The Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystem Nexus approach to water infrastructure in Africa: integrated planning, climate resilience, and inclusive growth
Africa stands at a critical juncture, with intersecting challenges of water scarcity, energy deficits, food insecurity, and climate vulnerability threatening sustainable development. With over 400 million people lacking access to clean water and climate change projected to reduce GDP growth by 2–4%...
| Autores principales: | , , , |
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| Formato: | Brief |
| Lenguaje: | Inglés |
| Publicado: |
International Water Management Institute
2025
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| Acceso en línea: | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/179589 |
| _version_ | 1855531944643657728 |
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| author | Zemadim, Birhanu McCartney, Matthew P. Matchaya, Greenwell C. Cofie, Olufunke O. |
| author_browse | Cofie, Olufunke O. Matchaya, Greenwell C. McCartney, Matthew P. Zemadim, Birhanu |
| author_facet | Zemadim, Birhanu McCartney, Matthew P. Matchaya, Greenwell C. Cofie, Olufunke O. |
| author_sort | Zemadim, Birhanu |
| collection | Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace) |
| description | Africa stands at a critical juncture, with intersecting challenges of water scarcity, energy deficits, food insecurity, and climate vulnerability threatening sustainable development. With over 400 million people lacking access to clean water and climate change projected to reduce GDP growth by 2–4% annually in vulnerable nations, conventional sectoral approaches to infrastructure development are proving inadequate. The Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystems (WEFE) Nexus emerges as a transformative framework for optimizing water infrastructure investments by recognizing the fundamental interdependencies among these critical sectors. This paper presents African case studies in which integrated green-grey infrastructure systems have demonstrated superior outcomes in terms of climate resilience, disaster risk reduction, and inclusive economic growth. Drawing on the CGIAR Initiative on Nexus Gains, we analyzed how nexus approaches contribute to nutrition and food security, poverty reduction, gender equity, climate adaptation, and environmental sustainability in African contexts. Policy recommendations emphasize cross-sectoral governance, blended financing, and community-led solutions. |
| format | Brief |
| id | CGSpace179589 |
| institution | CGIAR Consortium |
| language | Inglés |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| publishDateRange | 2025 |
| publishDateSort | 2025 |
| publisher | International Water Management Institute |
| publisherStr | International Water Management Institute |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | CGSpace1795892026-01-10T02:10:27Z The Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystem Nexus approach to water infrastructure in Africa: integrated planning, climate resilience, and inclusive growth Zemadim, Birhanu McCartney, Matthew P. Matchaya, Greenwell C. Cofie, Olufunke O. water scarcity energy poverty food insecurity ecosystems nexus approaches infrastructure planning climate resilience inclusive growth Sustainable Development Goals investment policies gender-responsive approaches women youth financing governance case studies Africa stands at a critical juncture, with intersecting challenges of water scarcity, energy deficits, food insecurity, and climate vulnerability threatening sustainable development. With over 400 million people lacking access to clean water and climate change projected to reduce GDP growth by 2–4% annually in vulnerable nations, conventional sectoral approaches to infrastructure development are proving inadequate. The Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystems (WEFE) Nexus emerges as a transformative framework for optimizing water infrastructure investments by recognizing the fundamental interdependencies among these critical sectors. This paper presents African case studies in which integrated green-grey infrastructure systems have demonstrated superior outcomes in terms of climate resilience, disaster risk reduction, and inclusive economic growth. Drawing on the CGIAR Initiative on Nexus Gains, we analyzed how nexus approaches contribute to nutrition and food security, poverty reduction, gender equity, climate adaptation, and environmental sustainability in African contexts. Policy recommendations emphasize cross-sectoral governance, blended financing, and community-led solutions. 2025-12-31 2026-01-09T09:53:27Z 2026-01-09T09:53:27Z Brief https://hdl.handle.net/10568/179589 en Open Access application/pdf International Water Management Institute Zemadim, B.; McCartney, M.; Matchaya, G.; Cofie, O. 2025. The Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystem Nexus approach to water infrastructure in Africa: integrated planning, climate resilience, and inclusive growth. Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute (IWMI). 12p. (IWMI Water Issue Brief 38). doi: https://doi.org/10.5337/2025.248 |
| spellingShingle | water scarcity energy poverty food insecurity ecosystems nexus approaches infrastructure planning climate resilience inclusive growth Sustainable Development Goals investment policies gender-responsive approaches women youth financing governance case studies Zemadim, Birhanu McCartney, Matthew P. Matchaya, Greenwell C. Cofie, Olufunke O. The Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystem Nexus approach to water infrastructure in Africa: integrated planning, climate resilience, and inclusive growth |
| title | The Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystem Nexus approach to water infrastructure in Africa: integrated planning, climate resilience, and inclusive growth |
| title_full | The Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystem Nexus approach to water infrastructure in Africa: integrated planning, climate resilience, and inclusive growth |
| title_fullStr | The Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystem Nexus approach to water infrastructure in Africa: integrated planning, climate resilience, and inclusive growth |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystem Nexus approach to water infrastructure in Africa: integrated planning, climate resilience, and inclusive growth |
| title_short | The Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystem Nexus approach to water infrastructure in Africa: integrated planning, climate resilience, and inclusive growth |
| title_sort | water energy food ecosystem nexus approach to water infrastructure in africa integrated planning climate resilience and inclusive growth |
| topic | water scarcity energy poverty food insecurity ecosystems nexus approaches infrastructure planning climate resilience inclusive growth Sustainable Development Goals investment policies gender-responsive approaches women youth financing governance case studies |
| url | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/179589 |
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