Water, Food, Energy Nexus (WFEN)
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Item The business or financial models for solar irrigation pumps: unveiling Interconnections, advantages, and trade-offs(Presentation, 2024-08-08) Mutum, Lamnganbi; Kuriachen, Philip; Taneja, Garima; M. P. M. Deepa; Sikka, Alok; Ringler, C.In pursuit of underscoring the need for a nexus-driven approach in upcoming ventures to effectively manage limited resources, a comprehensive study was undertaken in the Indo-Gangetic plains to assess business and financial models. This exploration delved into four distinct models through intensive Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), totaling 3-4 sessions per model. Notably, the models were interconnected utilizing fuzzy cognitive mapping to visually depict their intricate interdependencies. In conclusion, the SIP model through the PM-KUSUM Scheme proves to be most suitable for large-scale farmers in regions lacking groundwater markets. Conversely, the Guarantee Fund Model provides customized solutions tailored for medium and small-scale farmers. In Bihar, Models SBIG and SBII are notably beneficial for marginal farmers managing small, fragmented land holdings. Moreover, ensuring gender inclusivity in these models underscores the importance of advocating capacity-building strategies, thereby enhancing their efficacy and ensuring equitable benefits for all beneficiaries.Item Connecting the dots across water–energy–food–ecosystems: a roadmap for strengthening nexus solutions in Pakistan(Brief, 2024-12-30) Khalid, SidraItem Focus and impact on nutrition, health, and food security(Brief, 2024-12-30) CGIAR Initiative on NEXUS GainsA NEXUS Gains impact area brief shares how the Initiative uses people-centered approaches to prioritize the well-being and strategic interests of women, youth, and marginalized groups across the water–energy–food–ecosystems nexus.Item NEXUS Gains in the Indus Basin: Pakistan(Brief, 2024-12-30) CGIAR Initiative on NEXUS GainsA NEXUS Gains transboundary river basin brief shares examples of the Initiative’s work across five work packages in the Indus Basin in Pakistan.Item NEXUS Gains in the Aral Sea Basin: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan(Brief, 2024-12-30) CGIAR Initiative on NEXUS GainsA NEXUS Gains transboundary river basin brief shares examples of the Initiative’s work across five work packages in the Aral Sea Basin, covering Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.Item NEXUS Gains in the Blue Nile Basin: Ethiopia and Sudan(Brief, 2024-12-30) CGIAR Initiative on NEXUS GainsA NEXUS Gains transboundary river basin brief shares examples of the Initiative’s work across five work packages in the Blue Nile Basin, covering Ethiopia and Sudan.Item Hydro-economic models for decision making on water optimization in Indus Basin: Examples from “Releasing water from high delta crops for other beneficial uses: Potential and Challenges seen in a computable general equilibrium (CGE) model” with extended analyses(Presentation, 2024-04-18) Davies, Stephen; Akram, Iqra; Ali, Muhammad Tahir; Hafeez, Mohsin; Ringler, ClaudiaA (virtual) presentation for the CGIAR Nexus Gains Initiative Work Package . IWMI Headquarters, Lahore, Pakistan on April 18, 2024.Item Continuous efforts to educate decision-makers at all levels on the nexus in Nepal(News Item, 2024-11-29) Phuyal, Surendra; Koirala, Sanju; Karki,Darshan; Mishra, AnujExperts and stakeholders working to ensure greater acceptance of the water–energy–food–ecosystems (WEFE) nexus approach in Nepal are calling for renewed efforts to get the WEFE nexus incorporated in government programs and policies.Item Sustaining India's invisible resource – groundwater – through participatory management(News Item, 2024-12-06) Lamnganbi, Mutum; Taneja, Garima; Meinzen-Dick, Ruth S.; Sikka, AlokResearch by NEXUS Gains suggests that the participatory groundwater management scheme, Atal Bhujal Yojana (ABY), established by India’s Ministry of Jal Shakti in 2019, can be fine-tuned to strengthen outcomes. Grassroots-level information and feedback needs to be effectively shared with all stakeholders, including policymakers, researchers, academicians, and NGOs, through a common platform.Item Oversight of past legacy: reflections on Nepal’s draft water resources bill 2024(News Item, 2024-11-13) Sumitra, KC.; Onta, N.Following a series of multistakeholder consultations, IWMI Nepal recommends that a comprehensive amendment of the Nepal Water Resources Bill 2024 is essential to address existing challenges, maximize the benefits of multipurpose use, and mitigate inconsistencies in sectoral planning.Item Advancing integrated water storage to support the water–energy– food–ecosystems nexus in the Blue Nile Basin, Ethiopia(News Item, 2024-11-14) Taye, Meron Teferi; Ebrahim, Girma Yimer; Lautze, Jonathan; Seid, Abdulkarim; Tafesse, YonasA workshop for the Tana-Beles Sub-basin (upper Blue Nile Basin), organized by IWMI, presented NEXUS Gains research results for enhancing the resilience of water–energy–food–ecosystems (WEFE) sectors through implementing integrated water storage.Item Review of water–energy–food nexus applications in the Global South(Journal Article, 2024-10) Mabhaudhi, T.; Chibarabada, T. P.; Taguta, C.; Dirwai, Tinashe Lindel; Ndeketeya, A.The study reviewed the applications of the water–energy–food (WEF) nexus for knowledge generation and decision-making in the Global South. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses protocol identified 336 studies from the Web of Science and Scopus datasets. One hundred eighty-five articles applied WEF nexus tools to improve the understanding of WEF nexus interactions and to show the potential of nexus applications. The other articles (151) focused on nexus applications to guide planning and decision support for resource allocation and policy formulation. Environment, climate, ecosystems, land, and socioeconomics were other popular nexus dimensions, while waste and economy were considered to a lesser extent. Limitations associated with nexus applications included unavailability of data, uncertainties from data sources, scale mismatch and bias. The inability of nexus tools to capture the complex realities of WEF interactions is hindering adoption, especially for policy formulations and investment planning. Data limitations could be solved using a sound scientific basis to correct uncertainties and substitute unavailable data. Data gaps can be bridged by engaging stakeholders, who can provide local and indigenous knowledge. Despite the limitations, applying nexus tools could be useful in guiding resource management. Limitations associated with nexus applications included – investment planning. Plausible pathways for operationalising the WEF nexus are discussed.Item Conceptualizing the intersection of the Water-Energy-Food-Environment (WEFE) Nexus, human security, and inclusive society: insights from Middle East and North Africa (MENA), Sub-Saharan Africa, and Asia-Pacific regions(Brief, 2024-09-26) Al-Zu’bi, Maha; Weston, S.; Shahid, S.; Brouziyne, Youssef; Mujtaba, I.; Al Naber, M.Water, energy, and food provisioning plays a pivotal role in advancing social and economic development. Human well-being cannot be attained without ensuring secure access to water, energy, and food resources, as well as maintaining a healthy environment. The Water-Energy-Food-Environment (WEFE) Nexus presents intricate interlinkages with the concept of an inclusive society, where every individual, regardless of background or circumstances, has an opportunity to fully participate and benefit from societal resources and opportunities equitably. The intersectionality of WEFE Nexus with human security underscores the complex interconnections between access to resources, societal inclusion, and the protection of individual well-being. Understanding the intersectionality of the WEFE Nexus can contribute to fostering an inclusive society and human security through: conflict prevention; equal access and distribution of resources; community participation and engagement; promotion of diversity; addressing gender inequality and social exclusion; resilience building; and sustainable development. This discussion brief investigates and conceptualizes the intersectionality between the WEFE Nexus and the concepts of inclusive society and human security. This intersectionality is highlighted through three examples from the MENA, SSA, and Asia-Pacific regions. It contains insights from a literature review and a summary of discussion points from a three-day Royal Academy of Engineering’s Frontiers Symposium ‘The Nexus in Action: Navigating the Water-Energy-Food-Environment Nexus for Climate Resilient and Inclusive Futures’ held from 7-9 February 2024, in Amman, Jordan jointly hosted by the Royal Scientific Society and the Royal Academy of Engineering. In navigating the challenges posed by climate change, conflict, and socioeconomic disparities, a concerted focus on the WEFE Nexus offers a pathway towards building inclusive societies and enhancing human security as evidenced in the MENA, SSA, and Asia-Pacific regions. Through continuous collaboration, innovation, and commitment to sustainable development, a future can be created where all individuals have access to the resources needed to thrive.Item Who is more water insecure? Gendered evidence from urban Pakistan(Journal Article, 2024-08-21) Khalid, Sidra; Hafeez, Mohsin; Aqib, S.Gender and social dimensions of access to and use of water resources are often overlooked in policy and programming despite their importance in shaping water security. This study examines factors affecting water security in urban Pakistan through a gender lens. We surveyed 560 men and women in two towns in Islamabad and Rawalpindi facing water and sanitation challenges. Through a binary logit model and marginal effects analysis, we analyzed the relationship between water security and multiple variables, including gender, education, age, employment status, payment for