Developing The Capacity Of Escwa Member Countries To Address The Water And Energy Nexus For Achieving Sustainable Development Goals

The water and energy nexus regional policy toolkit was prepared as part of the United Nations Development Account (UNDA) project on developing the capacity of ESCWA Member Countries to address the water and energy nexus for achieving Sustainable Development Goals. This project aims to build the capacity of ministries and public service providers in the Arab region to examine and address the water and energy nexus in an integrated manner.

ESCWA is implementing a UN Development Account (DA) Project on “Developing the Capacities of ESCWA Member Countries to Address the Water and Energy Nexus for Achieving Sustainable Developing Goals”. The DA project targets to strengthen the capacity of ESCWA member countries to achieve an integrated and sustainable management of water and energy resources to contribute to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The water-energy nexus, on the one hand, refers to the relationship between the water used for the production of energy, as a renewable resource for hydroelectricity production, and the energy/electricity generation process itself. On the other hand, it refers to the energy consumed in the extraction, treatment, distribution and disposal of different types of water. ESCWA is implementing a UN Development Account Project on "Developing the Capacities of ESCWA Member Countries to Address the Water and Energy Nexus for Achieving Sustainable Developing Goals". The DA project targets to strengthen the capacity of ESCWA member countries to achieve an integrated and sustainable management of water and energy resources to contribute to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The project is implemented through two parallel and complementary tracks. The first track targets high-level officials in ministries responsible for water and energy while The second track focuses on water and energy public service providers.

This book provides a comprehensive review of the roles played by the various programmes, autonomous organisations, specialised agencies and departments of the United Nations in assisting the developing world in attaining environmental objectives. It would be seen that almost all the various components of the United Nations have embraced environmental protection as part of their portfolios. This indicates the growing investment by the United Nations in the environment, particularly in developing countries. The evidence would suggest that the absence of coordination and rationalisation of activities may undermine the ability of the United Nations to deliver effective and efficient environmental assistance to developing countries. Ultimately, this book proposes a drastic restructuring of the United Nations insofar as environmental matters are concerned, hoping that scarce international funds will be well utilised and provide better money for value in environmental investment in developing countries.

This sixth issue of the ESCWA Water Development Report offers an analytical framework and a series of case studies for understanding the water-energy-food security nexus in the Arab region. The analytical framework considers the inter-linkages that affect the achievement of water security, energy security and food security through the lens of sustainable development and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals with a view to climate change and ensuring access to food, water and sustainable energy for all through a human rights approach to sustainable development.

The book’s primary intention is to serve as a roadmap for professionals working in developing countries interested in the Nexus Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystems (WEFE) approach. The book shows a multi-disciplinary approach, showcasing the importance of the proper use of Nexus WEFE when implementing certain development programs in regions around the globe. It can be presented as a manual for an individual that either wishes to implement intervention projects following the NEXUS approach or students interested in cooperation and development. The book begins with a general explanation of the theoretical concepts and implementation processes of Nexus WEFE and continues getting into case studies, explaining the importance of proper implementation and potential drawbacks and solutions to them. This book has a particular focus on the European Union cooperation policies when implementing such an approach in developing countries.

This sixth issue of the ESCWA Water Development Report offers an analytical framework and a series of case studies for understanding the water-energy-food security nexus in the Arab region. The analytical framework considers the inter-linkages that affect the achievement of water security, energy security and food security through the lens of sustainable development and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals with a view to climate change and ensuring access to food, water and sustainable energy for all through a human rights approach to sustainable development.