ESCWA Publication: E/ESCWA/SDPD/2015/WG.2/2/Report
Country: Arab region
Publication Type: Meeting reports
Cluster: 2030 Agenda and SDG Coordination
Focus Area: 2030 Agenda, Natural resource sustainability
Initiatives: Water & energy nexus
SDGs: Agenda 2030, Goal 2: Zero Hunger
Keywords: Arab countries, Conferences, Energy resources, Food security, Sustainable development, Water, Water resources, Food policy
Report: Expert group meeting on the water-energy-food nexus In the Arab region Amman, 24-25 March 2015
January 2015
The Expert Group Meeting on the Water-Energy-Food Security Nexus in the Arab Region was convened by the League of Arab States and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) to strengthen understanding of the water-energy-food security nexus and foster discussions on how this conceptual framework can support efforts to improve integrated natural resources management and progress towards sustainable development in the Arab region. The objectives of the Meeting were to build understanding of the overall scope of the nexus as a conceptual framework for advancing sustainable development to review examples of applying the nexus conceptual approach to discuss the opportunities and challenges presented by applying the nexus within the context of existing institutional and policy frameworks, and to exchange information on regional initiatives, projects and partnerships in Arab countries. Discussions also took into consideration the post-2015 development agenda and the indicators and targets being formulated within the context of the sustainable development goals. The Meeting was held back-to-back with the tenth session of ESCWA Committee on Energy and the eleventh session of ESCWA Committee on Water Resources to provide a platform for inter-sectoral exchange on the nexus between members of both committees and regional experts. Participants highlighted the need to examine the inter-linkages between the water, energy and food sectors, the importance of identifying priorities within the context of natural resource scarcity in the Arab region and existing governance structures at the national and regional levels, while focusing on the importance of resource and ecosystem management. The Meeting concluded with a series of recommendations related to the opportunities and challenges of applying the nexus as an analytical framework in the Arab region; efforts to apply the nexus should seek to do so through an inclusive approach, taking into account institutional and policy considerations and regional and national specificities.
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The Expert Group Meeting on the Water-Energy-Food Security Nexus in the Arab Region was convened by the League of Arab States and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) to strengthen understanding of the water-energy-food security nexus and foster discussions on how this conceptual framework can support efforts to improve integrated natural resources management and progress towards sustainable development in the Arab region. The objectives of the Meeting were to build understanding of the overall scope of the nexus as a conceptual framework for advancing sustainable development to review examples of applying the nexus conceptual approach to discuss the opportunities and challenges presented by applying the nexus within the context of existing institutional and policy frameworks, and to exchange information on regional initiatives, projects and partnerships in Arab countries. Discussions also took into consideration the post-2015 development agenda and the indicators and targets being formulated within the context of the sustainable development goals. The Meeting was held back-to-back with the tenth session of ESCWA Committee on Energy and the eleventh session of ESCWA Committee on Water Resources to provide a platform for inter-sectoral exchange on the nexus between members of both committees and regional experts. Participants highlighted the need to examine the inter-linkages between the water, energy and food sectors, the importance of identifying priorities within the context of natural resource scarcity in the Arab region and existing governance structures at the national and regional levels, while focusing on the importance of resource and ecosystem management. The Meeting concluded with a series of recommendations related to the opportunities and challenges of applying the nexus as an analytical framework in the Arab region; efforts to apply the nexus should seek to do so through an inclusive approach, taking into account institutional and policy considerations and regional and national specificities.
