The Water-Energy-Food in Africa Initiative is excited to share with you updates on the current news and events, ways to get involved, and upcoming items to be on the lookout for. |
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Member Registration and Collaborative Platform
If you have not yet done so, we highly encourage interested participants to join the WEF Nexus in Africa Initiative as a member of our website and the Collaborative Platform.
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Water-Energy-Food Nexus in Africa Initiative Hosted 2nd Round of Four Webinar Series in 2021
Water-Energy-Food Nexus in Africa Initiative, in collaboration with FAO, WE4F, GIZ Nexus Dialogues, and SEI successfully hosted four webinar series on year 2021 with the theme focused on "Solutions Using Water-Energy-Food Nexus Approaches". These webinar series were scheduled for dates September 14, October 19, November 16, and December 14, 2021. The first webinar series was focused on disaster resilience and discussed different approaches across Africa to prevent, mitigate and address disaster risk and resilience, specifically through a water-energy-food nexus lens with solutions in mind. The second webinar series presented different approaches for WEF Nexus transboundary cooperation and governance from three different regions: Southern Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean and the Niger Basin. The third webinar series provided insight into the role of photovoltaics in community farming in Gambia and described the models behind existing projects and investment strategies/behaviors within a local framework. Finally, fourth series discussed financing models for Smallholders and other End-users in the WEF-Nexus with special focus on the West Africa Region. WEF Nexus in Africa is planning for more webinar sessions in 2022. Stay tuned.
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Why Water Nexus is a Hot Topic?
The need for water is increasing with the increase in water shortage and desertification warnings in several parts of the world. It is expected that water demand will rise by 55% in 2050. It has also been noted that 80% of global wastewater is not adequately treated. Therefore, the circular economy approach of reusing treated wastewater could act as a solution to reduce demand on limited water resources and could benefit several power plants, mills, factories and most importantly provide direct climate benefits. In addition, the treatment of sewage water helps to reduce greenhouse gases too.
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How USA can Become Carbon Neutral?
In 2018, the US energy sector consumed around 101.3 quadrillion BTUs of energy, out of which 11% came from renewable energy sources. This necessitates not only the need to increase renewable energy generation capacity, but also retrofit and upgrade existing buildings with proper insulation, windows, walls, energy conscious HVAC systems, and smart energy information systems and also built the new ones following energy efficient regulations. Several policies from local, state, and federal agencies can contribute to make a carbon neutral America.
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Lessons Learnt from "The Synthesis of Experiences in Transboundary Basins"
The five take home messages discovered from the synthesis of experiences in transboundary basins include (1) transboundary basins have enough potential to generate benefits across water, food, energy, and ecosystem, (2) these basins can handle water and environment related issues through nexus solutions (3) transboundary cooperation can facilitate the cross- sectoral dialogue needed to develop water infrastructure, (4) highlights the need to understand the inter- sectoral linkages to prioritize key issues and solutions, and (5) three main components for nexus solution and investment are cross cutting regional strategies, river basin plans and financial support from financial institutions.
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NEXOGENESIS Website is Finally Out!
NEXOGENESIS is a 4-year European collaborative project financed by the European Commission under the H2020 program. It aims at facilitating the next generation of effective and intelligent water related policies utilizing artificial intelligence and reinforcement learning to assess the Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystem (WEFE) nexus. This project will validate three solutions, (a) cross-sectoral policy-making framework developed for and validated by stakeholders, (b) self-Learning Nexus Assessment Engine exploring the consequences of possible policy options, and
(3) WEFE Nexus Footprint to track impacts of policy objectives and communicate results in a more digestible way.
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Water, Energy, Food Nexus Virtual Innovation Week: Paving the Way Towards Entrepreneurship
The NEX-LABS and PHEMAC innovation week is hosting an online event in January 17- 20, 2022 to discuss about Water, Energy and Food (WEF) NEXUS status and realities in Tunisia and the Euro-Mediterranean Region and to forge strategic partnerships across Europe and the Middle East and North Africa
(MENA) region. The event is open for SMEs, startups, academics, researchers, experts, tech-transfer offices, policy makers and R&D
institutions linked to the field of Water, Energy & Food. Registration is required.
