The implementation of the Water-Energy-Food Nexus (WEFN) integrated approach is proving effective in preserving natural resources and promoting human well-being and economic growth through the development of innovative and inclusive solutions in the face of insecurities and external chocks.

However this approach is confronted with numerous challenges, particularly when looking at the Mediterranean Partners Countries (MPC), which are facing serious implications of climate change such as droughts, floods and extreme weather conditions affecting their food security, water resources and livelihoods. Despite the existence of some national initiatives targeting the availability and efficiency of food, water and energy productions, a WEFN approach is hardly existent in these countries.

In this context, the Technology Transfer and Capitalization of Water Energy Food NEXUS (WEF-CAP) project seized an opportunity to efficiently capitalize WEFN practices, commercialization tools and methodologies. Following the mapping and stocktaking exercises of WEF best practices in the EU-MPC region[2] and in order to better integrate stakeholders in the formulation of adequate policies for an adapted WEFN approach, a public consultation was conducted targeting multi-stakeholders in the region. The results confirmed the need to enhance public awareness about climate change and WEFN in particular, the urgent need to create adequate legal framework that ensures an integrated natural resource management, the need to enhance efficient cooperation between the different actors in the three sectors, the urgent need for financial instruments to help implement the required strategies, better regional cooperation that takes into account climate and WEFN issues and an enabling environment conducive to innovation.

The Third Policy Brief, which is produced as part of the series of Policy Briefs undertaken in partnership between FEMISE, RSS, ANPE, CRES, UNICT, UAB and ECITD in the WEF-CAP project, is entitled: The Technology Transfer and Capitalization of Water Energy Food NEXUS: Evaluation of WEF Nexus best practices for replication in the Mediterranean region by Dr. Maryse Louis & Ms. Sophie Dahdouh, FEMISE.  Download The full Policy Brief 3 in English  and Arabic

Structure

1. Introduction
2. Successful national initiatives to face the WEF challenges 
3. Water-Energy-Food Capitalization (WEF-CAP): A Public Consultation
   3.1. Structure of the respondents

   3.2. Public Perception and awareness about status of the Climate Change in the EU-MPC region

   3.3. Public expectations and perception about governments’ approach towards climate change and recommendations

   3.4. Public understanding of Water-Energy-Food interdependence and Challenges in the EU-MPC region

   3.5. Public perception about Challenges and priorities in implementing WEFN practices

   3.6. Public perception about importance of regional cooperation in WEFN practices

   3.7 Public perception on the impacts derived from the WEFN practices implementation: WEF CAP project outputs validation

4. Conclusion