Webinars 1 & 2 - Organizers: FAO in collaboration with Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) and Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm (KTH )
The first two webinars of this series focused on examples from the NENA region and specifically from Morocco and Jordan piloting the development of an integrated nexus model to inform strategic planning. On the 2 February 2021, the session “Understanding the nexus and nexus challenges: Examples from the NENA region” covered nexus concepts and provided a framework to identify nexus challenges. It also illustrated with example from continental aquifer, central Europe, Morocco and Jordan. On February 15, the session “Tools and Methods to find Nexus Solutions: Examples from Morocco and Jordan” discussed tools and methods to find nexus solutions, providing a framework and examples from Jordan and the Souss Massa region of Morocco.
The first two webinars involved a hands-on activity for participants and attracted more than 340 participants presenting different governmental, academic, international/national institutions from more than 30 countries, with experts demonstrating tools and methods to identify nexus solutions and discussing lessons learned from their work in MENA and around the world.
Session 1: Understanding the nexus and nexus challenges: Examples from the NENA region
The first session covered nexus concepts and provides a framework to identify nexus challenges. Example applications will be shown from around the world and there will be a hands-on experience for participants.
Find the webinar recording here:
Dgroup for Nexus (registration required): https://dgroups.org/fao/water-energy-food-nexus/library
SEI’s website: https://www.sei.org/events/fao-water-energy-food-nexus-webinar-series/
Session 2: Tools and Methods to find Nexus Solutions: Examples from Morocco and Jordan
Experts discussed tools and methods to find nexus solutions, providing a framework and examples from Jordan and the Souss Massa region of Morocco. There was a hands-on activity for participants.
Find the webinar recording here:
Dgroup for Nexus (registration required): https://dgroups.org/fao/water-energy-food-nexus/library
SEI’s website: https://www.sei.org/events/fao-water-energy-food-nexus-webinar-series/
Session 3: A Water-Energy-Food Nexus approach for evaluating the sustainability of the Mediterranean Diet: The Case of Lebanon
Organizers: FAO in collaboration with the American University of Beirut (AUB)
This session described the water-energy-food interconnectivity and the analysis for evaluating the sustainability of the Mediterranean diet and discussed the Farmers’ perspectives about production scenarios in Lebanon. A background about the FAO-AUB collaboration was presented with a focus on the scope of developing a WEF nexus framework for the Bekaa Valley. Then the AUB team highlighted the objectives, methodology used, scenarios, results and tradeoffs. In addition to the project outcomes and policy implications.
The webinar involved a hands-on activity for participants and attracted more than 158 participants presenting different governmental, academic, international/national institutions from different countries.
Find the webinar recording here:
Dgroup for Nexus (registration required): https://dgroups.org/fao/water-energy-food-nexus/library
SEI’s website: https://www.sei.org/events/fao-water-energy-food-nexus-webinar-series/
Session 4: The WEF Nexus on the ground: practical applications from the Maghreb and West Africa
Organizers: FAO in collaboration with the Nexus Regional Dialogues and Water Energy for Food (GIZ).
This session presented a showcase evidence and experiences that demonstrate the relevance of the WEF Nexus for sustainable agriculture.
A background about the NEXUS Regional Dialogue Programme was presented with a focus on practical applications from the Maghreb countries (Tunisia and Morocco). Then, the GIZ team presented the WEF Nexus policymaking for sustainable solutions with practical examples of Solar Pumping Irrigation Systems (SPIS) and Small-scale farming in Tunisia and Morocco. Then, a practical application from West Africa have been introduced.
The webinar involved a hands-on activity for participants and attracted more than 125 participants presenting different governmental, academic, international/national institutions from different countries.
Find the webinar recording here:
Dgroup for Nexus (registration required): https://dgroups.org/fao/water-energy-food-nexus/library
SEI’s website: https://www.sei.org/events/fao-water-energy-food-nexus-webinar-series/
Session 5: Nexus and sustainability in theory and practice: Examples from Iran
Organizers: FAO in collaboration the Nexus & HSE Center, AmirKabri University Foundation - Iran
The session presented and discussed how the nexus connects to sustainability and introduce Sustainability Transition Pathways.
The session also presented some Nexus and sustainability theories, some existing Nexus simulation tools (examples from Qazvin & Khuzestan). It covered the prospective nexus tools and provided some hands-on examples for the participants, nexus mind-maps & a few exercises to work on.
