INITIATIVE OVERVIEW Prashanth Vishwanathan / IWMI The Challenge Water, energy, food, forests and biodiversity NEXUS Gains aims to improve integrated – critical to rural livelihoods and our food and management across the water, energy, food nutrition security – are strongly interconnected. and environment (WEFE) nexus for inclusive, Complex challenges emerge at the intersection sustainable development against the backdrop of these systems, but governments, stakeholders of the climate crisis. This requires working and investors struggle to recognize and manage closely with governments, investors and local these interdependencies and trade-offs. These communities to identify where and how to interlinked systems are further stressed by maintain, restore and improve ecosystems and climate change, civil conflict and pandemics. biodiversity, revitalize agriculture, and support With systems deeply connected, investments in sustainable irrigation, clean energy and agro- water, energy and food – intended to enhance processing needs. socio-economic development – have often had unforeseen, harmful impacts for the poorest and The Initiative analyzes alternative, practical most marginalized in society. interventions at different scales – from farms to watersheds to river basins – to support Addressing these challenges and risks requires economic efficiency and environmental coordinated action across political and institutional sustainability. It seeks to improve understanding boundaries and scales, from the global to the of WEFE synergies and trade-offs, engaging local, and across the public and private sectors vulnerable groups such as women, youth and and civil society. Systems thinking helps avoid other marginalized communities that bear unintended consequences that jeopardize the brunt of poorly managed WEFE systems sustainability and worsen conflict over resources. and have little say in decisions that affect Good governance across boundaries and sectors them. NEXUS Gains is also using integrated requires strong institutions and actors willing to biophysical and socio-economic tools to overcome siloed approaches and adopt new tools support policy design, investment planning and and innovations to support systems approaches. improved governance. Water, energy and food systems and the health of ecosystems are increasingly stressed, with the most negative impacts for poor people. These systems are inextricably linked, yet most efforts to improve water, energy and food security and ecosystem health continue to focus on single-sector approaches that neglect the complexity of their interactions, often worsening rather than solving underlying problems. The NEXUS Gains Initiative uses a systems approach to better understand interlinkages and to promote interventions to boost sustainable water resource management, protect biodiversity, and provide clean and inclusive access to energy for our agri-food systems. 2 3 Mulugeta Ayene / WLE Systems transformation The first phase of the NEXUS Gains Initiative runs n Developing tools with partners, for use by for three years, to the end of 2024. If additional institutions from local to transboundary funds are made available it will continue, in two scales, to boost water productivity and additional three-year phases, to 2030. NEXUS develop integrated water storage Gains aims to identify transformative and inclusive management. strategies, innovations and policies to achieve gains n Co-developing business and finance models across WEFE systems – with environmental systems for accelerated, inclusive and sustainable focusing on forests and biodiversity – in selected access to clean energy and water systems. transboundary river basins. The Initiative will n Strengthening WEFE nexus governance by contribute to CGIAR’s Systems Transformation by: engaging stakeholders across sectors, making sure that marginalized voices n Developing and applying trade-off analyses are heard. and foresight methodologies that can help n Empowering WEFE stakeholders, including local and national governments use emerging women leaders, through technical evidence and data in policy and decision- and leadership skills development. making processes. Interconnectedness of water, energy, food and ecosystems and NEXUS Gains’ approach, including examples of core innovations and activities 3 Where are we working? NEXUS Gains focuses on six transboundary river water, climate extreme events, deforestation, basins that are critical for food and nutrition pollution and severe ecosystem degradation. The security in Central Asia (Aral Sea Basin), South lack of inter-sectoral coordination stresses WEFE Asia (Ganges and Indus basins), East Africa (Blue resources across basins characterized by growing Nile Basin) and Southern Africa (Limpopo and populations and agricultural water demand. Incomati basins). Sustainable, integrated approaches to water storage and productivity are needed to improve The basins were chosen because they represent food security and achieve more inclusive socio- important global breadbaskets. The basin economic development. NEXUS Gains will work resources directly support more than one billion with stakeholders at multiple scales and across people, many of whom suffer from food and multiple sectors in India and Nepal to build on nutrition insecurity, and are extremely vulnerable existing knowledge and institutions for improved to climate change. Each of the selected basins is system-level productivity. characterized by dwindling ecological integrity and high biodiversity loss, and many areas within the basins are hotspots of degradation and 3 Indus Basin resource overuse. Gender inequality is acute in all basins. Systems transformation is therefore As the catastrophic floods of 2022 have urgently required to improve access to WEFE demonstrated, there is a critical need for a new resources and management and governance of approach to managing water flows and storage WEFE systems. in the Indus Basin, which provides water for almost 90% of food production in Pakistan. Climate change will increase the variability in the 1 Aral Sea Basin monsoons and lead to changes in the timing and amount of snow and glacier melt, increasing the The shrinking of the Aral Sea due to water frequency and severity of floods and droughts. diversion for irrigation projects in the former NEXUS Gains will help better understand Soviet Union has been classed as among the underlying drivers of change and how surface planet’s worst environmental and socio-economic water and groundwater can be better managed disasters. It stands as a tragic example of the to safeguard against floods and droughts, boost ill-considered trade-offs that result when systems agricultural productivity, grow energy security thinking is not applied. The destruction of the and protect the environment. lake’s ecosystem and the fishing industry that depended on it, combined with severe pollution and salinization, have destroyed livelihoods and 4 Blue Nile Basin affected the health of many people, calling into question the future of a region with a population In East Africa, a rapidly growing population of 60 million. To address this requires the co- faces increasing food and nutrition insecurity development of a regional strategy underpinned due to climate and demographic change, severe by coherent national strategies. NEXUS Gains will ecosystem degradation and low productivity, work with governments and other stakeholders and lack of irrigation and access to clean in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, energy. Transboundary conflicts over resources Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. are growing with development and climate change. In Ethiopia, for instance, inadequate coordination of water resources management for 2 Ganges Basin the irrigation, hydropower and tourism sectors in the Lake Tana and Beles sub-basins is adversely Around 4% of the world’s food production affecting the limited natural resources and the depends on South Asia’s breadbasket basin. The viability of interdependent economic activities. Ganges Basin is increasingly challenged by the NEXUS Gains will work in Ethiopia and Sudan reduced availability of groundwater and surface to introduce innovations on coordinated and 4 5 Where are we working? The NEXUS Gains systems approach NEXUS Gains examines WEFE systems in internationally significant transboundary basins. The approach involves fully embracing the complexity of interconnected systems, including the additional challenges of working across national borders. The Initiative works with a broad range of stakeholders to overcome disciplinary and administrative silos and co-develops solutions that can be applied from local to transnational scales. The goal is not solely economic efficiency, but inclusive socio-economic development and environmental sustainability in the context of the climate crisis. NEXUS Gains focuses on river basins: mosaics of ecosystems and landscape elements connected by water flows. Digital tools will help understand and quantify both upstream and downstream system interdependencies and predict future conditions. Practical innovations can then be implemented to better manage WEFE systems while strengthening capacity and governance in collaboration with partners at all levels. 1 3 2 4 5 sustainable water resources management for manifestations of climate variability and improved irrigation as well as linkages to clean change (usually droughts) challenge resource energy, hydropower development and ecosystem managers’ ability to satisfy and balance the water services. The initiative will promote enhanced requirements of WEFE sectors. Frameworks for awareness and capacities to manage trade- coordinating the use of water and other resources offs and maximize synergies in water resources across borders exist but have not been fully management in the Blue Nile Basin. harnessed. NEXUS Gains will work in Botswana, Mozambique, South Africa, Eswatini and Limpopo and Zimbabwe to foster inclusive and equitable 5 approaches to water resource use. Specific work Incomati basins is centered on enhancing the use of integrated water storage approaches in the Shashe Southern Africa’s shared basins are integral to catchment (Botswana, Zimbabwe) and developing the region’s landscape. Basins like the Limpopo a decision support system (DSS) for the newly- and Incomati (shared by four and three countries, established Incomati Maputo Watercourse respectively) face extreme water stress due to Commission (INMACOM). Capacity enhancement high levels of water resources development, activities will support countries to participate in mainly for agriculture. Increasingly frequent the co-development of nexus solutions. 5 Understanding the nexus to act on it NEXUS Gains is an ambitious initiative based on has developed five interlinked work packages the recognition that for synergies across WEFE to better assess the challenges and priorities for sectors to emerge, interlinkages have to be nexus interventions and improve the governance identified and analyzed and positive linkages and capacity needed to achieve these goals. The strengthened through institutional, technological work packages complement each other in order to and policy coordination. To this end, NEXUS Gains achieve WEFE systems transformation. WP1 WP2 WP3 WP4 WP5 New knowledge Key women and Novel water regarding targeting productivity of gender-responsive, Policy makers and men professionals in government, NGOs clean energy solutions, stakeholders at NEXUS gains assessments or water and CSOs will acquire modeling tools will storage diagnostics will grow sustainable different levels investment and