water, urban wealth quintile, drinking water source, individual water concern level, water satisfaction, and water quality perception. While more than 50 percent of both genders experience water insecurity, the prevalence of water insecurity is notably higher among women. Men in the surveyed population had higher levels of employment, wealth, and education levels compared to women. The regression analysis across both genders reveals that paying for drinking water negatively and significantly impacts water security, while concern about future water issues, satisfaction with drinking water, and water quality significantly and positively impact water security levels. For women specifically, access to improved drinking water sources, higher education levels, and employment significantly improve their water security level, underscoring the importance of promoting women’s education and economic empowerment. For men, age and wealth levels emerged as significant factors impacting their water security, with older men more vulnerable to water insecurity than younger men and women. These findings underscore the complex interplay of individual, social, and structural dynamics shaping water security experiences, emphasizing the need for gender-responsive and intersectional approaches to water interventions in urban Pakistan and beyond. Equitable water policies and programs necessitate the collection of more disaggregated data. This study marks the first application of the Individual Water Insecurity Experiences (IWISE) Scale used in Pakistan’s urban context, with recommendations for its broader implementation to improve decision-making that can lead to sustainable water solutions across diverse gender and social groups.Item Assessing the performance of WaSim and DRAINMOD models for subsurface drainage design and analysis in a data-scarce environment(Journal Article, 2024-08-07) Malota, M.; Taguta, C.; Dirwai, Tinashe Lindel; Mabhaudhi, Tafadzwanashe; Senzanje, A.Simulation models are useful decision-support tools for designing and analyzing subsurface drainage systems in irrigated lands. However, the challenge is determining the soil hydraulic data inputs required by models to achieve reliable and accurate simulation of water table depths (WTDs) and drainage discharges (DDs) at various drain depths and spacing combinations. This is particularly important for data-scarce areas, such as middle- and low-income countries (MLICs), that lack facilities to determine in-situ soil hydraulic properties. We evaluated the performance of WaSim and DRAINMOD models to simulate WTDs and DDs at a field scale in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ksat) and soil water retention ( (h)) values were determined using the in-situ pumping test and a pressure plate apparatus. Pedotransfer functions (PTFs) in the Rosetta computer program also estimated these soil parameters. The DRAINMOD and WaSim models were calibrated using the in-situ measured Ksat and laboratory-measured (h) data, while the validation exercise used the PTFs-estimated Ksat and (h) data as soil hydraulic inputs. The models’ performance in simulating WTDs and DDs was assessed using Nash-Sutcliffe Model Efficiency (NSE), Modified Index of Agreement (d), Coefficient of Determination (R2 ), and Mean Absolute Error (MAE). During validation, DRAINMOD simulated WTDs with NSE, d, R2 , and MAE of 0.86, 0.81, 0.89, and 5.3 cm, respectively, whereas, for DDs, the model registered NSE, d, R2 , and MPE of 0.81, 0.79, 0.83, and 0.17 mm.day-1, respectively. During the validation period, the WaSim model simulated WTDs with NSE, d, R2 , and MAE of 0.76, 0.74, 0.78, and 9.0 cm, respectively. For the same validation period, the WaSim model simulated DDs with NSE, d, R2 , and MAE of 0.74, 0.73, 0.77, and 0.2 mm.day-1, respectively. The results suggest that both models, with either in-situ measured and laboratory-measured soil data or PTFs-estimated soil data, can be used to design and analyze drainage systems in data-scarce environments with a reasonably high confidence level. Designers of subsurface drainage systems in Pongola, South Africa, can use any of the two drainage models as decision support tools. We recommend using DRAINMOD and WaSim models with PTFs-estimated hydraulic soil data based on soil textural information, soil particle size data, bulk density, and (h) data at field capacity and permanent wilting point.Item Equity principles: Using social theory for more effective social transformation in agricultural research for development(Journal Article, 2024-06) McGuire, Erin; Al-Zu'bi, Maha; Boa-Alvarado, Maria; Thi Thu Giang Luu; Sylvester, Janelle M.; Valencia Leñero, Eva MarinaCONTEXT: Agricultural innovations and their applications are increasingly recognized as crucial mechanisms for achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Actors in agricultural research for development (AR4D) frequently use Agricultural Innovation Systems (AIS) frameworks to comprehend the ecosystems within which innovations are developed