Making governance work for water–energy–food nexus approaches

The paper examines the governance of the water-energy-food (WEF) nexus, arguing that while integrated approaches are essential for climate compatible development, they are often hindered by siloed government structures, political contestation over mandates, and limited local capacity. Using evidence from Indonesia, Kenya, and the Amazon basin, it highlights that horizontal and vertical coordination are critical but can be undermined by power imbalances between central and local governments. The author suggests a pragmatic approach to nexus governance, focusing on strengthening the technical and administrative capacities of local government institutions rather than striving for an impractical ideal of total comprehensiveness.

• The effectiveness of a water-energy-food (WEF) nexus approach depends on horizontal (cross-sectoral) and vertical (between levels of government) coordination, which are shaped by institutional relationships and political economy factors.
• In Indonesia, while a strong legal architecture exists, there is a disconnect between national frameworks and local implementation, as provincial and district governments often treat national development plans as optional rather than mandatory.
• Kenya's devolution process has led to fragmented implementation and duplication of efforts due to competition between national and county government departments over mandates and power.
• In the Amazon basin, national and local climate and conservation policies show a degree of coherence attributed to strong top-down vertical coordination, though this is not uniform across the region.
• Decisions regarding trade-offs in the WEF nexus are inherently political because they involve competing demands for scarce resources, and a lack of transparent knowledge can reinforce existing political inequalities.
• Striving for a comprehensive and fully integrated nexus approach for all decisions may be too costly and impractical; a more pragmatic mindset that integrates critical cross-sectoral links is more realistic.
• There is a risk that increasing coordination for the sake of a nexus approach could lead to the centralisation of power, potentially undermining devolved responsibilities if power imbalances between central and local governments persist.

APA

Scott, A. (2017). Making governance work for water–energy–food nexus approaches. Climate and Development Knowledge Network. https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/Working-paper_CDKN_Making-governance-work-for-water-energy-food-nexus-approaches.pdf

Chicago

Scott, Andrew. Making governance work for water–energy–food nexus approaches. Climate and Development Knowledge Network, 2017. https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/Working-paper_CDKN_Making-governance-work-for-water-energy-food-nexus-approaches.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Scott |first1=Andrew |title=Making governance work for water–energy–food nexus approaches |publisher=Climate and Development Knowledge Network |date=June 2017 |url=https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/Working-paper_CDKN_Making-governance-work-for-water-energy-food-nexus-approaches.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{scott2017making, author = {Scott, Andrew}, title = {{Making governance work for water–energy–food nexus approaches}}, institution = {Climate and Development Knowledge Network}, year = {2017}, month = jun, url = {https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/Working-paper_CDKN_Making-governance-work-for-water-energy-food-nexus-approaches.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }