Water-Food-Energy-Ecosystems Nexus: Operationalising solutions, strengthening transboundary cooperation

In connection to the 9th session of the Meeting of the Parties to the Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes is organised by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), the Global Water Partnership is organizing an event on the Nexus approach.

The Joint Research Programme will present on this occasion the WEFE-Senegal project.

Outline

Stories from practitioners and a panel discussion will bring up and share field experience regarding the results of and potentials in using the Water-food-energy-ecosystems nexus approach to operationalise solutions for advancing transboundary cooperation and sustainable natural resources management.

Introduction

Undoubtedly, in transboundary settings, not addressing trade-offs and externalities may result not only in poor management of natural resources management but also in friction between countries and reduced trust, at best hindering regional development and at worst generating conflict. Conversely, a nexus (or cross-sectoral) approach to managing common resources could greatly enhance water, energy and food security in riparian countries, including by: increasing resource use efficiency, capitalizing on regional complementarities, and improving natural resource governance.

The Nexus approach introduces systems thinking in the analysis and management of natural resources.

Transboundary issues and their solutions transcend sectors (at national level) and covers water resources transcenting national borders. The Nexus approach also transcends sectors (at national level) and covers water resources transcenting national borders, thus, it could be used for the identification of transboundary issues and their solutions enabling cooperation.

Questions that the Side-event will address

• What is the added-value of Nexus Assessments in a transboundary water resources management context?
• Can the nexus approach lead to the initiation and enhancement of transboundary cooperation through the identification of
  • Transboundary issues also in the form of tradeoffs
  • Benefits of cooperation
  • Solutions and investments that address the causes of transboundary issues and generate multiple benefits?
• To what extend it is possible to use the above as
  • Entry points for initiating or enhancing cooperation
  • Means to enhance natural resources management?