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SEI Africa and CETRAD shared insights from their water-energy-food nexus project in Kenya at a high-level UN workshop, highlighting how integrated approaches can support climate resilience and sustainable development in Africa.
Delegates at the workshop pose for a group photo.
Countries like Kenya face mounting pressures from climate change, population growth and resource depletion, intensifying the interconnected challenges of water security, energy access and food production in Africa. The water-energy-food (WEF) nexus provides a crucial framework for addressing these issues in an integrated and sustainable way.
Yet, decision-makers often lack the analytical tools necessary to assess cross-sectoral risks and opportunities effectively, limiting the potential to drive socioeconomic development, build climate resilience and mitigate disaster risks.
To help address these challenges, SEI Africa, in partnership with the Centre for Training and Integrated Research in ASAL Development (CETRAD), is implementing the project “Applying the Water-Energy-Food Nexus to Promote Ecosystem-Based Adaptation in the Ewaso Ng’iro North Catchment, Kenya.” The project was presented at a regional workshop held from 4–6 March 2025 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, organized by the UN Office for Sustainable Development (UNOSD) and partners.
At the core of this project is the integration of ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) and the WEF nexus approach. The project seeks to co-produce resilient, cross-sectoral knowledge together with key stakeholders – including policymakers, local communities, the private sector and non-governmental organizations – to inform decision-making and policy development.
Key activities include:
These efforts aim to support the implementation, scaling, and transfer of EbA-based nexus solutions at both sub-national and national levels.
The event brought together regional experts and policymakers to explore integrated solutions for sustainable resource management. A highlight of the workshop was a presentation by Dr. Anderson Kehbila (SEI Africa) and Dr. Carolyne Ouko (CETRAD), which illustrated how the WEF nexus framework can support EbA. Drawing on experiences from Kenya’s Ewaso Ng’iro North River Catchment, the presentation demonstrated how hydrological and energy modelling tools can bolster climate resilience, reduce disaster risk and promote socioeconomic development.
Their insights emphasized the importance of cross-sectoral collaboration in managing climate risks, optimizing resource use, and shaping policies that promote sustainability and resilience.
The session showcased the following:
Despite growing awareness of the WEF nexus, several key challenges remain:
To overcome these challenges, the presentation introduced a comprehensive modelling framework that combines various decision-support tools:
By linking these tools, stakeholders can simulate trade-offs and synergies across water availability, energy use, crop and livestock production, and irrigation practices – ultimately supporting more resilient, climate-smart resource management.
To move from concept to action, institutional and technical capacities should be strengthened. African Union member states and regional bodies need targeted support to embed WEF principles into national and subnational policies. Strengthening multi-sectoral governance frameworks and promoting cross-border collaboration will be key to scaling successful models.
The workshop underscored that the WEF nexus is more than a theoretical framework – it is but a practical and transformative tool for advancing sustainable development. SEI’s contributions highlighted the tangible, on-the-ground impacts of the WEF nexus approach and reinforced its relevance for African policymakers.
Understanding the complex and dynamic interconnected web of influencing factors between water, energy, and food security is crucial to minimizing unintended resource management risks, reducing conflicts that arise with solely sectoral approaches, improving investment planning, optimizing resource use, and minimizing trade-offs while maximizing synergies across the sector – Anderson Kehbila, Programme Leader, SEI Africa
Project / The project supports Kenya to promote EbA practices and integrated planning for water, energy, agriculture and land use in Ewaso Ng’iro North Catchment area.
Journal article / Researchers established a collaborative learning school in Uganda of farmers, policymakers and practitioners to generate research management solutions.
Feature / SEI Africa conducts the third and final session of a comprehensive training series on SEI tools in Nyeri County, Kenya.
Past event / SEI Africa hosts a national dialogue to explore how the water-energy-food nexus can drive climate resilience and sustainable development in Kenya.
