By: Nature Asia

The Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystem (WEFE) Nexus—a holistic framework that recognizes the deep interdependencies between water, energy, and food systems—is increasingly being translated from theory into policy and practice across the Arab region. Driven by acute water scarcity, reliance on energy exports, and growing food import dependency, countries are adopting integrated approaches to enhance resource security and sustainable development.

Several Arab nations have launched notable nexus-driven initiatives:

The United Arab Emirates leverages technology, integrating renewable energy with desalination and agricultural innovation. Projects like the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park and the Bustanica vertical farm—which uses 95% less water than traditional farming—exemplify this approach. The country aims to produce 90-100% of its desalinated water using renewables by 2030.

Egypt focuses on large-scale water recycling, channeling approximately 21 billion cubic meters of treated water annually for agriculture. Flagship projects include the Bahr El Baqar and Mahsama wastewater treatment plants, supported by the national green financing platform "NWFE" to attract climate investment.

Morocco has embedded the nexus into its National Strategy for Sustainable Development, utilizing policy tools like the 'Aquifer Contract' to manage groundwater sustainably while balancing agricultural, energy, and ecosystem needs.

Despite these advancements, experts highlight persistent gaps between theory and widespread implementation. Key challenges include fragmented governance and legislative frameworks that hinder cross-sector coordination, as well as funding obstacles. Investments in nexus projects are often complex, involving multiple sectors with longer payback periods, which can deter private sector participation.

Inas El-Gafy of Egypt’s National Water Research Centre notes that full-scale application remains largely confined to research centers, while Hussein El-Atfy of the Arab Water Council emphasizes the difficulty in structuring economically attractive, multi-sector investments. Nevertheless, the growing portfolio of successful pilots demonstrates the framework's potential. Embedding the WEFE Nexus into law and practice, experts argue, could fundamentally transform water from a source of regional vulnerability into a cornerstone of long-term security.