the will identify WEFE increased technical, be used to assess will enable integrated prioritized WEFE assessments across reach of public, private nexus governance leadership and negotiation capacities and NGO actors and approaches that innovations scales and sectors to to design, influence improve system-level rural communities are sustainable and water security sector actors using equitable and implement WEFE nexus approaches NEXUS Gains tools National and sub- National and local Global funding national government NGO, extension and multistakeholder agencies and national agencies use system other implementation platforms are governments use CGIAR partners transformation research partners actively strengthened to research evidence in develop and scale to implement policies engage with farmers become functional the development of innovations that and programs that and other actors and sustainable strategies, policies contribute to the reduce emissions in implementing in addressing and investments to empowerment of and enhance transformative development trade- drive sustainable women, youth and climate resilience innovations in offs and generating transformation of food, other social groups in and environmental food, land and strategies for effective land and water systems food, land and sustainability of food, water systems food, land and water to meet multiple CGIAR water systems land and water systems transformation impact area targets Gender equality, Nutrition, health and Poverty reduction, youth and social Climate adaption Environmental health food security livelihoods and jobs inclusion and mitigation and biodiversity NEXUS Gains’ summarized Theory of Change 6 6 IMPACT SYSTEMS WORK AREAS TRANFORMATION OUTCOMES PACKAGE Analyzing WEFE nexus innovations using foresight and trade-off methodologies The complexity of the WEFE nexus and the n The resulting research evidence base will challenge of understanding both the benefits inform next-level policymaker, investor and and potential adverse consequences of donor decisions about the potential impacts interventions demands new tools to inform and of scaling WEFE interventions, the costs and guide solutions and policies. Successful design benefits of solutions, alternative scenarios, and implementation of such solutions requires and relationships across the WEFE systems. comprehensive assessment encompassing biophysical and socio-economic dimensions. Outcome Systems thinking is required to identify linkages, feedback loops and trade-offs across WEFE By 2024, NEXUS gains modeling tools will be sectors at different levels. If decision makers have used to assess prioritized WEFE innovations. practical and easy-to-use tools and the capacity Targets: Ganges and Indus river basins. to use them, they will be much more likely to draw on scientific evidence to inform decisions that minimize adverse, often unintended, consequences that jeopardize sustainability and Innovations food security and may exacerbate conflict. n An interactive tool that supports n Work Package 1 is co-developing, with analysis of trade-offs between partners, foresight methodologies and WEFE sectors. trade-off analyses to identify, assess, n An environmental flows calculator prioritize and scale nexus interventions. to evaluate flow requirements to These tools will enable losses and gains safeguard valuable ecosystem under business-as-usual and alternative services. development pathways (scenario analyses) n An agrobiodiversity solution hotspot to be identified across sectors, including tool based on the Agrobiodiversity the environment. Index that integrates data on n The results will support the development nutrition, agriculture and genetic of guidelines and toolboxes for basin planners, resources. managers and investors, who will assess trade- offs and synergies and develop prioritized WEFE nexus innovations and policies. n As a result, water use will become more productive and contribute to national priorities and regional and transboundary equity. National and sub-national stakeholders, including women, youth and other marginalized groups, will lead food, land and water system transformations because they have been empowered to participate in and define objectives for their livelihoods, nutrition and the environment. 7 8 Boosting water productivity and integrated storage management at basin scale Water is the connector across the WEFE nexus: water storage at different scales across enhancing water productivity, ensuring equitable multiple sectors, including agriculture, to allocation and securing water storage across equitably benefit rural women and men. sectors and scales are prerequisites for unlocking n Early engagement of planners, policymakers nexus gains. and investors through science–policy dialogues and innovation platforms is Increasing water productivity means finite water promoting understanding that these tools resources are used more effectively. Water can reliably inform investment decisions. storage is essential for managing variability in Capacity development will also strengthen rainfall and river flows but in many places is the long-term involvement of WEFE declining as a consequence of environmental stakeholders, including women, youth and degradation. Within basins, a lack of capacity marginalized groups. for nexus thinking and coordination, a lack n At least two solutions for improved storage of data (particularly concerning trade-offs) management and/or DSS for water and a gap between research and policy are productivity improvement will be co-developed exacerbated by gender and social inequity. in each target basin. This will generate Practical and easy-to-use tools and processes evidence to enhance uptake of these tools that address the day-to-day challenges they face for planning, management and investment will help boost water productivity