Find the webinar recording here:
Dgroup for Nexus (registration required): https://dgroups.org/fao/water-energy-food-nexus/library
SEI’s website: https://www.sei.org/events/fao-water-energy-food-nexus-webinar-series/
Session 6: WEF Nexus in practice; multi-scalar case studies and a WEF Nexus Index
In this webinar, three perspectives are presented aiming to demonstrate the WEF Nexus in practice. The first comes from the recent SIM4NEXUS project, showing the process of complex WEF nexus model development in the EU, including the incorporation of policies, and the development of online WEF nexus serious games. The second, from the ongoing WEF-Tools project illustrates ongoing, practically-relevant nexus research for the SADC and MENA regions. The final perspective showcases the development of a globally applicable WEF Nexus Index to track nexus performance in a concise, understandable manner.
Find the webinar recording here:
Dgroup for Nexus (registration required): https://dgroups.org/fao/water-energy-food-nexus/library
SEI’s website: https://www.sei.org/events/fao-water-energy-food-nexus-webinar-series/
Session 7: Selected experiences with WEF Nexus decision-making: applications in Jordan and Morocco
Organizers: FAO in collaboration with Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) and Royal Institute of Technology (KTH).
This session summarized the experience of stakeholders in Morocco applying the WEF nexus process, as well as the outcomes of the analyses as implemented under the direction of FAO. Participants will have an opportunity to explore the WEF nexus integrated platform, followed by a Q&A session.
This session will be presented and facilitated by:
o Annette Huber-Lee, Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI).
o Francesco Fuso-Nerini & Camillo Ramirez, Royal Institute of Technology (KTH).
A keynote speech was given by Prof. Lahcen Kenny, Institut agronomique et vétérinaire Hassan II, Morocco.
Find the webinar recording here:
Dgroup for Nexus (registration required): https://dgroups.org/fao/water-energy-food-nexus/library
SEI’s website: https://www.sei.org/events/fao-water-energy-food-nexus-webinar-series/
Session 8: Securing food sustainably: business cases of Nexus innovation in the MENA region
Organizers: FAO in collaboration with WE4F MENA.
The webinar was co-hosted by the NENA Innovation Zoominar series #2 organized by the Regional Innovation Flagship.
In this webinar, the WE4F (Water & Energy for Food) MENA Regional Innovation Hub sheds light on the practicalities of supporting innovations designed to use less water and more efficient energy resources to increase and optimize food production in the Middle East and North Africa. Four change-makers and business leaders from the region will present their solutions and will then engage in a discussion with each other and the webinar participants about the requirements for a flourishing enabling environment that aims to make food security a reality for all segments of society. The webinar presents an exciting outlook into how home-grown regional solutions and green investment can contribute to a more sustainable planet.
Find the webinar recording here:
Dgroup for Nexus (registration required): https://dgroups.org/fao/water-energy-food-nexus/library
SEI’s website: https://www.sei.org/events/fao-water-energy-food-nexus-webinar-series/
Session 9: Selected experiences with WEF Nexus decision-making: an application in Jordan
Organizers: FAO in collaboration with Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) and Royal Institute of Technology (KTH).
This session summarized the experience of stakeholders in Jordan applying the Water Energy Food (WEF) nexus process, as well as the outcomes of the analyses as implemented under the direction of FAO. Participants had an opportunity to explore the WEF nexus integrated platform, followed by a Q&A session.
This session was presented and facilitated by:
o Annette Huber-Lee, Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI).
o Francesco Fuso-Nerini & Camillo Ramirez (KTH), Royal Institute of Technology (KTH).
A keynote speech was given by Mr. Adel Al Obaiaat, Director of Polices and Strategic Planning at the Ministry of Water and Irrigation (MWI).
Find the webinar recording here:
Dgroup for Nexus (registration required): https://dgroups.org/fao/water-energy-food-nexus/library
SEI’s website: https://www.sei.org/events/fao-water-energy-food-nexus-webinar-series/
Session 10: Supporting WEF Nexus research and innovation in the EU-MPC region
Organizers: FAO in collaboration with PHEMAC & NEX-LABS projects.
In this webinar, two support perspectives were presented aiming to demonstrate the WEF Nexus in practice. The first comes from the ongoing PHEMAC project, showing the opportunities offered by the interactive iHub platform and its different modules to stimulate the visibility and use of NEXUS R&I results connecting the NEXUS stakeholders’ demand and offer. The second, from the ongoing NEX-LABS project illustrates opportunities to motivate entrepreneurial attitudes of NEXUS stakeholders and young EU-MPC entrepreneurs to develop novel technologies or services to face NEXUS challenges, productivity enhancement programmes to strengthen NEXUS value chains through different options of vouchers and grants or tools to identify regional NEXUS stakeholders and scenarios as a result of future Nexus Driven Open Living Labs implementation derived from a Nexus Joint Action Plan.
Find the webinar recording here:
Dgroup for Nexus (registration required): https://dgroups.org/fao/water-energy-food-nexus/library
SEI’s website: https://www.sei.org/events/fao-water-energy-food-nexus-webinar-series/