A professional course Course Lead: Prof. Vishnu Prasad Pandey, Center for Water Resources Studies, Institute of Engineering, Tribhuvan University, Nepal Email: vishnu.pandey@pcampus.edu.np Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystems (WEFE) Nexus Approaches Provide the context of the course development, acknowledgements, people involved, etc. Prof. Rajesh for Trends & Prof. Vishnu for WEFE Nexus concept 1 Contributors  Prof. Vishnu Prasad Pandey, Center for Water Resources Studies (CWRS), Institute of Engineering, Tribhuvan University, Nepal Prof. Rajesh Kumar Rai, Institute of Forestry, Tribhuvan University, Nepal Dr. Sanju Koirala, International Water Management Institute (IWMI), Nepal Office Prof. Tri Ratna Bajracharya, Center for Energy Studies, Institute of Engineering, Tribhuvan University, Nepal Dr. Bharat Kumar Pokharel, GREAT International Dr. Nisha Onta, Governance Lab Dr. Rishi Ram Kattel, Agriculture & Forestry University Mr. Sabin Dangol, Center for Water Resources Studies (CWRS), Institute of Engineering, Tribhuvan University, Nepal Dr. Manohara Khadka, International Water Management Institute (IWMI), Nepal Office Dr. Marlene Elias, Alliance of Bioversity International & CIAT WEFE Nexus Capacity Building | Professional Course ‹#› Module 4 Dr. Nisha Onta Governance Lab Dr. Bharat Kumar Pokharel GREAT International Prof. Vishnu Prasad Pandey Center for Water Resources Studies, Institute of Engineering, Tribhuvan University, Nepal Dr. Rishi Ram Kattel Agriculture & Forestry University, Nepal WEFE Nexus Governance Provide the context of the course development, acknowledgements, people involved, etc. Prof. Rajesh for Trends & Prof. Vishnu for WEFE Nexus concept 3 Session Objectives and Contents Objectives: Introduce a governance framework for the WEFE Nexus Elaborate the status of Nexus governance with a case from Nepal Highlight ways of operationalizing resource Nexus solutions Contents: Understanding governance and a governance framework Status of Nexus governance in Nepal Operationalizing WEFE Nexus solutions Duration: 6 hrs Method of delivery: Lecture Class interaction Group work WEFE Nexus Capacity Building | Professional Course ‹#› 4. WEFE Nexus Governance 4.1 Fundamentals of governance [1 hr] - Meaning/concept, framework (components, indicators of governance; etc.) 4.2 Status of WEFE Nexus governance in Nepal [1 hr, 30 mins] Current state of various WEFE Nexus components and indicators Orientation of existing policies/plans/program/projects towards the Nexus 4.3 Operationalizing WEFE Nexus [2 hrs] Nexus mainstreaming (with policy and practice) Operationalizing coordination across sectors and scales of government Multi-stakeholder platform (MSP) and coordination mechanism Participatory policy-making Capacity strengthening 4.4 Investments for WEFE Nexus gains [1 hr, 30 mins] Cross-sectoral investment planning and financing Infrastructure requirements, capacity strengthening (individual and institutional) WEFE Nexus Capacity Building | Professional Course ‹#› 4.1 Fundamentals of Governance Meaning/concept of governance Governance framework: component, indicators Inclusivity: gender, differently-abled, casts, socio-economic status, etc. 6 Session Delivery Plan [1 hr] Time Activity Facilitator 25 minutes Exercise 4-1: Participants’ understanding of current governance systems in Nepal Dr. Nisha Onta 30 minutes Lecture – Concept of governance in relation to the WEFE Nexus Dr. Nisha Onta 5 minutes Summary of session Dr. Nisha Onta WEFE Nexus Capacity Building | Professional Course ‹#› Exercise 4-1: Open Discussion [25 mins] How do you characterize the current governance system in Nepal and its shortcomings? Participants reflect and write their thoughts [5 minutes] Participants share their thoughts Facilitator helps to synthesize key messages WEFE Nexus Capacity Building | Professional Course ‹#› 4. WEFE Nexus Governance | Concepts Nexus is emerging as… An analytical approach A governance framework A discourse Each Nexus perspective is related to different disciplines at different levels Empirical level Pragmatic level Normative level Value level Figure: Nexus perspectives and their relation to disciplines of different levels (Source: Keskinen et al., 2016) WEFE Nexus Capacity Building | Professional Course ‹#› 4. WEFE Nexus Governance | Concepts As per the Commission on Global Governance, governance is: The sum of the many ways individuals and institutions, public and private, manage their common affairs. A continuing process through which conflicting or diverse interests may be accommodated and cooperative action may be taken. It includes formal instructions and regimes empowered to enforce compliance, as well as informal arrangements that people and institutions either have agreed to or perceive to be in their interest. As per Newell et al. (2019), governance is: How institutions