Central Asia Nexus Dialogue project: Fostering Water, Energy and Food Security Nexus Dialogue and Multi-Sector Investment (NEXUS)

Population growth, regional socio-economic development, climate change as well as changing consumption patterns contribute to increased demands for water, energy and food. To achieve security in all three WEF sectors, it is important to understand their interdependence and the inherent trade-offs necessary to meet the needs of the diverse users. Multi-sectoral cooperation and planning provides a framework for balancing the various interests of sectors in a sustainable manner. 

In Central Asia, WEF security is at the heart of socio-economic and human development. The need for an integrated use of water and energy resources is recognized at the highest political level. And as the water and energy resources of the region are highly imbalanced, WEF security can only be achieved through regional cooperation and multi-sectoral planning approach. In Central Asia, the project is implemented by CAREC in partnership with the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN).

Overall objective: To create a multi-sectoral enabling environment to facilitate sustainable and climate-resilient investments for increased water, energy, food security and ecosystems in Central Asia.

Specific objectives:

• Support of intersectoral cooperation in view of “water-energy-food security” nexus approach in investment planning process

• Strengthening of capacities of regional partners in intersectoral planning

• Mainstreaming of “water-energy-food” in linkages with ecosystems Nexus approach, and available solutions that could be on basin, national and regional levels.

• Strengthening dialogue and cooperation on the WEF Nexus that enables multisectoral planning and investments in the region.

• Strengthening capacities of regional institutions for multisectoral planning and implementation of WEF Nexus investment projects.

• Support during the selection of WEF Nexus investment projects as part of the Aral Sea Basin Planning process.

• National ministries and agencies of Central Asia countries dealing with water resource management, agriculture, energy, economy and investment issues

• International funds and financial institutions

• Expert society

• Creation and operation of a regional working group consisting of representatives of key project partners;

• Identification of existing challenges and possible solutions facing the practical implementation of the project's “water-energy-food” nexus approach in the Central Asian countries;

• Based on proposals of Inter-Agency Working Group, preparation of a list of investment projects in which one part represents multisectoral investment projects with two or more countries interested, and five national lists of investment projects. This list will include not only infrastructure, but institutional projects and potential sources of funding;

• Preparation of a list of investment projects for inclusion to regional action plans (ASBP, REAP);

• Building working relationships between members of the intersectoral working group and potential investors, such as the EU, IFCA, SDC, GIZ, USAID, EIB, EBRD, WB, which will help develop opportunities for raising additional funds in project activities (technology and knowledge attraction, pilot projects) and also help to raise funds for the development and financing of investment projects themselves after the completion of this project;

• Conducting several study visits within the Central Asian region and / or to Europe to study the practice of applying the “nexus approach”;

• Discussion of the Nexus approach and investment decisions at the f CAREC’s regional platforms and those of partners: Central Asian International Ecological Forum, Meetings of regional organizations, IFAS / ICSD meetings, Central Asian Leadership Program on Sustainable Development, etc .;

• Strengthening the capacity of IFAS / ICSD on the “nexus approach” and the process of planning multisectoral investment projects;

• In accordance with the results of the needs assessment, the development of knowledge products and methodological materials in support of the nexus approach: peer reviews / assessments, training module, recommendations for decision makers, etc .;

• Analytical and methodological materials on the “nexus approach” and its application are available on the online platforms of CAREC and partners: http://www.water-energy-food.org, www.nexus-dialogues-programme.eu, www.carececo. org.

• Findings of the study tour: Management of Danube and Sava River Basins, December 2019
  

• WEF Nexus Project Ideas. Investment portfolio, October 2019
  

• Senegal River basin case study, May 2018 

• Increasing returns on investment opportunities by applying a nexus approach, 2019

• Institutional gap analysis, 2019 
  

• Capacity needs assessment, 2019
  

• Nexus Bulletin № 1, 2019

• Project fact sheet  

• Policy brief №2.From Idea to Shared Benefits, June 2019
  

• Policy brief №1.Why Nexus?    
  

• «Nexus Game_reportage», sep 2019

• Implementation of nexus pilot project in Central Asia, December 2019

• Shorthand: Water, Energy and Food Security

• Project video: THE WATER-ENERGY-FOOD-SECURITY NEXUS APPROACH IN CENTRAL ASIA

• Publications of the project

• Second project interim report, 2018

• First project interim report, 2017   

• Stakeholder Analysis Report, 2018

• Nexus Resources Platform

• Final documents of the forth meeting of the Regional Steering Committee, June 2019
  

• Final documents of the third meeting of the Regional Steering Committee, October 2018 

• Final documents of the second meeting of the Regional Steering Committee,June 2018

• Final documents of the first meeting of the Regional Steering Committee. March 2018

• Nexus Bulletin. Special Edition

Project manager – Ms. Ludmilla Kiktenko 

E-mail: lkiktenko@carececo.org 

Tel.: +7 727 265 43 33 (ext. 107)

Meyer Kristin, IUCN project coordinator (Kristin.Meyer@iucn.org)