On the second day of the WEFE Nexus International Conference 2025, the spotlight was on Pillar 3: WEFE Nexus Solutions, a dynamic session dedicated to actionable strategies for addressing the complex interconnections between Water, Energy, Food, and Ecosystems.
The session opened with a powerful keynote by Mr. Bassel Daher (Texas A&M Energy Institute), highlighting the critical challenges and opportunities in navigating trade-offs within the WEFE Nexus. His presentation drew from multi-country experiences and set the stage for a day of rich exchanges and technical insights.
Key contributions focused on tools and decision-support systems that can enhance implementation and governance across Nexus sectors. These included:
- Nature-based solutions (NbS) and ancestral hydro-technologies for climate resilience and resource security, presented by Mr. Jordi Morató (UPC/SureNexus).
- The REWEF Nexus Assessment Tool, introduced by Mr. Johannes Hunink (FutureWater), designed to guide evidence-based decisions.
- The BONEX methodological framework and the WEFE 2.0 decision-making tool, presented by Mrs. Nora Schütze (UKS), offering a robust approach for integrated Nexus planning.
A highlight of the session was the presentation of demonstration cases from the BONEX and SureNexus projects, showcasing solutions in action. These case studies spanned diverse regions:
- BONEX case studies:
- Spain – Mr. Rafael Casielles (BIOAZUL)
- Morocco – Mrs. Mounia Ennami (IAV)
- Jordan – Mrs. Arwa Abdelhay (GJU)
- Portugal – Mr. Paulo Pereira (NBI)
- Lebanon – Mr. Walid El Kayal (AUB)
- SureNexus case studies:
- Mr. Lhou Beniken(INRA)
- Mr. Francesco Fanote (UNIVPM)
- Mrs. Giulia Berni (Planet)
- Mr. Nicolas Bedau (Ecolodge)
Together, these presentations emphasized the power of collaboration and innovation in overcoming silos and driving sustainable change. From ancestral knowledge to state-of-the-art decision tools, the session reinforced the potential of integrated approaches to transform policy and practice within the WEFE Nexus.