and improve decisions in other basins in Africa and Asia. water storage at basin level. n Work Package 2 is mapping existing water Outcome stores with links to current and future needs by sector, developing a water storage By 2024, novel water productivity assessments or diagnostic tool, and carrying out political water storage diagnostics will enable integrated economy analyses and socio-economic assessments across scales and sectors to improve assessments, keeping in mind partner system-level water security. Targets: Ganges and priorities in the different basins. Indus river basins; Blue Nile basins. n An integrated water storage tool is being developed and will be applied in at least four basins to map water storage types and assess their potential (volumetric) contribution to Innovations human development and resilience activities. n Storage diagnostic work will inform planning, n A strategic diagnostic tool to so that a broader range of storage options design, evaluate and implement are drawn on to produce a wider range integrated water storage solutions. of benefits. n Decision support system to boost n Work Package 2 also includes a water productivity at basin scale. comprehensive stocktaking of tools, approaches and experiences in basin water productivity improvement. This will ensure that the tools developed build on what works and respond to need. n Of equal focus is how nexus interventions can boost water productivity and manage 7 8 Energizing food and water systems sustainably and inclusively Lack of energy access is a key obstacle to n Research is being coordinated with other agricultural productivity and growth, and hampers CGIAR initiatives to support the the development of agri-businesses. It also limits transformation of food systems while the production of nutritious, high-value foods, improving environmental sustainability and disempowers women, leads to deforestation and significantly increasing the use of clean greenhouse gas emissions, and threatens overall energy in food systems by 2030. ecosystem health and biodiversity. Clean energy technologies such as solar irrigation can improve access and incomes of smallholder farmers, Outcome although women and marginalized groups may be excluded and compelled to continue to use fossil By 2024, new knowledge regarding targeting fuels or firewood. of gender-responsive, clean energy solutions, will grow sustainable investment and the reach Clean energy solutions such as solar, micro- of public, private and NGO actors and rural hydropower, wind and bioenergy are also critical communities sector actors using NEXUS Gains to transforming agri-food systems. However, lack tools. Targets: Blue Nile basin (Ethiopia), Ganges of knowledge about appropriate locations and (India and Nepal) and Indus (Pakistan). the siloed development of water and energy interventions, as well as a lack of appropriate business and finance models that can reach poorer, marginalized farmers limit their roll- Innovations out. Accelerating rural clean energy access sustainably, inclusively and at scale requires n Inclusive business and finance business and finance models for energy solutions models for sustainable clean energy that work for the poor. access in agri-food systems. n Work Package 3 uses action research to engage with water and energy ministries, the private sector and rural communities within target basins to find out which technologies work best in different settings and how rural women and men can participate in the rural energy economy, with a particular focus on agri-food systems. The potential of solar-powered groundwater irrigation systems is being explored. n Case studies and inclusive business models are being developed that consider women’s needs and constraints to help them benefit from energy technologies. Government, private sector and researchers will co-design energy portfolios for productive agricultural uses. Maheder Haileselassie / IWMI 9 10 Strengthening WEFE nexus governance The lack of good governance at all levels and stakeholders in dialogues on the IPBES (community to international) leads to continuous Transformative Change Assessment, NEXUS degradation of water, food, land and ecosystems, Gains results feed into global science–policy and means that innovative solutions that could processes. Co-hosting the Technical Support generate tangible benefits across the WEFE nexus Unit for the latter assessment, the initiative go unrealized. A major barrier to the adoption is working with national focal points from of nexus solutions is the political economy at the the United Nations Food Systems Summit transnational level, where inequities in access (UNFSS) and IPBES to develop “change to resources and economic development can narratives” that will feed into foresight models challenge something as simple and essential as and trade-off analyses. Co-convening science– sharing data. At the national level, the political policy dialogues provide an opportunity to economy of farm subsidies and concerns for farmer advance nexus approaches globally. livelihoods prevents water and energy prices from n The resulting tools and evidence base will reflecting the true value of these resources, despite inform Work Packages 1, 2 and 3 and the fact that pricing could potentially correct contribute to cross-sectoral groundwater resource overuse and degradation. Moreover, management, a governance environment sectoral divisions and contested mandates prevent promoting adoption of nexus innovations, agricultural, environmental and energy ministries and increased involvement and influence of from working together. women, youth and marginalized groups in nexus governance. There is a critical need for evidence on how multistakeholder platforms and other institutions can improve governance of WEFE systems and break Outcome down sectoral