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International Conference on Soil, Water and Environment: Challenges and Solutions (SWECS 2022)
The SWECS conference is scheduled for March 28-29th, 2022 in Fkih Ben Saleh city in the center of Beni Mellal-Khenifra region in Morocco. This conference aims to provide a platform to share experiences and attract further partnerships to address challenges and needs to preserve a healthy and sustainable environment for future generations and initiate new partnerships for sustainable development.
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Registration Open: 5th World Congress on Agroforestry 2022: Transitioning to a Viable World
Registration is now open for the 5th World Congress on Agroforestry 2022: Transitioning to a Viable World that will take place in Québec City, Canada, on July 17-20, 2022. Both in person and virtual participation are allowed. This congress aims to stimulate an open and inclusive dialogue between various stakeholders from around the world including farmers, researchers, advisors, policy makers, and representatives from the government, the civil society and the private sector. Early registration deadline is March 15, 2022.
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The Nexus Approach to Water–Energy–Food Security: An Option for Adaptation to Climate Change
By: Golam Rasul and Bikash Sharma
This article presents Hindu Kush Himalayan region as an example to understand the interconnection between water-energy-food nexus and climate change adaptation. The authors discuss the potential synergies, trade-offs, and offers a broader framework for making adaptation responses more effective. The article concludes that nexus-based adaptation approach is crucial for effective adaptation.
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Vacancy// External Surveyors for Water and Energy or Food (WE4F)
WE4F’s USAID Secretariat Unit is seeking graduate students with a background in water, agriculture, technology innovation, quantitative studies, international business, and/or development economics to provide monitoring and evaluation support by conducting in-country field research and data collection with WE4F innovators in Egypt. The ideal candidate will be comfortable learning about, and synthesizing data concerning innovators and innovation ecosystems and will have experience organizing data for consumption by non-technical audiences.
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Vacancy// Consultant for Off-Grid Energy Sector in Uganda
Beyond the Grid Fund for Africa (BGFA) is seeking a consultant to provide training courses within off-grid energy sector in Uganda. the training aims to develop participants’ technical, sales and business skills within the area of solar home systems and mini-grids with the goal to support the creation of local jobs and in particular women’s participation within off-grid energy sector. There are no eligibility restrictions on the nationality of the Consultant. Application closes on 27 January 2022.
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Vacancy // Food Systems Research Internship
The Rhode Island Food Policy Council (RIFPC) seeks a part-time paid Food Systems Research Intern to (a) perform research and analysis leading to a better understanding of Rhode Island’s food system, (b) share findings about comparative research methodologies via a concise, public-facing report and (c) contribute to the development of an online metrics dashboard and a ‘2020 RI Food System Metrics’ report. This is a part-time position working 10-15 hours per week at $15 per hour.
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For more job, internships, or partnership opportunities visit the
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General Notice
Please send relevant news, events, or activities to Michael Jacobson to be published to site or featured in newsletter.
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Virtual Training // SPIS Toolbox: Online-Trainings for on Solar Powered Irrigation Systems Advisors
GIZ along with its WE4F Partners are pleased to announce a series of Online Training Courses on Solar Powered Irrigation Systems for Advisors.
In the six interactive online Trainings, participants will learn how to use the most relevant Excel-tools of the SPIS-Toolbox. The Toolbox was developed by FAO and GIZ to guide and support advisors, service providers and practitioners who want to
- Calculate the water amount needed for irrigation
- Size a suitable pump and the electrical energy needed to supply these pumps
- Advise small holder farmers and help them to decide whether the use of solar energy is useful frim both an economic as well as from an ecological perspective
- Support and inform deciders from the private, financial and institutional sector to install solar-powered irrigation systems.
Training Dates
- 25./26./27. January 2022 – French language
- 22./23./24. February 2022 – English language
- 22./23./24. March 2022 – French language
- 17./18./19. May 2022 – English language
- 20./21./22. September 2022 – French language
Courses are full time – daily training time for the three days will be from 09:00 until 17:00 GMT+1 with a break during lunch time.
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