shape or manage WEFE Nexus systems Government has a central role in governance, including coordination between various administrative WEFE departments (Feng et al., 2019). Collaborative formulation of policies incorporating entire supply chain of WEFE flows can promote the sustainable development of the WEFE Nexus (Feng et al., 2019). WEFE Nexus Capacity Building | Professional Course ‹#› 4. WEFE Nexus Governance | Concepts Figure: Nexus governance in the context of water diplomacy (Source: Salmoral et al., 2019) Figure: Nexus governance includes governance of multiple discipline (Source: Urbinatti et al., 2020) WEFE Nexus Capacity Building | Professional Course ‹#› 4. WEFE Nexus Governance | Concepts Nexus data governance Nexus database  ‘Nexus analysis’  good Nexus governance  elevates the Nexus discourse There are various aspects of data governance (see Fig.) Figure: Main components of data governance framework (Source: https://www.fortinet.com/resources/cyberglossary/data-governance) WEFE Nexus Capacity Building | Professional Course ‹#› 4.1 Fundamentals of Governance | Components of Effective Governance Policy development involves formulating policies and strategies to guide decision-making and resource allocation. Regulations provide the legal framework for implementing policies and ensuring compliance with established guidelines. Institutions are responsible for implementing policies, coordinating resources, and managing the WEFE Nexus. Stakeholder engagement is essential for considering the needs and interests of all stakeholders in decision-making. WEFE Nexus Capacity Building | Professional Course ‹#› 13 4.1 Fundamentals of Governance | Key Indicators of Governance Transparency ensures openness and accessibility of information about decision-making processes and outcomes. Accountability holds decision-makers responsible for their actions and decisions. Participation involves stakeholders in decision-making processes. Rule of law ensures that decisions are made in accordance with established legal frameworks and principles. WEFE Nexus Capacity Building | Professional Course ‹#› 14 4.1 Fundamentals of Governance | Governance Frameworks Sustainable WEFE implementation at a national or global scale requires an integrated and robust methodology to provide economical strategies for plausible futures (Gao et al., 2021). Governance systems refer to the institutional frameworks and arrangements that support governance processes. These can be sub-divided into: Legal and Regulatory Frameworks Provide rules and guidelines for resource allocation in the WEFE Nexus Includes laws, regulations, and policies governing WEFE resources Ensure adherence to established guidelines through mechanisms for compliance monitoring and enforcement WEFE Nexus Capacity Building | Professional Course ‹#› 4.1 Fundamentals of Governance | Governance frameworks 2. Organizational Structures Involve institutions responsible for policy and regulation implementation Includes government agencies, NGOs, private sector entities, and civil society organizations. Effective governance requires capable institutions for integrated resource management Nexus governance faces the difficult task of transforming theoretical approaches and research into practical and applicable knowledge to support successful Nexus implementation in policy processes for better natural resource management (Salmoral et al., 2019). WEFE Nexus Capacity Building | Professional Course ‹#› 4.1 Fundamentals of Governance | Governance frameworks Yuan et al. (2022) consider Nexus governance from three perspectives: Assessment Awareness Accessibility Further, Yuan et al. (2022) introduced Nine Principles of Governance related to 3 the perspectives (see Fig.) Figure: Nine principles of Nexus governance (Source: Yuan et al., 2022) WEFE Nexus Capacity Building | Professional Course ‹#› 4.1 Fundamentals of Governance | Governance frameworks Metrics and principles of Nexus governance (Yuan et al., 2022) WEFE Nexus Capacity Building | Professional Course ‹#› 4.1 Fundamentals of Governance | Reading Materials Feng, C., Qu, S., Jin, Y., Tang, X., Liang, S., Chiu, A. C. F., & Xu, M. (2019). Uncovering urban food-energy-water Nexus based on physical input-output analysis: The case of the Detroit Metropolitan Area. In Applied Energy (Vol. 252). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2019.113422 Fortinet. (n.d.) What Is Data Governance? https://www.fortinet.com/resources/cyberglossary/data-governance Gao, J., Xu, X., Cao, G., Ermoliev, Y. M., Ermolieva, T. Y., & Rovenskaya, E. A. (2021). Strategic decision-support modeling for robust management of the food–energy–water Nexus under uncertainty. Journal of Cleaner Production, 292, 125995. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.125995 Keskinen, M., Guillaume, J. H. A., Kattelus, M., Porkka, M., Räsänen, T. A., & Varis, O. (2016). The water-energy-food Nexus and the transboundary context: Insights from large Asian rivers. Water (Switzerland), 8(5). https://doi.org/10.3390/w8050193 Newell, J. P., Goldstein, B., & Foster, A. (2019). A 40-year review of food-energy-water Nexus literature and its application to the urban scale. Environmental Research Letters, 14(7). https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/ab0767 Salmoral, G., Schaap, N. C. E., Walschebauer, J., & Alhajaj, A. (2019). Water diplomacy and Nexus governance in a transboundary context: In the search for complementarities. Science of the Total Environment, 690, 85–96. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.06.513 Urbinatti, A. M., Benites-Lazaro, L. L., Carvalho, C. M. de, & Giatti, L. L. (2020). The conceptual basis of water-energy-food Nexus governance: systematic literature review using network and discourse analysis. Journal of Integrative Environmental Sciences, 17(2), 21–43. https://doi.org/10.1080/1943815X.2020.1749086 Yuan, M. H., & Lo, S. L. (2022). Principles of food-energy-water Nexus governance. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 155, 111937. WEFE Nexus Capacity Building | Professional Course ‹#› 4.2 Status of WEFE Nexus Governance in Nepal Current state of various components and indicators of the WEFE Nexus in Nepal Orientation of existing policies/plans/program /projects towards WEFE Nexus in Nepal Inclusivity: gender, differently-abled, casts, socio-economic status, etc. 20 Session Delivery Plan [1 hr, 30 minutes] Time Activity Facilitator 60 minutes Exercise 4-2: Group Work – Current status of WEFE Nexus governance in Nepal Dr. Nisha Onta 25 minutes Lecture – Nexus orientation of existing policies, plans, institutions Dr. Nisha Onta 5 minutes Summary of session Dr. Nisha Onta WEFE Nexus Capacity Building | Professional Course ‹#› Exercise 4-2: Group Work [45 mins] Participant reflection on the current status of WEFE Nexus governance in Nepal (based on key components of governance in Section 4.1) Highlight from the perspective of: Representation in governance processes GESI in the workplace, etc. Guidance Make 3-4 groups Discuss and prepare a synthesis from each group [30 minutes] Presentation [5 minutes/group] Discussion and synthesis WEFE Nexus Capacity Building | Professional Course ‹#› Reflect that: behavior & incentives to implement a healthy, transparent governance system How about inclusivity of existing policies? Reflect on that as well 22 4.2 WEFE Nexus Governance in Nepal | Current State Department of water resources and irrigation (DoWRI) Department of Electricity development (DoED) Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (DHM) Department of Agriculture Department of Food Technology and Quality Control Department of Livestock Services Department of Forests and Soil Conservation Department of Environment Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Department of Plant Resources Department of Water Supply and Sewerage Management Nepal Water Supply Corporation Kathmandu Uptyaka Khanepani Limited (KUKL) Department of Urban Development and Building Construction Department of Local Infrastructure Department of Industry Department of Mines and Geology Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development Ministry of Forest and Environment Ministry of Water Supply Ministry of Urban Development Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies Government of Nepal (GoN) Nexus programming interfaces with other ministries, e.g., Finance and Women & Children Affairs. It’s not only about managing resources but also the livelihoods that depend on them. WEFE Nexus Capacity Building | Professional Course ‹#› The figure is an organization chart of the branches of the Nepalese government that should work together for Nexus-related policy formulation. Sectoral policies and institutions are designed to operate in silos; this creates an imbalance and often duplication in resource allocation, which translates to failure to deliver and in inefficiencies in resource use, negatively impacting on sustainable development (Nhamo et al., 2018). 23 4.2 WEFE Nexus Governance in Nepal | Existing Plans Water Resources Strategy (WRS) of 2002 (WECS, 2002) Aimed at sustainably improving living standards through a participatory approach with social, economic and environmental sustainability principles Envisaged using IWRM principles for the development of water resources in a holistic and systematic manner National Water Plan (NWP) of 2005 (WECS, 2005) Developed to implement the activities identified in WRS 2002 Recognizes broad WRS 2002 objectives and lays down short-, medium- and long- term plans for the water resources sector, including investment & HR development Attempted to address environmental concerns, and includes an environmental management plan designed to maximize positive impacts and minimize/mitigate adverse environmental impacts Adopts IWRM principles for the development of water resources in a holistic and systematic manner WEFE Nexus Capacity Building | Professional Course ‹#› 4.2 WEFE Nexus Governance in Nepal | Existing Plans 3. National Energy Strategy of Nepal (2013) (WECS, 2013) Formulated to address energy resource challenges and promote sustainable development and utilization of energy resources 4. National Energy Efficiency Strategy (2018) (MoEWRI, 2019) Support economic growth by reducing energy intensity and increasing productivity Reduce existing energy shortage, increase energy access and provide important contribution to energy security by efficient energy use Create employment opportunities by creation, expansion and commercialization of energy efficiency market Maintain environmental balance and improve human health through efficient energy use 5. Biomass Energy Strategy (2017) (MoPE, 2017) Contribute to energy supply and energy security by generating energy through management of agriculture forest residues and organic wastes from municipal urban and industrial areas (biomass energy) Support employment and income generation through the entrepreneurship development in biomass energy Reduce existing dependencies on imported energy through effective, efficient production and utilization of biomass energy WEFE Nexus Capacity Building | Professional Course ‹#› 4.2 WEFE Nexus Governance in Nepal | Orientation of Existing Plans 6. National Agricultural Policy, 2004 (Joshi & Joshi, 2021) Main objective: Create an enabling environment for agriculture-led rural development Vision: Improve standard of living through sustainable agricultural development by transforming the subsistence agricultural system into a commercial and competitive agricultural system Achieve high and sustainable economic growth through a commercial agricultural system contributing to: Food security and poverty reduction Increased agricultural production and productivity Making agriculture competitive in regional and world markets with the commercial agricultural system Conserving, promoting, and utilizing natural resources, environment and bio-diversity WEFE Nexus Capacity Building | Professional Course ‹#› 4.2 WEFE Nexus Governance in Nepal | Orientation of Existing Plans 7. Agro-business Promotion Policy, 2006 (Joshi & Joshi, 2021) Highlights diversification, commercialization, and promotion of the agriculture sector through private sector involvement in commercial farming Emphasizes that farmers’ standards of living won’t improve unless the agriculture sector is transformed from subsistence to commercial farming Prepared in the spirit of National Agriculture Policy 2004, emphasizing business service centers’ establishment for quality agriculture inputs and services 8. Climate Change Policy, 2011, first amend. 2019 (Joshi & Joshi, 2021) Vision: Mitigate the adverse impact of climate change considering climate justice, human development, and maintenance of prosperity through the adoption of the concept of environmental and sustainable development Highlights vulnerable sectors and plans to: Enhance the climate adaptation and resilience capacity of local communities for optimum utilization of natural resources and their efficient management Adopt the low-carbon development path by making socio-economic development climate change friendly and resilient Develop an institutional framework for its effective implementation WEFE Nexus Capacity Building | Professional Course ‹#› 4.2 WEFE Nexus Governance in Nepal | Orientation of Existing Plans 9. Irrigation Policy, 2014 (Joshi & Joshi, 2021) Vision: Sustainable and reliable year-round irrigation services to all agricultural lands for improved productivity Emphasizes reservoir-based and inter-basin water transfer for integrated water resources development/management Goal: Achievement of year-round irrigation serves though: Effective management of existing water resources Developing the institutional capacity of water users for sustainable management of existing systems Enhancing knowledge, skills, and institutional working capability of technical human resources, water users, and NGOs relating to the development of irrigation sector WEFE Nexus Capacity Building | Professional Course ‹#› 4.2 WEFE Nexus Governance in Nepal | Orientation of Existing Plans 10. National Land Use Policy, 2015 (Joshi & Joshi, 2021) Vision: Optimize available Land and Land Resources (LLRs) in pursuit of sustainable social, economic, and ecological developments and national prosperity Responds to growing concerns about the increasing fragmentation of fertile land and unplanned urbanization Aims at ensuring the optimum use of land and control land fragmentation, helping establish a link between agricultural with industrial sectors 11. Forest Policy, 2015 (Joshi & Joshi, 