and scaled. Given the SDGs' emphasis on social outcomes, a reflection on social diversity, power, and the integration of social theory into AIS and AR4D tools is crucial for addressing the nuances of social objectives. OBJECTIVE: This research critically evaluates AIS frameworks and AR4D tools through applying social theory to enhance social outcomes. We offer practical application through the development of “Equity Principles for Social Transformation (EPs).” These EPs are designed to guide AR4D organizations in innovation and scaling efforts that effectively achieve meaningful social outcomes. Through this approach, we aim to enrich the conceptual understanding of equity within AIS and provide practical strategies for implementing these insights, thus empowering AR4D actors to be more effective. METHODS: We start by selecting key social theories to analyze global power imbalances and local social exclusion within AIS frameworks and AR4D tools. Using these theories, we examine three case studies to uncover gaps in their approach to social dimensions. We categorize these gaps through thematic analysis and formulate EPs informed by social theories and a practical understanding of AR4D tools. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Equity analysis of each case study reveals gaps in understanding social implications within upstream and downstream research efforts. These gaps include insufficient addressing of power dynamics and agency recognition, lack of comprehensive guidance on critical social components, oversight of cultural and institutional norms, exacerbation of social inequities, and the case studies' limitations in flexibility for addressing social inclusion effectively. Additionally, there is a notable lack of clear operational guidelines for applying the frameworks in diverse contexts, including the challenge of translating conceptual levels into local action. Seven EPs were developed: recognize AR4D power dynamics; define goals, anti-goals, and for whom; build global “horizontal” partnerships; acknowledge social differences among innovation users and non-users; innovate and curate innovation appropriately; assess impact and reflect; and develop systems capacity. SIGNIFICANCE: The EPs connect innovation systems with positive social change. They help AR4D professionals consider and evaluate the impact of innovation. The EPs provide an additional framework that enables AR4D practitioners to prioritize user needs from the beginning, challenge biases, and more effectively achieve the social objectives outlined in the SDGs.Item Nexus Capacity Scorecard (NCS) - Education and Research: guidance note and tool(Other, 2024-05-06) Khalid, Sidra; Elias, M.The Water–Energy–Food–Ecosystem (WEFE) nexus approach represents a holistic and interconnected perspective for addressing the complex interdependencies among water, energy, food, and ecosystems. This integrated perspective highlights the importance of managing WEFE resources collaboratively to achieve social, economic, and environmental sustainability. The ‘Nexus Capacity Scorecard (NCS) – Education and Research’ is intended to gauge capacities to adopt a WEFE nexus approach within and/or across academic institutions conducting research in or teaching courses related to the water, energy, food/agriculture, and environmental sectors (henceforth referred to as ‘WEFE academic institutions’). The purpose is to identify opportunities, possible gaps, and inform the planning of tailored WEFE nexus courses and research, and/or their monitoring over time. This version of the scorecard is part of a toolkit that includes the original Nexus Capacity Scorecard (NCS), which supports the self-assessment of nexus capacities within and/or across WEFE institutions or organizations in government, the private sector, or civil society.Item Nexus Capacity Scorecard (NCS): guidance note and tool(Other, 2024-05-06) Khalid, Sidra; Elias, M.The Water–Energy–Food–Ecosystem (WEFE) nexus approach represents a holistic and interconnected perspective for addressing the complex interdependencies among water, energy, food, and ecosystems. This integrated perspective highlights the importance of managing WEFE resources collaboratively to achieve social, economic, and environmental sustainability. The Nexus Capacity Scorecard (NCS) is part of a toolkit developed to gauge capacities to adopt a WEFE nexus approach within and/or across institutions working in the water, energy, food/agriculture, and environmental sectors (henceforth referred to as ‘WEFE institutions’). The NCS supports the self-assessment of institutional processes, readiness, and capacities in relation to WEFE approaches. The purpose is to identify opportunities, possible gaps, and inform the planning of tailored WEFE nexus capacity-building efforts, programs and interventions, and/or their monitoring over time. The scorecard can also be used as a launchpad for discussions, within and across organizations and sectors, for improving WEFE nexus practice and collaboration.