The Evolution
of the Water–Energy–Food Nexus
as a Transformative Approach
for Sustainable Development in South
Africa
Stanley Liphadzi, Sylvester Mpandeli, Tafadzwanashe Mabhaudhi,
Dhesigen Naidoo, and Luxon Nhamo
Abstract Water scarcity, as one of the top three risks to livelihoods, continues to
dominate the global development agenda. Research is faced with the task of developing water knowledge and innovation solutions to support policy and decisionmaking on formulating coherent strategies that drive sustainable socio-economic
development. In South Africa, the Water Research Commission (WRC) and its partners have taken the lead in providing transformative solutions for socio-economic
development in the face of multiple and interlinked challenges. Although the WRC
has championed integrated approaches such as Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM), since 2011, and in line with emerging global trends, the focus has
shifted to the more polycentric water–energy–food (WEF) nexus. The WRC has
since instituted a WEF Nexus Lighthouse, a cross-cutting research, development, and
innovation flagship programme that cuts across all its Key Strategic Areas (KSAs).
Several research projects across the KSAs are linked to the WEF Nexus Lighthouse,
following a defined research trajectory to inform resource management, decisionmaking, and policy. This study details the evolution of the WEF nexus as a polycentric and transformative framework that addresses various societal and environmental
challenges in an integrated manner. We highlight the achievements made towards
transforming the WEF nexus from being only a conceptual and discourse framework
into an analytical decision support tool. Policy decisions that are based on WEF nexus
have the potential to improve livelihoods and enhance sustainable socio-economic
development for the achievement of the 2030 Global Agenda on Sustainable Development. The approach addresses complex socio-ecological by providing a strategic
evidence base for informing policy- and decision-making.
S. Liphadzi · S. Mpandeli · D. Naidoo · L. Nhamo (B)
Water Research Commission, Lynwood Manor, Pretoria 0181, South Africa
e-mail: luxonn@wrc.org.za
T. Mabhaudhi · L. Nhamo
Centre for Transformative Agricultural and Foo Systems, School of Agricultural, Earth and
Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
S. Mpandeli
School of Environmental Sciences, University of Venda, Thohoyandou, South Africa
© The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2021
S. S. Muthu (ed.), The Water–Energy–Food Nexus,
Environmental Footprints and Eco-design of Products and Processes,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-0239-9_2
35
of the Water–Energy–Food Nexus
as a Transformative Approach
for Sustainable Development in South
Africa
Stanley Liphadzi, Sylvester Mpandeli, Tafadzwanashe Mabhaudhi,
Dhesigen Naidoo, and Luxon Nhamo
Abstract Water scarcity, as one of the top three risks to livelihoods, continues to
dominate the global development agenda. Research is faced with the task of developing water knowledge and innovation solutions to support policy and decisionmaking on formulating coherent strategies that drive sustainable socio-economic
development. In South Africa, the Water Research Commission (WRC) and its partners have taken the lead in providing transformative solutions for socio-economic
development in the face of multiple and interlinked challenges. Although the WRC
has championed integrated approaches such as Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM), since 2011, and in line with emerging global trends, the focus has
shifted to the more polycentric water–energy–food (WEF) nexus. The WRC has
since instituted a WEF Nexus Lighthouse, a cross-cutting research, development, and
innovation flagship programme that cuts across all its Key Strategic Areas (KSAs).
Several research projects across the KSAs are linked to the WEF Nexus Lighthouse,
following a defined research trajectory to inform resource management, decisionmaking, and policy. This study details the evolution of the WEF nexus as a polycentric and transformative framework that addresses various societal and environmental
challenges in an integrated manner. We highlight the achievements made towards
transforming the WEF nexus from being only a conceptual and discourse framework
into an analytical decision support tool. Policy decisions that are based on WEF nexus
have the potential to improve livelihoods and enhance sustainable socio-economic
development for the achievement of the 2030 Global Agenda on Sustainable Development. The approach addresses complex socio-ecological by providing a strategic
evidence base for informing policy- and decision-making.
S. Liphadzi · S. Mpandeli · D. Naidoo · L. Nhamo (B)
Water Research Commission, Lynwood Manor, Pretoria 0181, South Africa
e-mail: luxonn@wrc.org.za
T. Mabhaudhi · L. Nhamo
Centre for Transformative Agricultural and Foo Systems, School of Agricultural, Earth and
Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
S. Mpandeli
School of Environmental Sciences, University of Venda, Thohoyandou, South Africa
© The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2021
S. S. Muthu (ed.), The Water–Energy–Food Nexus,
Environmental Footprints and Eco-design of Products and Processes,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-0239-9_2
35