2021) Vision: Contribute to local and national prosperity through the sustainable management of forests, biodiversity, and watersheds Aims to identify forests with potential for increasing production and productivity for sustainable management WEFE Nexus Capacity Building | Professional Course ‹#› 4.2 WEFE Nexus Governance in Nepal | Orientation of Existing Plans 12. National Agroforestry Policy, 2019 (Joshi & Joshi, 2021) Aims to contribute to national prosperity through the development, expansion, and commercialization of the agroforestry system Objectives: Increase the production of agricultural, livestock, and forest products by increasing the productivity of the land and multipurpose use of the land Conserve the environment and biological diversity by reducing pressure over the forest Develop climate resilience ecosystem Create opportunities for livelihood, employment and income generation along with food security of the local communities by widely promoting agroforestry Contribute to the economy through commercialization and facilitation of investment opportunities in agroforestry Conduct study, research, and capacity enhancement in agroforestry subjects WEFE Nexus Capacity Building | Professional Course ‹#› 4.2 WEFE Nexus Governance in Nepal | Sources and Further Reading Joshi, G. R., & Joshi, B. (2021). Agricultural and Natural Resources Policies in Nepal: A Review of Formulation and Implementation Processes and Issues. 1. MoEWRI. (2019). National Energy Efficiency Strategy 2018. 2075(January), 20. http://www.moewri.gov.np/images/category/National-Energy-Efficiency-Strategy-2075.pdf MoPE. (2017). Biomass Energy Strategy 2017. MoPE, GoN, January. http://www.aepc.gov.np/docs/resource/rescenter/20170309131259_Biomass Energy Strategy 2073 BS (2017)_English.pdf Water and Energy Commission Secretariat. (2002). Water resources strategy. Kathmandu: WECS. Water and Energy Commission Secretariat. (2005). National water plan 2005. Kathmandu: WECS. WECS. (2013). National Energy Strategy of Nepal. Water and Energy Commission Secretariat Energy Sector, Government of Nepal, 1–158. WEFE Nexus Capacity Building | Professional Course ‹#› 4.3 Operationalizing the WEFE Nexus Nexus mainstreaming (with policy and practice) Operationalizing coordination across sectors and scales of government Multi-stakeholder platform (MSP) and coordination mechanism Participatory policy-making Capacity strengthening Inclusivity: gender, differently-abled, casts, socio-economic status, etc. 32 Session Delivery Plan [2 hrs] Time Activity Facilitator 15 minutes Exercise 4-3: Open discussion – Baseline understanding of WEFE Nexus operationalization Prof. Vishnu Prasad Pandey 40 minutes Lecture: Operationalization Framework for the WEFE Nexus; Nexus mainstreaming; coordination; MSP; capacity strengthening Prof. Vishnu Prasad Pandey 60 minutes Exercise 4-4 Prof. Vishnu Prasad Pandey 5 minutes Summary of session Prof. Vishnu Prasad Pandey WEFE Nexus Capacity Building | Professional Course ‹#› Exercise 4-3: Open Discussion [15 mins] What do participants understand by: Operationalization of the WEFE Nexus? Mainstreaming of the WEFE Nexus? WEFE Nexus Capacity Building | Professional Course ‹#› 4.3 Operationalizing the WEFE Nexus | Framework The resource Nexus is an inter-disciplinary, cross-cutting and multi-sectoral approach containing considerable complexities, challenges & opportunities for operationalization (Howarth & Monasterolo, 2016). A framework for operationalizing the WEFE Nexus may be organized as shown here: Figure: A framework for operationalizing resource Nexus, as a sample (Source: Chapagain et al., under review) WEFE Nexus Capacity Building | Professional Course ‹#› 4.3 Operationalizing the WEFE Nexus | Framework Bridging the gap Data gap, knowledge gap, capacity gap Cultivating systematic insights/analytical viewpoints Analytical tools Compendium of case studies Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning (MEL) mechanism Harmonizing Nexus understanding & enabling environment Nexus economics (analysis, dissemination) Enabling environment (policy, legal, regulatory, etc.) Creating Nexus-aware society Appropriate system design and economic viability plays a major role for making new technologies scalable and commercializable (Lee et al., 2023). Operationalization requires mainstreaming the Nexus, operationalizing coordination, multi-stakeholder platform (MSP), capacity strengthening, etc. WEFE Nexus Capacity Building | Professional Course ‹#› 4.3 Operationalizing the WEFE Nexus | Nexus Mainstreaming Definition: Nexus mainstreaming involves integrating the WEFE Nexus approach into policies and practices across various sectors. Goal: To promote coordinated decision-making and resource management Approach: Partnerships, evidence-based approaches, scenario development, and multi-stakeholder dialogues Figure: Different levels & interpretation of mainstreaming (with an example of CC Adaptation) (Source: Persson, 2008) WEFE Nexus Capacity Building | Professional Course ‹#› Mainstreaming can be considered as a sub-set of operationalization. Mainstreaming of a concept indicates that its widely adopted by a government’s policies and programs, with regular and sufficient budget allocation. 37 4.3 Operationalizing the WEFE Nexus | Sectors & Scales Effective implementation of the WEFE Nexus necessitates seamless coordination among diverse sectors and government levels to achieve common goals. Strategies to operationalize coordination across sectors and government scales: Inter-ministerial committees and programs: Minimize administrative barriers — facilitate effective communication and collaboration among sectors and government levels Enhance coordination — jointly develop and implement strategies for water, energy, food, and ecosystem management 2. Strategic frameworks for infrastructure investment: Aligning objectives — ensure harmony between infrastructure investments across departments and government levels Coordinated resource allocation — optimize resource use for sustainable WEFE Nexus outcomes WEFE Nexus Capacity Building | Professional Course ‹#› 4.3 Operationalizing the WEFE Nexus | Sectors & Scales 3. Effective instruments for government coordination: Identify opportunities and bottlenecks — recognize investment potentials and challenges for collaborative solutions Managing joint competencies — foster cooperation to leverage expertise for comprehensive resource management 4. Incentives for regional and local government coordination: Geographic relevance — provide incentives to align regional and local investments with Nexus objectives Efficient resource utilization — ensure optimal utilization of resources based on local needs 5. Strengthening capacities for public investment: Effective vertical and horizontal coordination — enhance institutional capacity for coordinated decision-making Promote policy learning — support knowledge exchange and learning for improved governance and management WEFE Nexus Capacity Building | Professional Course ‹#› 4.3 Operationalizing the WEFE Nexus | MSP Coordination Mechanisms Multi-Stakeholder Platforms (MSPs) in the WEFE Nexus serve as dynamic forums that engage diverse stakeholders, including government, civil society, private sector, and communities. Ensuring diversity of representation includes: people (women, Dalits (low-caste individuals), different ethnicities), geographical representation of participants/stakeholders, etc. How MSPs can be utilized in the context of the WEFE Nexus: Facilitating stakeholder engagement: MSPs provide a platform for dialogue and collaboration among diverse actors in the WEFE Nexus. Example: Multi-Stakeholder & User Platform (MSUP) tailored for WEFE Nexus stakeholder engagement can foster participatory decision-making. Promoting information sharing: MSPs enable stakeholders to exchange data, knowledge, and best practices in the WEFE Nexus. Enhanced information sharing leads to more informed and evidence-based decisions, resulting in improved decision-making. WEFE Nexus Capacity Building | Professional Course ‹#› MSP – Multi-Stakeholder Platforms 40 4.3 Operationalizing the WEFE Nexus | MSP Coordination Mechanisms 3. Building Consensus: MSPs foster dialogue and negotiation among stakeholders to reach consensus in the WEFE Nexus. Conflict Resolution: Addressing conflicts and competing interests through open dialogue and understanding. 4. Supporting Multi-Stakeholder Actions: MSPs facilitate collaboration and coordination among various WEFE Nexus actors. Promoting Resilient Food Systems: Coordinated actions towards sustainable and resilient food systems. WEFE Nexus Capacity Building | Professional Course ‹#› 4.3 Operationalizing the WEFE Nexus | Participatory Policy-Making Participatory policy-making is a crucial approach that involves engaging stakeholders in WEFE Nexus decision-making processes (Abdi et al., 2020). Ensures that decisions reflect the needs and perspectives of all relevant actors Management and assessment models may be scientifically sound, but publicly unacceptable if developed ‘behind closed doors’ (Newell et al., 2019). In these instances, motivation, who was involved, construction methods, and utility of the model is obscure to stakeholders (Driessen and Glasbergen, 2002). Open and participatory approaches build familiarity, confidence and acceptance and enables diverse groups of participants to engage (van den Belt, 2004). Stakeholders will feel a sense of shared ownership and confidence in the process and output, which is then conveyed to policymakers and the public in ensuing management decisions (Newell et al., 2019). ‘Digital sharing platforms’ are a promising means of communicating Nexus complexity to diverse stakeholders (Albrecht