Mitigating risks and vulnerabilities in the energy-food-water nexus in developing countries

Abstract

This report analyses global nexus interconnections such as the dependence of food systems on energy at every stage of the food value chain. It identifies key drivers, which include economic and population growth, resource depletion, environmental degradation, climate change and globalisation. The study also inlcudes 3 case study countries (Malawi, South Africa and Cuba), which represent different levels and types of economic development and ‘socio-metabolic regimes’ (agrarian, industrial and agro-ecological). A wide range of mitigation strategies, policies and measures are put forward that can help developing country governments to manage the nexus more effectively. These include ways to strengthen institutions, governance and policy coherence, as well as technical measures to boost resilience and sustainability of energy, food and water systems and to accelerate a transition to green economies. A summary for policymakers of the report was published in 2015 In 2017, a further case study on Kenya was published. This research was supported by the UK Department for International Development’s Policy Research Fund