Making governance work for water–energy–food nexus approaches

This research paper examines the governance challenges associated with the water-energy-food (WEF) nexus approach, which seeks to manage the interdependencies between these three sectors to enhance sustainability and climate resilience. Drawing on research from Indonesia, Kenya, and the Amazon basin, the author argues that the effectiveness of nexus approaches is heavily dependent on horizontal (cross-sectoral) and vertical (between levels of government) coordination, which are often hindered by political economy factors, institutional power struggles, and limited local capacity.

• The water-energy-food (WEF) nexus approach is designed to address the interdependencies between sectors to minimize conflicts (trade-offs) and promote synergies, moving away from 'siloed approaches' that lead to 'incoherent policy-making, contradictory strategies and the inefficient use of natural resources.'
• Governance of the WEF nexus is often overlooked in literature, but in practice, it is shaped by political economy factors. Decisions regarding resource allocation are 'politically salient' and occur within 'politically charged and contested realities,' meaning vested interests and power imbalances can undermine coordination.
• In Kenya, the process of devolution has created significant vertical coordination challenges. Competition between national and county government departments over mandates has led to 'conflicting plans, duplication of effort and poor relationships,' particularly regarding water resource management.
• Indonesia possesses a strong legal architecture for the WEF nexus, but there is a disconnect between national frameworks and local implementation. Local governments often treat the National Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMN) as 'a set of options to choose from rather than a framework to follow.'
• The author suggests that striving for a comprehensive, 'ideal' integrated approach may be too costly and impractical. Instead, a pragmatic approach that integrates critical cross-sectoral links and focuses on the 'mindset for decision-makers' may be more realistic.
• Capacity building at the local level is critical because local decision-making determines how WEF trade-offs are implemented. Evidence from Kenya shows that targeted workshops can successfully enhance the 'knowledge and capacity to adopt nexus approaches,' leading to the creation of local action plans and forums.
• There is a risk that pursuing comprehensive coordination for a nexus approach could lead to the centralization of power, as imbalances in resources between central and local governments might shift decision-making authority back to the center.

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} }