WEFe NEXUS INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE
About
The WEFE NEXUS International Conference, themed “Exploring and Bridging Nexus for a Sustainable Future,” was held on February 11-12, 2025, at the Institut Agronomique et Vétérinaire Hassan II in Rabat, Morocco. Jointly organized by the BONEX and SureNexus projects, both funded by PRIMA, this important event brought together a diverse group of researchers, policymakers, entrepreneurs, and practitioners from around the world to address the growing challenges and opportunities presented by the Water-Energy-Food-Environment (WEFE) Nexus.
In an increasingly interconnected world, the complex and interdependent relationships between water, energy, food, and the environment were more evident than ever. This reality was reflected in strategic frameworks and key policy documents from influential organizations such as the European Commission (EC), PRIMA, the United Nations (UN), UNESCO’s International Hydrological Programme (IHP), and the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM). While these frameworks acknowledged the importance of the WEFE Nexus, the gap between strategic objectives and real-world implementation remained significant. Practical experiences that successfully translated these strategies into actionable solutions were still limited and not widely recognized.
In this critical context, the WEFE NEXUS International Conference emerged as a platform to delve deeply into the challenges of implementing the WEFE Nexus. During the event, innovative strategies were explored to bridge this gap, aiming to make the Nexus more than just a theoretical framework but a dynamic tool for sustainable development. Through transdisciplinary discussions, the sharing of practical experiences, and collaborative efforts, participants worked to identify concrete solutions that integrated diverse stakeholders, including gender-focused approaches, effective governance frameworks, and disruptive technologies. Ultimately, the conference sought to forge new pathways to create enabling environments that harnessed the full potential of the WEFE Nexus.
Pillars
WEFE Nexus in Governance
We explore policy frameworks and institutional arrengements essential for the effective governance of WEFE resources.
Gender and the WEFE Nexus
Highlighting the crucial role of gender in managing WEFE resources, this theme promotes the empowerment of women in the Nexus approach.
WEFE Nexus Solutions
We showcase innovative solutions, including ancestral resource management practices, and discuss the challenges and opportunities for scaling these approaches to contribute to sustainable development.
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Keynote Speakers
Rachid
Mrabet
Speaker Bio
Research Director of INRA
Dr Rachid Mrabet received his PhD in Agronomy from Colorado State University in 1997. Dr Mrabet received his Ag. Engineer Diploma from a Joint-Program (IAV Hassan II Rabat and University of Minnesota) in 1989. He is a Research Director at the National Institute of Agricultural Research (Rabat, Morocco) with H index of 32. He has served as Coordinating Lead Author for IPCC WGIII on AFOLU and for MedECC as Coordinating Lead Author for Food chapter (MAR1). He is author for Special report on WEFE nexus for MedECC and currently Coordinating Lead Author for UNEP GEO-7. Vice President of WASWAC, Member of the International Conservation Agriculture Advisory Panel for Africa and Commissioner at IUCN (2017-2023). Dr Mrabet has authored 20 books, 66 book chapters and 82 papers in peer-reviewed journals. He has in his record 7 awards and coordinated or actively involved in more than 60 projects.
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Ali
Rhouma
Speaker Bio
Senior project officer at PRIMA foundation
Prof. Ali Rhouma is a senior project officer at PRIMA foundation responsible for Nexus Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystems. He conducted comprehensive assessments of water-energy-food systems and exhibited profound acumen in comprehending the intricacies of Energy-Water-Food Nexus policies in the Mediterranean region. He holds an agricultural engineering degree (INAT-Tunisia), European Master in environment at Swiss Federal Institute of Technology and a PhD in agriculture (UCBL-France). He has more than 20 years of experience in agricultural research in Tunisia and in the Mediterranean region and led several research and innovation projects and is a co-author and author of 122 publications and 4 National patents. He participated to several European projects (FP6, FP7, H2020) aiming to reinforce S&T policy dialogue in the Euro-Mediterranean region. He previously worked at Ministry of Agriculture – Tunisia as the director of Research Department.
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Laila
Mandi
Speaker Bio
Professor at Cadi Ayyad University
Laila Mandi is a Professor at Cadi Ayyad University in Marrakech, Morocco, specializing in water and environmental sciences. With over 30 years of expertise, she has pioneered sustainable water management solutions through research, education, and capacity-building initiatives. She has led national and international projects, supervised over 35 PhD students, and authored 200+ scientific publications. As Director of the National Centre for Studies and Research on Water and Energy (2007–2023), she advanced nature-based wastewater treatment solutions. Her contributions to SDG6 and SDG13 have earned prestigious awards, including the Islamic Development Bank Prize for Women’s Contribution to Development.
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Jordi
Morató
Speaker Bio
Director of the UNESCO Chair from the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya
Dr. Jordi Morató, Director of the UNESCO Chair on Sustainability at the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC) since 2008, brings over 30 years of expertise in research, education, and sustainable development project management. Holding a PhD in Microbiology from the Autonomous University of Barcelona, his work spans resource management, nature-based solutions, the WEFE Nexus, circular economy, water treatment, and participatory community development. Dr. Morató coordinates the SureNexus project and is a founding member of RECNET and the NATURA Network. An Advisory Committee member of the UNESCO Global Network of Water Museums, he has authored 15 books, 65 peer-reviewed papers, and supervised 15 PhD theses.
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Rafael
Casielles
Speaker Bio
Senior R&D project manager at BIOAZUL
Chemical Engineer from the University of Malaga with a focus on Environmental Engineering, and holds a Master degree in International Cooperation for Development. He is R&D senior consultant in BIOAZUL with more than 13 years of experience in the management of research and innovation projects. Rafael has worked in the validation and transfer of water reuse technologies in the frame of several EU projects such as TREAT&USE, RichWater and SUWANU EUROPE. Rafael is member of Body of Knowledge for Water Scarcitiy within EIT RIS programme and secretariat of the Working Group Water&Agri-food of the Water Europe Platform.
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Mohamed
Behnassi
Speaker Bio
Professor, Senior Expert and Director of CERES
Dr. Mohamed Behnassi is a full Researcher Professor of international law and politics of environment and human security. Currently, he serves as a Senior Environmentalist Expert at the Economic Social & Environmental Council (CESE), Rabat, Morocco. He is also the Founding Director of the Center for Environment, Human Security and Governance (CERES). He has a substantial publication and research record with a large number of books, scientific papers, and presentations in international conferences. In 2024, he was nominated as a Review Expert at the UNFCCC Roster of Experts (RoE) and a Member of the PRIMA Foundation Scientific Evaluation Committee (SEC). He is continuously providing expertise to the IPBES, Medecc, and CNRST/Morocco, organized several international scientific meetings, and managed many research and expertise projects on behalf of national and international organizations. He is also an independent CSR Senior Auditor.
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Rachid
Moussadek
Speaker Bio
Senior Scientist at ICARDA
Dr. Rachid Moussadek is a Senior Scientist specializing in Cropping Systems and Sustainable Intensification, serving as a Joint Researcher at ICARDA/INRA and Chair of FAO-Global Soil Partnership/GSP-NENA. He holds a Ph.D. in Sustainable Land Management from Ghent University and has over 25 years of experience in soil-climate-cropping systems, conservation agriculture, and climate change modeling. He has published over 30 peer-reviewed papers, coordinated numerous international projects, and advised MSc and PhD students. Dr. Moussadek is also an expert consultant for organizations like the World Bank, GIZ, and IFAD.
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Antonia
Lorenzo
Speaker Bio
CEO and R&D director at BIOAZUL
Agricultural Chemist, specialist in Environmental Engineering & Technology, currently doing her PhD in Economic evaluation of the use of reclaimed water in agriculture. She has worked for 20 years in the management and implementation of more than 60 national and international industrial and R&D&I projects, related to blue infrastructures, sustainable water management – treatment, water reuse, nature-based solutions – as well as circular economy and resources sustainability. She has been an external Expert for the European Commission since April 2012. Antonia is member of the Spanish Management Committee of the Circular City COST Action, of the EIT Food Supervisory Board and of the Governing Council of the Andalusian Knowledge Agency. Finally, she is mentor in the European Commission’s “EIC Women Leadership Program”.
