UNESCO Cairo Leads Expert Roundtable on the WEFE Nexus: A Pathway to Sustainable Development in the Arab Region

UNESCO Cairo Leads Expert Roundtable on the WEFE Nexus: A Pathway to Sustainable Development in the Arab Region

The UNESCO Regional Office in Cairo recently hosted a pivotal expert roundtable focused on the Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystems (WEFE) Nexus, highlighting the challenges and opportunities for implementing this integrated approach in the Arab Region. The event gathered leading experts to discuss how the WEFE Nexus can serve as a framework for sustainable development, particularly in the face of pressing climate change impacts across the region.

Dr. Nuria Sanz, Director of the UNESCO Regional Office in Cairo and Liaison Office to the League of Arab States, opened the roundtable by emphasizing UNESCO's longstanding contributions to the Nexus approach, which date back to the 1980s. She referenced UNESCO's pioneering efforts in reducing the environmental impacts of energy extraction and production, a theme that has continued through subsequent publications, policy briefs, workshops, and training activities. The WEFE Nexus has become a cornerstone of UNESCO's 9th Phase Intergovernmental Hydrologic Programme, focusing on areas such as green buildings, conflict resolution through Nexus applications, and the integration of cultural and natural heritage into Nexus frameworks. Dr. Sanz also highlighted the role of UNESCO's network of water-related centres and chairs in advancing Nexus research and implementation, announcing that the Cairo Office is leading efforts to launch a Nexus initiative in the Arab Region. She challenged participants to consider how youth, as future stakeholders, can be engaged in addressing Nexus challenges through a UNESCO-led youth research initiative.

From Arabian Gulf University in Bahrain, Professor Walid Zubari provided a comprehensive overview of the interconnections within the WEFE Nexus, emphasizing its importance in the energy-intensive and water-scarce Arab Region. He argued that the Nexus approach is essential for minimizing trade-offs and maximizing synergies, identifying key scientific, governance, capacity, and investment challenges that vary across countries but are crucial for creating a Nexus-enabling environment. While Dr. Mohamed Almulla, Director of Water Resources at the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure in the United Arab Emirates, presented the UAE's strategic efforts to ensure water security through the WEFE Nexus, highlighting the UAE Water Security Strategy (2018-2036) and its integration with the country's Food Security and Energy Security Strategies. Professor Ali Karnib from the Lebanese American University showcased a farm-scale application of the WEFE Nexus, demonstrating how smart drip irrigation can reduce water use, energy demand, and greenhouse gas emissions while boosting productivity. Emeritus Professor Karima Attia of the National Water Research Institute in Egypt presented a case study from Sinai, where citizen science was crucial in enhancing the research quality and outcomes of a water harvesting system. She emphasized the importance of integrating local knowledge with advanced meteorological data to develop cost-effective designs and improve agricultural practices. The roundtable concluded with a discussion on the importance of involving youth in addressing Nexus challenges, with panelists exploring academic programs, outreach initiatives, and mentoring opportunities to empower young people.

This roundtable marks a significant step in advancing the WEFE Nexus approach in the Arab Region, reinforcing UNESCO Cairo's commitment to fostering sustainable development through integrated, collaborative frameworks. The insights and strategies shared during the event will serve as a foundation for future initiatives aimed at addressing the complex challenges of water, energy, food, and ecosystems in the region.