The Nordic Africa Institute – Publications

Water is a climate connector and is the integral thread of the water-energy-food (WEF) nexus. Globally, increasing climate shocks and governance challenges are severely affecting water, energy and food security. Operationalizing WEF approaches and understanding the dynamics of cross-sectoral adaptation at a local level is of high importance. Here, we present two case study assessments on the WEF nexus. In the Rufiji Basin, Tanzania, we aim to understand the macro-scale dynamics of the nexus. In Turkana County, Kenya, we explore the stress factors and drivers within the sectors of water, energy and food at a local level. In Tanzania, all major hydroelectric power generation plants are located in the Rufiji Basin, which also has extensive irrigated agriculture. A preliminary assessment of the sectors indicated a lack of cross-sectoral harmony in resource management, with very limited attention given to resource governance mechanisms. In Turkana County, we looked at rural communities living in Nalemsekon village, whose nearest source of potable water is a solar-powered borehole located at an oil township in Lokichar. The communities sell charcoal at the oil township and use that income to buy water and food. According to a recently reported study in the oil drilling area in Lokichar, 58 % of the overall groundwater demand was utilized for oil production in 2019, with the demand expected to increase to 99 % in 2022. This puts communities in this region, which primarily rely on groundwater for their daily needs, under severe stress. To conclude, the case of Rufiji Basin shows how the increased water demand because of increased agricultural production and energy demand puts pressure on all three sectors. The case study in Turkana County provides insights into the local level cross-sectoral trade-offs, driven by the marginalized socioeconomic state of the communities, water scarcity and climate governance challenges.