes. The programme highlighted the need for strong cross-sectoral coordination, political commitment, and tailored financing mechanisms to ensure sustainable and scalable implementation.
Learn more about the NRD Programme here
- 2019 – 2023
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The FREXUS Project: In parallel to the NRD Programme, the FREXUS Project addressed climate-related security risks in fragile contexts – particularly in the Sahel – by applying the WEF Nexus to strengthen resilience, improve natural resource governance, and prevent conflict.
- 2023 – present
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Continuation of WEFE Nexus activities under the Sector Programme “Water and Sanitation Policy – Innovations for Resilience (InnoBlue)”: Shift from WEF to WEFE Nexus, explicitly integrating ecosystems into Nexus assessments and policy recommendations.
Learn more about the Sector Programme InnoBlue here
What is the WEFE Nexus?
The WEFE Nexus concept recognises the complex interdependencies between water, energy, food production, and ecosystems. It emphasises that these sectors are interconnected through resource flows, ecosystem services, and socio-economic drivers. The concept advocates for integrated, cross-sectoral governance and planning to optimise resource use, minimise trade-offs, and enhance system resilience in the face of climate change and growing demand.
WEF Nexus Approach
The WEF Nexus approach is a central pillar of the Agenda 2030 and an enabler for reaching the Sustainable Development Goals!
How are the four sectors connected?
Water, energy, food production, and ecosystems are tightly linked through multiple resource flows and processes. Water is essential for producing energy and growing food. Energy powers water treatment and agriculture. Ecosystems support all three by regulating natural cycles and providing vital services. Disruptions or inefficiencies in one sector often cascade across the others, especially under the growing pressures of climate change, underscoring the need for cross-sectoral solutions.
Energy
- 90% of global power generation is water intensive.
- The energy sector accounts for roughly 10% of all global freshwater withdrawals.
- It takes around 14,000 litres of water to produce 1 litre of biodiesel from soya or rapeseed.
- Data centres for AI currently consume 4 to 5% of the global energy consumption.
- 20% of the projected growth in global electricity demand between now and 2030 is expected to come from AI data centres.
Water
- The global water demand is projected to increase significantly, with estimates ranging from a 20 to 55% increase by 2050.
- By then, 4.8 to 5.7 billion people will live in areas that are water-scarce for at least one month each year.
- Agriculture is the largest consumer of water globally, accounting for roughly 70% of global freshwater withdrawals.
- The growing popularity of artificial intelligence comes at a price: Training large AI models like GPT-3 can consume around 700,000 litres of water – the equivalent of 5 people’s entire yearly water consumption.
- Globally, AI data centres consume about 560 billion litres of water annually – a figure that could rise to around 1,200 billion litres by 2030.
Ecosystems
- Healthy ecosystems are essential for regulating the natural cycles that sustain water, energy, and food production.
- By 2050, it is projected that under 10% of the Earth's land surface will remain largely untouched by direct human activity.
- Loss of ecosystem functions increases vulnerability to floods, droughts, and reduces agricultural productivity.
Food
- By 2050, the global crop calorie production will need to increase by up to 61% compared to 2011 levels to accommodate the growing population.
- Irrigated agriculture consumes about 72% of global surface and groundwater withdrawals.
- More than ¼ of the global energy consumption is used for food production and supply.
Climate Change and the WEFE Nexus
Climate change is a systemic risk that amplifies existing pressures on water, energy, food systems, and ecosystems. Rising temperatures, shifting precipitation patterns, and more frequent extreme weather events disrupt resource flows and exacerbate trade-offs between sectors.
The WEFE Nexus provides a framework for climate-resilient development by aligning mitigation and adaptation measures across sectors. It enables decision-makers to identify co-benefits, reduce systemic vulnerabilities, and plan for long-term sustainability in a rapidly changing environment.
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134%
increase in flood events has been recorded since 2000, reflecting the intensifying effects of climate change on extreme weather patterns
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21–37%
of all anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions originate from the global food system
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36%
Meteorological droughts are projected to occur about 36% more frequent under 1.5°C global warming
The risks of isolated resource management and silo-thinking
Uncoordinated decision-making among the four sectors can lead to unintended trade-offs such as resource overuse, ecosystem degradation, or reduced resilience to climate impacts. These effects not only strain natural systems but also erode livelihoods and hinder progress toward sustainable development. Current governance structures are often too fragmented to ensure balanced and long-term water, energy, and food security while protecting the functionality of ecosystems.
Examples
Increasing electricity production
More abstraction of water for cooling
Less water for other sectors and the environment
Less water security
Stress and loss of function in (aquatic) ecosystems
Intensifying agricultural production
More land and water used for growing food
Increased competition over land resources (e.g. biofuels vs. crops as food)
More use of fertilisers
Contamination of water resources
Decreased water security downstream
Damage to soil health and biodiversity functions
This underscores the necessity of adopting the WEFE Nexus approach
How the concept can be applied
The WEFE Nexus can be operationalised through multisectoral policy dialogue, coordinated investment planning, and cross-cutting risk assessments. Concrete applications include:
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sustainable irrigation schemes that balance water and energy use,
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climate-smart food production integrating ecosystem protection,
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or energy infrastructure planning that considers impacts on agricultural water availability.
The WEFE Nexus approach is a fundamental shift from a pure sectoral approach to solutions that embrace a cross-sectoral, coherent, and integrated perspective. It challenges existing structures, policies and procedures at global, regional and national levels.
Key benefits of the WEFE Nexus approach
Reducing sectoral trade-offs Avoid or limit negative externalities
Enhancing resource efficiency Solutions designed to address multiple challenges simultaneously
Political benefits Increased Political legitimacy, political stability
Leverage synergies Align policies and actions to maximize cross-sectoral impact
Are you interested in gaining a deeper understanding of the WEFE Nexus approach?
Explore a curated selection of key resources that offer in-depth insights into the WEFE Nexus approach and its practical applications.
The WEFE Nexus approach in practice
Currently, numerous projects worldwide are actively applying the WEFE Nexus approach to tackle the complex interdependencies between water, energy, food, and ecosystems. These initiatives provide practical examples of integrated solutions addressing real-world challenges.
Learn more about current projects:
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Nexus Dialogue in Central AsiaThe Central Asia Nexus Dialogue Project: Fostering Water, Energy and Food Security Nexus and Multi-Sector Investment
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Nexus Dialogue in Latin America and the CaribbeanResource-rich and highly heterogenous
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Nexus Dialogue in the Middle East and North AfricaScarce in natural resources and vulnerable to climate change
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The Nexus Regional Dialogue in the Niger BasinWorking to effectively integrate resource management of the Basin
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Nexus Regional Dialogue in Southern AfricaSupporting development cooperation through multi-sector resource management
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FREXUSImproving security and climate resilience in a fragile context through the Water-Energy-Food Nexus
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Lake Kivu and the Ruzizi RiverSupport to the Integrated Management of Water Resources
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