16 сент. 2025
Policy Brief // Lessons from 5 case studies to scale-up smart WEFE Nexus Policies for a green and digital world
The Policy Brief emphasizes that achieving long-term water resilience in Europe requires the integration of AI-driven decision tools, interoperable data systems, investment in human capital, and institutionalised cross-border governance
Summary
The NEXOGENESIS Policy Brief outlines how the EU’s Water Resilience Strategy (WRS) can be accelerated through AI-driven tools, interoperable data, skilled human capital, and stronger governance. Building on five case studies in Europe and South Africa and the project’s Nexus Policy Assessment Tool (NEPAT), the brief highlights four priorities:
- Governance frameworks must be strengthened by embedding WEFE indicators in EU and national planning, aligning River Basin Management Plans with a nexus approach, and mainstreaming NEPAT as a decision-support tool.
- Long-term investment in human capital is essential, through nexus-focused education, early involvement of policymakers, and institutionalised funding beyond project cycles.
- Data governance requires integrating NEPAT into EU and national platforms, harmonising datasets, applying FAIR principles, and including gender- and equity-sensitive data.
- Transboundary and cross-level governance must be institutionalised with joint river basin plans, permanent governance platforms, and a source-to-sea approach linking freshwater and marine policies.
Main Recommendations
- Improve the robustness of governance architecture
- Invest in human capital for water resilience
- Enhance data governance and interoperability
- Strengthen transboundary & cross-level governance
Published
June 2025