{"id":4233,"date":"2013-10-09T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2013-10-08T23:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gwpo-gwp.org\/southern-africa\/news\/unpacking-the-water-food-and-energy-nexus\/"},"modified":"2026-05-08T16:13:17","modified_gmt":"2026-05-08T15:13:17","slug":"unpacking-the-water-food-and-energy-nexus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gwpo-gwp.org\/southern-africa\/news\/unpacking-the-water-food-and-energy-nexus\/","title":{"rendered":"Unpacking the water, food and energy nexus"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Although a number of policy instruments have been developed at the regional level-which take into cognisance the nexus approach<\/strong> \u2013 like the SADC RISDP, the SADC Regional Water Policy etc, it has been recognised that more needs to be done in breaking down silos towards integrated planning and implementation<\/strong> of development imperatives by addressing the interconnections within the Water, Energy and Food nexus. To address this regional challenge, the 6th<\/sup> SADC Multi-stakeholder Water Dialogue brought together 170 participants. These included Directors in Government Departments of Energy, Agriculture and Water; and other selected ministry representatives including Finance & Economic Planning, Health, and Environment.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The Dialogue was also attended by representatives from civil society, private sector, International Cooperation Partners (ICPs) and the media to engage on the region\u2019s development challenges by addressing. The 6th SADC Multi-Stakeholder Water Dialogue held under the theme: \u201cWatering Development in SADC: Exploring the water, energy and food nexus, <\/em>served three main objectives:<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00b7         <\/span><\/span><\/span>To create awareness and understanding of the \u201cWater, Energy and Food Nexus\u201d and why <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00b7         <\/span><\/span><\/span> <\/span>To discuss concrete project examples from the region with a wide range of stakeholders from the three sectors, thus facilitating future collaboration and motivating political uptake of the nexus concept in Southern Africa. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00b7         <\/span><\/span><\/span>To ensure that the nexus approach finds consideration at the highest level, in the countries and the region as well as ensuring that the regional perspective and cooperation are taken heed of when planning at national level. The audience comprised <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/span>The discussions at the dialogue focused on developing infrastructure and institutions that can use the current resource endowment in order to grow economies<\/strong>. According to the SADC Secretariat Senior Programme<\/a> Officer, Mr. Phera Ramoeloi, it was noted that the nexus perspective provides an opportunity to help the SADC region to apply the Integrated Water Resources Management concept as well as integration and cooperation in the management of water resources for its various uses and demands particularly for energy and food security.

<\/span><\/span><\/span>In his opening speech, the Deputy Minister, Ministry of Mines, Energy and Water<\/a>, Hon Charles K. Zulu, who officiated the dialogue as guest of honour on behalf of the Minister, Hon. Christopher Yaluma, emphasized the importance of the interaction in driving development in the SADC region. The Deputy Minister further stated the need for a good understanding of the Water, Energy and Food nexus for the various stakeholders to move from discussion to implementation. A practical example of the nexus in the Kafue Flats, was given in the Deputy Minister\u2019s speech:<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAs you may be aware, we have a storage reservoir upstream and a hydro-power station downstream of the Kafue flats. In between, we have some of the biggest food producing areas, producing crops such as sugarcane and also livestock. The Water resources in the Kafue Flats are very important to the economic development of the country especially the production of food and hydro-power.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

The keynote speech, delivered by Bai Mass Taal, Executive Secretary, African Ministers Council on Water,<\/a> emphasised the need for the nexus and also highlighted the difficulties in working across the silo structures. In his keynote speech, he noted that:<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe relationships between the sectors are as old as creation itself, but attention on the diverse effects is becoming increasingly critical and evident. This is so because the times are difficult; we are now in a time when we are witnessing escalating demands on these resources due to multiplying populations and rapid urban migrations\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Through presentations and panel discussions held in the latter part of day 1, the dialogue unpacked the meaning of the nexus approach and what it means for the SADC region \u2013 the following are some of the key issues that came from the presentations and the plenary sessions:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

*        <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>The nexus approach and IWRM are not mutually exclusive<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

*        <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>The nexus approach is a tool and not a dogma<\/strong><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

*        <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>The nexus approach provides the region with an opportunity for coherent and well planned development and use<\/span> of water, energy and food resources <\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

*        <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Both policy and economic instruments (like pricing)<\/span> are important in driving the nexus approach. <\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Day two of the dialogue focused on exploring some examples of how the nexus approach is being implemented at the different scales \u2013 looking at understanding what is enabling this interaction, the challenges and the institutional and policy implications. This was done through case studies at the local and national level, and included presentations on:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n