et al., 2018). WEFE Nexus Capacity Building | Professional Course ‹#› 2.3 Operationalizing the WEFE Nexus | Participatory Policy-Making  Identifying and engaging key stakeholders Identify and involve key stakeholders in the WEFE Nexus, including government agencies, civil society organizations, private sector actors, and local communities. Holistic representation: Diverse stakeholder engagement (assuming representation of social diversity within a group) ensures holistic representation of interests and perspectives. How can participatory policy-making be applied in the context of the WEFE Nexus? Foster dialogue and collaboration among stakeholders through gender & socially inclusive multi-stakeholder platforms, workshops, and engagement mechanisms. Open communication: Creating spaces for dialogue fosters an inclusive and open exchange of ideas. Facilitating dialogue and collaboration Use gender & socially inclusive participatory methods like surveys, focus groups, and public consultations to incorporate stakeholder perspectives into decision-making. Inclusive Decision-Making: Involving stakeholders promotes inclusive and informed policy choices. Incorporating stakeholder perspectives into decision-making Emphasize transparency and accountability in decision-making through mechanisms like open data and public reporting adopted to diversity of audiences. Building Trust: Transparent decision-making builds trust and fosters credibility in the policy-making process. Promoting transparency and accountability WEFE Nexus Capacity Building | Professional Course ‹#› 4.3 Operationalizing the WEFE Nexus | Capacity Strengthening Capacity strengthening initiatives play a vital role in enhancing the knowledge, skills, and capabilities of WEFE Nexus stakeholders. These initiatives aim to build expertise and empower stakeholders to address challenges and opportunities in the Nexus. How can capacity strengthening be applied in the context of the WEFE Nexus? Developing training programs: Design and implement training programs to enhance stakeholders' knowledge and skills in the WEFE Nexus and promote critical reflection. Cover a wide range of topics, including water management, energy efficiency, sustainable agriculture, ecosystem conservation and good governance. Empower stakeholders with necessary knowledge for informed decision-making. WEFE Nexus Capacity Building | Professional Course ‹#› 4.3 Operationalizing WEFE Nexus | Capacity Strengthening 2. Promoting knowledge sharing: Foster knowledge sharing (including best practices) through platforms/networks. Encourage collaboration and cooperation among stakeholders for collective learning and problem-solving. 3. Providing technical assistance: Offer technical assistance to support stakeholders in implementing WEFE Nexus initiatives. Provide support for project design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation to enhance project success. 4. Strengthening institutional capacities: Focus on initiatives that enhance the ability of organizations to manage and govern resources in the WEFE Nexus in a collaborative way. WEFE Nexus Capacity Building | Professional Course ‹#› Exercise 4-4: Group Work [60 mins] Divide participants in 3-4 groups Each group considers an ideal case where the Nexus is fully operational. Group discusses key features/characteristics of such a situation Groups present in plenary about their case and what its Nexus operationalization looks like Discussion and synthesis of presentations WEFE Nexus Capacity Building | Professional Course ‹#› 4.3 Operationalizing WEFE Nexus | Sources and Further Reading Abdi, H., Shahbazitabar, M., & Mohammadi-Ivatloo, B. (2020). Food, energy and water Nexus: A brief review of definitions, research, and challenges. Inventions, 5(4), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.3390/inventions5040056 Albrecht, T. R., Crootof, A., & Scott, C. A. (2018). The Water-Energy-Food Nexus: A systematic review of methods for Nexus assessment. Environmental Research Letters, 13(4). https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/aaa9c6 Driessen, P. P., & Glasbergen, P. (2002). Greening Society. The paradigm shift in Dutch environmental politics. Howarth, C., & Monasterolo, I. (2016). Understanding barriers to decision making in the UK energy-food-water Nexus: The added value of interdisciplinary approaches. In Environmental Science and Policy (Vol. 61, pp. 53–60). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2016.03.014 Lee, B., Wang, L., Wang, Z., Cooper, N. J., & Elimelech, M. (2023). Directing the research agenda on water and energy technologies with process and economic analysis. Energy and Environmental Science, 16(3), 714–722. https://doi.org/10.1039/d2ee03271f Newell, J. P., Goldstein, B., & Foster, A. (2019). A 40-year review of food-energy-water Nexus literature and its application to the urban scale. Environmental Research Letters, 14(7). https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/ab0767 Persson, Å. (2008). EPIGOV Papers No . 