The Evolution of the Water–Energy–Food Nexus …
57
approach for tracking the utilisation and management of resources at a given time. The
WEF nexus has become an important polycentric decision support tool that unpacks
and frames complex socio-ecological interactions. However, further research is
needed on developing scenarios to inform decision-making on balancing resource
management and achieve the 2030 Global Agenda on Sustainable Development.
3.5 Interpretation of the Indices
An outline of a country’s performance in the utilisation and development of resources,
together with the dynamics and transformations over time, is presented as a spider
diagram (Fig. 10). The centrepiece highlights the strengths of a country and identifies
priority areas that need intervention. The procedure allowed to quantitatively interpret the interlinkages among related sectors, through the AHP whose indices range
between 0 and 1. An index of 0 represents unsustainable resource management and
1 represents the best sustainability. The basis of the WEF nexus analytical model
is to assess, monitor, and track resource utilisation and performance, and it acts as
a guide in developing scenarios to achieve the desired sustainability. These are the
attributes that link the WEF nexus with SDGs. Depending on the composite index,
a country can set targets to achieve the desired balance in resource management to
ensure stability and security towards sustainable development. Although a country
can be ranked according to its WEF nexus integrated index, the aim is to move
towards sustainable development and attain the 2030 Global Agenda of the SDGs in
line with national strategies and plans, rather than a comparison with other countries.
The results presented on the spider graph provide decision-makers with evidence
and indicate where interventions are critically needed. Realistic targets are then set as
guided by the analytical framework. In this case study of South Africa, interventions
could target the provision of safe and reliable water, and clean and safe energy and
improve on crop productivity. This is particularly relevant for South Africa as it
states in the National Development Plan (NDP) to increase the area under irrigation
by 149,000 ha in order to ensure food security [69]. Nexus planning provides a
platform for stakeholder engagement, which facilitates the formulation of coherent
strategies that guide policy- and decision-making. This is of fundamental importance
as the process identifies synergies and trade-offs at the right time among for prompt
interventions.
3.6 Applications of the WEF Nexus Analytical Framework
The WEF nexus has evolved into a multi-purpose and multi-centric framework
used as either a conceptual framework, discourse tool, analytical framework or an
assessment tool [12, 33, 77]. The development of WEF nexus analytical framework has paved the way for a host of opportunities that include, among others:
57
approach for tracking the utilisation and management of resources at a given time. The
WEF nexus has become an important polycentric decision support tool that unpacks
and frames complex socio-ecological interactions. However, further research is
needed on developing scenarios to inform decision-making on balancing resource
management and achieve the 2030 Global Agenda on Sustainable Development.
3.5 Interpretation of the Indices
An outline of a country’s performance in the utilisation and development of resources,
together with the dynamics and transformations over time, is presented as a spider
diagram (Fig. 10). The centrepiece highlights the strengths of a country and identifies
priority areas that need intervention. The procedure allowed to quantitatively interpret the interlinkages among related sectors, through the AHP whose indices range
between 0 and 1. An index of 0 represents unsustainable resource management and
1 represents the best sustainability. The basis of the WEF nexus analytical model
is to assess, monitor, and track resource utilisation and performance, and it acts as
a guide in developing scenarios to achieve the desired sustainability. These are the
attributes that link the WEF nexus with SDGs. Depending on the composite index,
a country can set targets to achieve the desired balance in resource management to
ensure stability and security towards sustainable development. Although a country
can be ranked according to its WEF nexus integrated index, the aim is to move
towards sustainable development and attain the 2030 Global Agenda of the SDGs in
line with national strategies and plans, rather than a comparison with other countries.
The results presented on the spider graph provide decision-makers with evidence
and indicate where interventions are critically needed. Realistic targets are then set as
guided by the analytical framework. In this case study of South Africa, interventions
could target the provision of safe and reliable water, and clean and safe energy and
improve on crop productivity. This is particularly relevant for South Africa as it
states in the National Development Plan (NDP) to increase the area under irrigation
by 149,000 ha in order to ensure food security [69]. Nexus planning provides a
platform for stakeholder engagement, which facilitates the formulation of coherent
strategies that guide policy- and decision-making. This is of fundamental importance
as the process identifies synergies and trade-offs at the right time among for prompt
interventions.
3.6 Applications of the WEF Nexus Analytical Framework
The WEF nexus has evolved into a multi-purpose and multi-centric framework
used as either a conceptual framework, discourse tool, analytical framework or an
assessment tool [12, 33, 77]. The development of WEF nexus analytical framework has paved the way for a host of opportunities that include, among others: