The water–energy–food nexus as a tool to transform rural livelihoods and well-being in southern Africa
About 60% of southern Africa’s population lives in rural areas with limited access to basic services and amenities such as clean and safe water, affordable and clean energy, and balanced and nutritious diets. Resource scarcity has direct and indirect impacts on nutrition, human health, and well-bein...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Journal Article |
| Language: | Inglés |
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MDPI
2019
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| Online Access: | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/105732 |
| _version_ | 1855533416693366784 |
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| author | Mabhaudhi, Tafadzwanashe Nhamo, Luxon Mpandeli, S. Nhemachena, Charles Senzanje, Aidan Sobratee, N. Chivenge, Pauline P. Slotow, R. Naidoo, D. Liphadzi, S. Modi, Albert Thembinkosi |
| author_browse | Chivenge, Pauline P. Liphadzi, S. Mabhaudhi, Tafadzwanashe Modi, Albert Thembinkosi Mpandeli, S. Naidoo, D. Nhamo, Luxon Nhemachena, Charles Senzanje, Aidan Slotow, R. Sobratee, N. |
| author_facet | Mabhaudhi, Tafadzwanashe Nhamo, Luxon Mpandeli, S. Nhemachena, Charles Senzanje, Aidan Sobratee, N. Chivenge, Pauline P. Slotow, R. Naidoo, D. Liphadzi, S. Modi, Albert Thembinkosi |
| author_sort | Mabhaudhi, Tafadzwanashe |
| collection | Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace) |
| description | About 60% of southern Africa’s population lives in rural areas with limited access to basic services and amenities such as clean and safe water, affordable and clean energy, and balanced and nutritious diets. Resource scarcity has direct and indirect impacts on nutrition, human health, and well-being of mostly poor rural communities. Climate change impacts in the region are manifesting through low crop yields, upsurge of vector borne diseases (malaria and dengue fever), and water and food-borne diseases (cholera and diarrhoea). This study applied a water–energy–food (WEF) nexus analytical livelihoods model with complex systems understanding to assess rural livelihoods, health, and well-being in southern Africa, recommending tailor-made adaptation strategies for the region aimed at building resilient rural communities. The WEF nexus is a decision support tool that improves rural livelihoods through integrated resource distribution, planning, and management, and ensures inclusive socio-economic transformation and development, and addresses related sustainable development goals, particularly goals 2, 3, 6 and 7. The integrated WEF nexus index for the region was calculated at 0.145, which is marginally sustainable, and indicating the region’s exposure to vulnerabilities, and reveals a major reason why the region fails to meet its developmental targets. The integrated relationship among WEF resources in southern Africa shows an imbalance and uneven resource allocation, utilisation and distribution, which normally results from a ‘siloed’ approach in resource management. The WEF nexus provides better adaptation options, as it guides decision making processes by identifying priority areas needing intervention, enhancing synergies, and minimising trade-offs necessary for resilient rural communities. Our results identified (i) the trade-offs and unintended negative consequences for poor rural households’ livelihoods of current silo approaches, (ii) mechanisms for sustainably enhancing household water, energy and food security, whilst (iii) providing direction for achieving SDGs 2, 3, 6 and 7. |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | CGSpace105732 |
| institution | CGIAR Consortium |
| language | Inglés |
| publishDate | 2019 |
| publishDateRange | 2019 |
| publishDateSort | 2019 |
| publisher | MDPI |
| publisherStr | MDPI |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | CGSpace1057322025-06-26T05:34:37Z The water–energy–food nexus as a tool to transform rural livelihoods and well-being in southern Africa Mabhaudhi, Tafadzwanashe Nhamo, Luxon Mpandeli, S. Nhemachena, Charles Senzanje, Aidan Sobratee, N. Chivenge, Pauline P. Slotow, R. Naidoo, D. Liphadzi, S. Modi, Albert Thembinkosi water resources energy generation food security rural communities living standards public health climate change adaptation sustainable development goals indicators innovation About 60% of southern Africa’s population lives in rural areas with limited access to basic services and amenities such as clean and safe water, affordable and clean energy, and balanced and nutritious diets. Resource scarcity has direct and indirect impacts on nutrition, human health, and well-being of mostly poor rural communities. Climate change impacts in the region are manifesting through low crop yields, upsurge of vector borne diseases (malaria and dengue fever), and water and food-borne diseases (cholera and diarrhoea). This study applied a water–energy–food (WEF) nexus analytical livelihoods model with complex systems understanding to assess rural livelihoods, health, and well-being in southern Africa, recommending tailor-made adaptation strategies for the region aimed at building resilient rural communities. The WEF nexus is a decision support tool that improves rural livelihoods through integrated resource distribution, planning, and management, and ensures inclusive socio-economic transformation and development, and addresses related sustainable development goals, particularly goals 2, 3, 6 and 7. The integrated WEF nexus index for the region was calculated at 0.145, which is marginally sustainable, and indicating the region’s exposure to vulnerabilities, and reveals a major reason why the region fails to meet its developmental targets. The integrated relationship among WEF resources in southern Africa shows an imbalance and uneven resource allocation, utilisation and distribution, which normally results from a ‘siloed’ approach in resource management. The WEF nexus provides better adaptation options, as it guides decision making processes by identifying priority areas needing intervention, enhancing synergies, and minimising trade-offs necessary for resilient rural communities. Our results identified (i) the trade-offs and unintended negative consequences for poor rural households’ livelihoods of current silo approaches, (ii) mechanisms for sustainably enhancing household water, energy and food security, whilst (iii) providing direction for achieving SDGs 2, 3, 6 and 7. 2019-08-18 2019-11-14T03:51:16Z 2019-11-14T03:51:16Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/105732 en Open Access MDPI Mabhaudhi, T.; Nhamo, Luxon; Mpandeli, S.; Nhemachena, Charles; Senzanje, A.; Sobratee, N.; Chivenge, P. P.; Slotow, R.; Naidoo, D.; Liphadzi, S.; Modi, A. T. 2019. The water–energy–food nexus as a tool to transform rural livelihoods and well-being in southern Africa. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16(16):1-20. (Special issue: Human Adaptation to Climate Change) doi: 10.3390/ijerph16162970 |
| spellingShingle | water resources energy generation food security rural communities living standards public health climate change adaptation sustainable development goals indicators innovation Mabhaudhi, Tafadzwanashe Nhamo, Luxon Mpandeli, S. Nhemachena, Charles Senzanje, Aidan Sobratee, N. Chivenge, Pauline P. Slotow, R. Naidoo, D. Liphadzi, S. Modi, Albert Thembinkosi The water–energy–food nexus as a tool to transform rural livelihoods and well-being in southern Africa |
| title | The water–energy–food nexus as a tool to transform rural livelihoods and well-being in southern Africa |
| title_full | The water–energy–food nexus as a tool to transform rural livelihoods and well-being in southern Africa |
| title_fullStr | The water–energy–food nexus as a tool to transform rural livelihoods and well-being in southern Africa |
| title_full_unstemmed | The water–energy–food nexus as a tool to transform rural livelihoods and well-being in southern Africa |
| title_short | The water–energy–food nexus as a tool to transform rural livelihoods and well-being in southern Africa |
| title_sort | water energy food nexus as a tool to transform rural livelihoods and well being in southern africa |
| topic | water resources energy generation food security rural communities living standards public health climate change adaptation sustainable development goals indicators innovation |
| url | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/105732 |
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