The document discusses the EU-led "Nexus Dialogues" Programme, which aims to promote an integrated approach to managing water, energy, and food resources across five regions from 2016-2018. The €6.17 million program will establish policy dialogues to develop nexus recommendations and action plans. It will also support studies, small pilot projects, and an evaluation to guide further investment in larger projects from 2017 onward. The program aims to strengthen the nexus approach within national policies and the Sustainable Development Goals related to water, energy, and agriculture.

1. for action
The Nexus Dialogues EU Programme
Sophie Lainé, DG DEVCO C.5: Water,
Infrastructure and Cities
EUWI EECCA Working Group: 12-13th May 2016

2. The Nexus concept
What is the Water-Energy-Food Nexus?
Water, energy and land are part of the same ecosystem. The nexus is an innovative approach
that aims at strengthening an integrated approach of the management of these resources.

3. Background (1)
The Water-Energy-Food Security Nexus: Moving from concept to
implementation
• Bonn2011 Conference: "The Water, Energy and Food Security Nexus:
Solutions for the Green Economy";
• The BMZ/GIZ 'Nexus Resource Platform' established for a growing Nexus
community
• Agenda for Change (2011) drove a step-change towards a new approach
for integrated management of water resources in relation to the focus on
energy and agriculture.
• The 2011/2012 EU Development Report urging the international
community to radically transform approaches to managing water, energy
and land;
• Berlin2013 Conference: "Realizing the Water, Energy and Food Security
Nexus” highlighted the relevance of regional cross-sectorial dialogue
processes led by regional organisations;

4. Background (2)
• Support from EUMS Development Agencies (GIZ, SIDA, ADA and AFD) to mentor
regional and basin organisations and country processes towards an
operationalisation of the Nexus perspective;
• Work of international organisations such as UNECE, OECD, FAO and that of NGOs
(IUCN) to foster Nexus Dialogues in specific regions and countries. Work and
support from other major donors: USA, World Bank etc. to help develop multi-
sector investment programmes at basin-level.
• European Council Conclusions on water diplomacy from 2013 and 2015:
recommendation that countries, international organisations, regional and sub-
regional bodies adopt a comprehensive response to reconciling different uses of
water resources: drinking/sanitation, agriculture, food production, industry and
energy etc.
• Incremental adoption of nexus principles within National Policy Dialogues on
water/EU Water Initiative.

5. The "Nexus Dialogues"
Programme
Across development cooperation and thematic actors there is agreement for
coordinated Nexus action…
The EU-led "Nexus Dialogues" Phase I (2016-2018) EUR 6,17 million proposes to strategically steer
on-going and newly established demand-driven Nexus policy-dialogue approaches in FIVE regions:
•Africa (Nile, Niger and SADC)
•Latin America
•Asia (Mekong Area)
•Central Asia (Aral Sea region)
•Neighbourhood (with particular focus on the Mediterranean region)
with a view to achieving substantial outcomes, namely, Nexus policy recommendations and
concrete endorsed Nexus action plans that can benefit from Phase II (project implementation can
start from 2017 onwards when further funds would be mobilised for leveraging investment in larger-
projects).
This action will also finance support studies, building up teams of nexus experts (women targetted)
from the countries/regions, small-pilot projects and an evaluation and a feasibility study to guide
Phase II i.e. leveraging of investment projects.

6. The SDGs and the link to
the Nexus
Adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals in September 2015 in NY
(Nexus SDGs: Goal 2 (zero hunger), Goal 6 (clean water and sanitation) and
goal 7 (affordable and clean energy)

7. The Nexus in Central Asia
• Milan Ministerial 2015 commitment by Central Asian countries to the Nexus concept and its
implementation.
• Nexus discourse included in National Policy Dialogues in Central Asian countries to date can
be strengthened in the next phase (under preparation) of the EU regional programme for
water & environment in Central Asia.
• Build on key work to date by UNECE, OECD, IUCN/IWA, GIZ, World Bank, (CAWECOOP project
is financed by the EU) and other partners and donors on mapping, indicators, data collection,
modelling, and multi-sector investment planning.
• Nexus opportunities present in drafting, implementation and management of sectoral reform,
which can reduce cost, make investments more sustainable and remove trade-offs.
• Opportunity to strengthen the nexus focus within the new EC IFAS Secretariat moving to
Turkmenistan in 2016.
• €650,000 available for High-level Energy/Agricultural/Water dialogue (building on the work of
the CAWECOOP project) to develop Nexus Action Plans at national and regional level for the
identification of multi-sector investment projects that could be financed by Phase II of this

8. Proposed
organisational
structure
Nexus Secretariat (GIZ, Germany)

9. for action
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10. for action
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