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Antonella Autino
Speaker Bio
Project Coordinator, PRIMA Foundation
Dr. Antonella Autino, Ph.D. in Environmental Sciences from the University of Siena, has been the Coordinator of the PRIMA Partnership since 2018. PRIMA, supported by the EU Horizon 2020 framework, addresses water management, sustainable agriculture, and food systems in the Mediterranean. In 2024, she became Project Coordinator for a Horizon Europe initiative, fostering solutions for water and agricultural sustainability. A champion of gender equality in research, she launched PRIMA’s “Woman Greening Food Systems in the Mediterranean” award to celebrate women’s contributions to sustainable food systems. With over 20 years in EU research and innovation, including her work with SDSN Mediterranean (2013–2018) promoting the SDGs, Dr. Autino has shaped policies linking water, agriculture, and the environment. She also engages in EU Science Diplomacy and began her career with a Blue Book internship at the European Commission.
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Asmae
Diani
Speaker Bio
CEO of the Moroccan Center of Research and Studies on Social Entreprise
Dr. Asmae Diani is the co-founder and CEO of the Moroccan Center of Research and Studies on Social Enterprise, promoting social entrepreneurship through training, coaching, and startup incubation. She also serves as Vice President of the Moroccan Network of Social Economy Solidarity. Holding a PhD in Management Sciences from the University of Paris Est Créteil, a doctorate in Economic Sciences from the University of Fez, and a Master of Arts in Communication from Saginaw Valley State University, her work focuses on social business, inclusive entrepreneurship, and social impact assessment.
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Anna Dorangricchia
Speaker Bio
Programme Manager Gender Equality, Union for the Mediterranean
Programme Manager on Gender Equality at Union for the Mediterranean Secretariat (UfM), Ms Anna Dorangricchia coordinates the UfM Regional Policy Dialogue on Women empowerment and she is in charge of the UfM Monitoring exercises on gender indicators since 2020. Her expertise and skills are more specifically focused on women leadership in public and private sectors and on financial and digital inclusion of women entrepreneurs.
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Alexandra
Tsatsou
Speaker Bio
Senior researcher at National Technical University of Athens
Alexandra Tsatsou is an Architect Engineer and senior researcher at the Department of Water Resources and Environmental Engineering, School of Civil Engineering, National Technical University of Athens (NTUA), Greece. She specializes in climate change adaptation by mainstreaming Nature-based Solutions for water management and circularity into policy and urban planning. Her work focuses on integrating sustainable practices into water resources management to address the challenges of climate resilience and promote environmental sustainability in urban and regional planning.
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Olfa Mahjoub
Speaker Bio
Associate Professor/Senior Researcher at the National Research Institute for Rural Engineering, Water, and Forestry (INRGREF)
Dr. Olfa Mahjoub is Associate Professor/Senior Researcher at the National Research Institute for Rural Engineering, Water, and Forestry (INRGREF), Tunisia. She has over 20 years of experience in wastewater management in agriculture. Her strong collaboration with various stakeholders in R&D international projects is aiming at stimulating the adoption of good practices and innovations in water reuse. Her expertise in irrigation water quality is extended to the emerging contaminants in water resources observed from environmental and health perspectives. Former Director of the Agricultural Research Planning, Monitoring, and Evaluation at IRESA, she was overseeing the agricultural research programs and promoting excellence in research institutions. She holds a PhD in Water Sciences (University Montpellier 1, France).
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Gabriela
De Abreu
Speaker Bio
Researcher et the University of Almeria
Gabriela De Abreu Perez, a researcher at the University of Almeria, is a biologist with a master’s degree in conservation and natural resource management. Her work focuses on the intersection of human activities and environmental preservation, with expertise in ecosystem services assessment and environmental education. Gabriela is dedicated to understanding the relationship between ecosystems and human well-being, promoting sustainable practices through education and the evaluation of ecosystem services.
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Enrica Garau
Speaker Bio
Postdoctoral researcher
Enrica Garau holds a Ph.D. in Environmental Studies and is currently a Juan de la Cierva Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Almería. Her research explores human-nature relationships from a social-ecological perspective, examining people’s perceptions, value systems, and mental models associated with nature and ecosystems. Her current work focuses on the socio-cultural dimensions of urban nature, particularly in semi-arid urban contexts.
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Irene
Perez
Speaker Bio
Postdoctoral research associated at University FCT NOVA of Lisboa
Her research in ecology and sustainability sciences focuses on socioecological systems, using sociocultural valuation of biodiversity and ecosystem services, and analyzing impacts from direct and indirect drivers of Global Change. Aiming to build scientific evidence for sustainable transitions, she prioritizes participatory methodologies as essential for fostering fair transformations. Inspired by Anna Tsing’s idea that “Transformation through collaboration, ugly and otherwise, is the human condition,” her work seeks interdisciplinary approaches to understand climate change causes and impacts across social-ecological contexts, spanning geographical, temporal, and governance scales. Recent works includes the study on agroecosystems, exploring agricultural landscapes’ links to society, and advancing socioecological systems research through environmental sociology, landscape ecology, and agroecology.
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Olga Lucía
Sánchez
Speaker Bio
Project Promoter at the UNESCO Chair on Sustainability
Olga Lucía Sánchez is Project Promoter at the UNESCO Chair on Sustainability. A Physical Engineer from the University of Cauca with a Master’s in Mechatronic Systems from the University of Brasília, she specializes in researching new materials, experimental process design, and material characterization. Her work focuses on the interaction between matter and energy, developing eco-friendly energy solutions. She has contributed to public investment projects and collaborates closely with ethnic communities, applying her expertise to sustainable development and innovation in energy generation.
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Bassel
Daher
Speaker Bio
Assistant Director for Sustainable Development at Texas A&M Energy Inst.
Dr. Bassel Daher is Assistant Director for Sustainable Development at Texas A&M Energy Institute, Adjunct Assistant Professor in Biological & Agricultural Engineering, and Research Fellow at the Institute for Science, Technology, and Public Policy at Texas A&M University. With over 12 years of experience, his work focuses on food system transformation, energy transition, integrated water management, disaster risk reduction, planetary health, and climate action. He has authored over 65 publications and delivered 100+ invited talks, including a TEDx Talk on collective action for the SDGs. Dr. Daher has secured $7.9M in funding and consulted for organizations such as FAO, UNESCWA, and IWMI. He co-chaired the SDSN Zero Hunger Pathways Project (2020–2023) and serves on the Executive Board of IWRA. He holds a PhD from Texas A&M University, an MS from Purdue University, and a BS from the American University of Beirut.
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Johannes
Hunink
Speaker Bio
Water and Climate expert at FutureWater
Dr. Johannes Hunink is a senior water resources expert with nearly 20 years of international experience in research and consultancy. He is experienced in the use of simulation models and remote sensing for the assessment of water-related climate risks, water-for-food issues, hydropower, and water-related ecosystem-services. Trained as a computational geographer, he is skilled in integrating large datasets and satellite data into numerical tools to support strategic decision making. Johannes has been project manager and leading analyst in a wide range of projects around the world, of which several in the Mediterranean area. Currently he is Managing Director of FutureWater´s office in Cartagena, Spain.
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Nora
Schütze
Speaker Bio
Research associate at University of Kassel
Nora Schütze is a researcher at the Section of International Agricultural Policy and Environmental Governance, University of Kassel. She has a background in political science and received her PhD for her dissertation on determinants, patterns, and performance of coordination of polycentric water governance in Spain. Her research interests include natural resource governance with a particular focus on water and land, polycentric governance, policy analysis and institutional analysis. She has worked in several research projects such as STEER which analyzed coordination and cooperation in integrated and adaptive water management, or the GIZ-funded research project GovSoil on soil and water conservation in rainfed agriculture in Tunisia.
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Giulia
Berni
Speaker Bio
Junior Project Manager at Planet SRL
Giulia Berni holds a Master’s in Biotechnology for Environmental Management and Sustainable Agriculture, along with a National Qualification for Agronomist practice and a Master’s in Statistical Data Analysis. She is currently a Junior Project Manager at Planet SRL, working on EU-funded projects focused on developing and promoting the Mangrove Technology Platform, which supports agroforestry and agricultural activities in water-scarce areas.
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Paulo
Pereira
Speaker Bio
Chief Operating Officer at NBI – Natural Business Intelligence
Biologist (FCUL) with over 30 years’ experience in botany. Paulo collaborates with the Portuguese Botanical Society and has been co-author and technical coordinator of various works and studies, such as the ‘Sites of Botanical Interest in Portugal’, the ‘Red List of the Continental Flora of Portugal’ and the ‘Flora of mainland Portugal’, which includes more than 1,500 plant species. He coordinated the macroecology and conservation unit at the University of Évora, where he also lectured and supervised master’s theses. His entrepreneurial spirit led him to create Ideias Sustentáveis and Macromia, companies that have developed national and European projects in the field of territorial development and nature tourism, including the Rota da Água e da Pedra, with 9 routes and 200 tourist attractions in the districts of Aveiro and Viseu. Paulo is the Chief Operating Officer at NBI and is responsible for agroecology, ecossystems restauration and natural base solutions applied to natural, rural and urban areas.
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Jessica
Loureiro
Speaker Bio
Researcher at NOVA School of Science and Technology
Jessica Loureiro is an Environmental Engineer with a Master’s in Environmental Engineering from NOVA FCT, specializing in Environmental Systems. She is a researcher at NOVA FCT, contributing to the BONEX project in Portugal. Her work focuses on Strategic Environmental Assessments, ecosystem services evaluation, climate adaptation strategies, and stakeholder engagement. She has collaborated with national and international institutions on environmental impact assessments, policy monitoring frameworks, and ecosystem services research. Passionate about nature conservation, she works on biodiversity protection, ecological restoration, and sustainable land-use planning, promoting evidence-based policy and integrated environmental governance for resilient ecosystems.
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Arwa
Abdelhay
Speaker Bio
Professor in the department of Civil and Environmental Engineering of GJU
Arwa Abdelhay is a professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the German Jordanian University (GJU). She holds a PhD in Chemical Engineering and a professional diploma in Humanitarian WASH. She previously served as Dean of the School of Natural Resources Engineering at GJU. Prof. Abdelhay has coordinated and contributed to numerous internationally funded projects on water, sanitation, and climate adaptation. She is currently a consultant for Jordan’s National Climate Change Health Adaptation Strategy and represents the MENA region in the Sustainable Sanitation Alliance Steering Committee. Her research focuses on water security, integrated water resource management, and waste-to-energy solutions, with over 25 publications in international journals.
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Mounia
Ennami
Speaker Bio
Professor at the Institut Agronomique et Vétérinaire Hassan II
Pr. Mounia Ennami is a professor at the Institut Agronomique et Vétérinaire Hassan II, specializing in tree growing and irrigation optimization. Her research focuses on desalinated water, biofertilizers, and magnetized water to enhance crop productivity. She has contributed as an Institutional Principal Investigator in international projects like MEDILEG and BONEX under ARIMNET and PRIMA and has collaborated on molecular breeding research funded by Korea’s Rural Development Administration. Her expertise includes plant-pathogen interactions, biostimulants, genomics, and the NEXUS WEFE Framework. She is also dedicated to academic training, actively shaping teaching programs in Moroccan universities and institutes.
