The SADC Nexus Regional Dialogue (NRD) Project “Fostering Water, Energy and Food Security Nexus Dialogue and Multi-Sector Investment in the SADC Region” was supported by the European Commission as part of the global ‘Nexus Regional Dialogues Programme’.
Implementation Period
Phase 1: 2017-2019
Phase 2: 2020-2023
The project’s overall objective was to support the transformation required to meet increasing water, energy, and food security demand in the context of climate change in the SADC region by developing an integrated nexus approach. The project’s specific objectives were to create an enabling environment that would drive cross-sectoral engagement and implement nexus investment projects that enhance water, food, and energy security in the SADC region. The project began in 2017 and was implemented in two phases.
Phase I of the Nexus Dialogues Programme ran from 2017 to 2019 and aimed at helping regional organisations and their member states apply a nexus approach in formulating multi-sector policy recommendations, strategies, action plans and investment programmes.
Key outcomes from the first phase included:
- Establishment of the SADC Regional WEF Nexus Framework and its validation by the SADC Member States
- Development of 15 Investment Projects that have potential for applying the WEF Nexus approach
- Development of a WEF nexus investment project screening and appraisal tool
Phase II built on the achievements of Phase I, focusing on institutionalising the WEF Nexus approach at regional and national governance structures and supporting investment decisions for water, energy and food security in the SADC region. Phase II of the project was implemented from 2020 to 2023.
The specific objectives of Phase II were to:
- Increase application of the Nexus approach in planning, policymaking, and implementation,
- Increase interest from the public and private investors in projects applying the Nexus approach.