silos that prevent the formulation of coherent policies and effective management. Working By 2024, policy makers and stakeholders in transboundary basins, NEXUS Gains supports at different levels will identify WEFE nexus collective action for more inclusive, sustainable and governance approaches that are sustainable and effective governance of WEFE systems. equitable. Targets: India and Nepal. n Work Package 4 supports multistakeholder platforms and other learning opportunities to co-develop narratives of change and guidelines Innovations for cross-sectoral, local to transboundary nexus management. Multistakeholder n A groundwater governance toolbox processes and science–policy dialogues to address growing competition for, will help adoption and adaptation of toolboxes and degradation of, water resources. and guidelines for collective action, such as n Multistakeholder platforms to a groundwater governance toolbox, and will influence integrated, inclusive be linked with tools and processes from other WEFE nexus management. work packages. n South-to-South learning opportunities n By contributing to the Intergovernmental between Africa and Asia. Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) Nexus Assessment on the links between biodiversity, water, food and health, and engaging member states 10 Developing capacity for WEFE actors, including emerging women leaders Lack of capacity is a major obstacle to n A nexus leadership and mentoring program achieving transformative systems change. To is being co-designed with partners. develop, implement and scale nexus solutions, The program will include a minimum of researchers, practitioners and decision makers 40 professionals, at least 60% of whom need in-depth subject matter expertise as well will be women, to enhance their influence as soft skills, such as leadership and negotiation and leadership – not simply by strengthening capacities, to create an enabling environment women’s technical knowledge and skills, for investment in nexus approaches. Solidifying but by developing a cadre of “champions” skills to plan, implement and manage nexus in each basin, connecting them to interventions is particularly important in complex networks from local to transboundary situations characterized by resource limitations scales, and supporting them as mentors to and challenging political economies. other practitioners. These emerging leaders will develop skills that can, inter alia, directly Women professionals face many obstacles in address the challenges of centering gender exerting influence and progressing in their and social inclusion into nexus approaches. careers due to cultural norms that persist in the Participant professionals will champion at workplace. For instance, women professionals least two nexus innovations on resource use in civil society and the private and public sector efficiency and WEFE security, and play a key (including elected representatives) continue role in achieving next-level outcomes. to be marginalized in processes of knowledge production and policy and decision making – and where any attention is paid to gender equality, Outcome it is usually focused on the number of women included rather than the roles they play. NEXUS By 2024, key women and men professionals Gains will work with researchers, practitioners and in government, NGOs and civil society decision makers to build capacity to co-develop organizations (CSOs) will acquire increased and implement sustainable and equitable technical, leadership and negotiation capacities WEFE nexus innovations, with a particular focus to design, influence and implement WEFE on providing a platform for development for nexus approaches. Targets: 40 professionals (at emerging women leaders. least 60% of whom are women) have increased capacities, across 1 or more focal basins. n Work Package 5 supports capacity- strengthening efforts that target professionals working in ministries and government organizations, the private sector, agricultural Innovations extension services, civil society, non- governmental organizations (NGOs) and n A cross-sectoral leadership academia. Multiple channels and learning program, with a majority of women products, developed using user-centered participants, to design, lead and design principles, will be used to advance accelerate WEFE nexus thinking. knowledge on sustainable and equitable nexus n An ecosystem of learning resources, approaches, including through online learning training events and communities of courses and curriculum development. The practice to support a cadre of main partners will include academic emerging WEFE nexus champions. institutions in the focal basins. 11 13 Neil Palmer / IWMI Contact: Matthew McCartney, Initiative Lead, m.mccartney@cgiar.org | Claudia Ringler, Initiative Co- Lead, c.ringler@cgiar.org CGIAR is a global research partnership for a food-secure future. CGIAR science is dedicated to transforming food, land and water systems in a climate crisis. Its research is carried out by 13 CGIAR Centers/Alliances in close collaboration with hundreds of partners, including national and regional research institutes, civil society organizations, academia, development organizations and the private sector. www.cgiar.org We would like to thank all funders who support this research through their contributions to the CGIAR Trust Fund: https://www.cgiar.org/funders/ To learn more about this Initiative, please visit: www.cgiar.org/initiative/nexus-gains/ To learn more about other Initiatives in the CGIAR Research Portfolio, please visit www.cgiar.org/cgiar-portfolio Map boundaries do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of NEXUS Gains concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. Border lines are approximate and cover some areas for which there may not yet be full agreement. @CGIAR CGIAR CGIAR CGIAR