36 Mainstreaming Climate Change Adaptation into Official Development Assistance : A Case of International Policy Integration. Sustainable Development, October, 2006–2008. van den BeltM2004 Mediated Modeling: ASystem Dynamics Approach to Environmental Consensus Building(Washington, DC: Island Press) WEFE Nexus Capacity Building | Professional Course ‹#› 4.4 Investing for WEFE Nexus Gains Cross-sectoral investment planning and financing Infrastructure requirements Capacity strengthening (individual institutional) Inclusivity: gender, differently-abled, casts, socio-economic status, etc. 48 Session Delivery Plan [1 hr, 30 mins] Time Activity Facilitator 20 minutes Lecture: WEFE Nexus infrastructure and investment planning Dr. Rishi Ram Kattel 40 minutes Exercise 4-5: Group Work – financing requirements, sources, and payback strategies for inclusive WEFE Nexus solutions Dr. Rishi Ram Kattel 10 minutes Lecture: Capacity strengthening Dr. Rishi Ram Kattel 15 minutes Exercise 4-6: Open Discussion – What types of capacity strengthening programs might be required for designing and implementing inclusive WEFE Nexus solutions? Dr. Rishi Ram Kattel 5 minutes Summary of session Dr. Rishi Ram Kattel WEFE Nexus Capacity Building | Professional Course ‹#› 4.4 Investments for WEFE Nexus Gains | Infrastructure Requirements Sustainable infrastructure: Develop sustainable and resilient infrastructure that considers the interconnections and interdependencies of the WEFE Nexus. Integrated design: Promote integrated design approaches that optimize resource use efficiency and minimize environmental impacts. Future-proofing: Consider future changes, such as climate variability, in infrastructure planning to ensure long-term sustainability. Social Infrastructure (foundation)? WEFE Nexus Capacity Building | Professional Course ‹#› What are the various types of infrastructure requirements for managing the WEFE Nexus? What about the need for social foundation/infrastructure? Shouldn’t this also be a part of WEFE Nexus investment planning? 50 4.4 Investments for WEFE Nexus Gains | X-Sectoral Investment Planning Coordinated approach: Adopt a coordinated and integrated approach to investment planning across water, energy, food, and ecosystem sectors. Nexus thinking: Embrace the principles of the Nexus approach to identify synergies and minimize trade-offs among different sectors, to prioritize investment. Multi-stakeholder engagement: Involve diverse stakeholders in the decision-making process to ensure a comprehensive understanding of needs and priorities. WEFE Nexus Capacity Building | Professional Course ‹#› Promote cross-sectoral investment planning with a coordinated, multi-stakeholder engagement approach. 51 4.4 Investments for WEFE Nexus Gains | Financing Strategies Diverse funding sources: Including public, private, and international financing to secure the necessary resources for Nexus initiatives. Blended finance: Utilize blended finance mechanisms to leverage public and private sector investments for maximum impact. Risk Management: Implement risk management strategies to address uncertainties and attract investors for long-term commitments. WEFE Nexus Capacity Building | Professional Course ‹#› What could be different models for financing? 52 Exercise 4-5: Group Work [40 mins] Divide participants in 3 groups Consider a hypothetical “inclusive WEFE Nexus solution” Alternatively, facilitator can give different Nexus solutions to different groups Discuss types of investment required to implement inclusive WEFE Nexus solutions, potential sources/partnership of financing, and strategies for payback of investment [25 minutes] Present results in plenary [4 minutes/group] Discussion and synthesis of key messages [3 minutes] WEFE Nexus Capacity Building | Professional Course ‹#› 4.4 Investments for WEFE Nexus Gains | Capacity Strengthening Individual Capacity: Invest in building the knowledge and skills of individuals involved in WEFE Nexus management to enhance their ability to make informed decisions. Institutional Capacity: Strengthen institutional capacities to govern and manage Nexus resources efficiently, enabling effective coordination and cooperation. Knowledge Sharing: Facilitate knowledge sharing and learning platforms to foster a culture of continuous improvement in Nexus management. WEFE Nexus Capacity Building | Professional Course ‹#› Capacity strengthening streams – individual, institutional, and facilitating knowledge sharing. 54 Exercise 4-6: Open Discussion [15 mins] What types of capacity building packages might be required for fostering proper design and implementation of inclusive WEFE Nexus solutions? 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