Understanding the WEFE nexus approach from river basin and transboundary landscape perspectives

This consultation workshop will share the findings of a study on the water–energy–food–ecosystem (WEFE) nexus in the upper Indus basin. Relevant government departments and line agencies, policy and decision-making bodies, academic and development institutions, and other key stakeholders will brainstorm on the synergies and trade-offs in the WEFE nexus in the context of Gilgit-Baltistan and the upper Indus basin.

About the study

The Hindu Kush Karakoram Pamir Landscape (HKPL) Initiative and the Indus Basin Initiative jointly conducted this study in 2021, through its partner WWF-Pakistan, covering overlapping landscape areas – HKPL and the Upper Indus basin – to identify and analyse key sectors, stakeholders, and resource flows across the upper Indus basin. The study examined key social, economic, ecological, and environmental factors of the nexus affecting the basin and downstream areas across Pakistan. A detailed stakeholder consultation conducted in the core study area informed the study’s findings and recommendations. A comprehensive literature review was also carried out to understand the interlinkages, synergies, and trade-offs in WEFE in the region. The findings will be used to develop a WEFE nexus framework for the HKH region.

Background

The traditional sectoral approach to policymaking, which involves developing and executing sectoral plans in isolation without accounting for trade-offs and negative impacts on other sectors, is becoming increasingly risky due to its spill over effects across policies. The WEFE nexus is an emerging issue in multi-sector, interrelated resource planning and management. Careful analysis of the nexus can help manage trade-offs and synergies in key sectors such as agriculture, water, energy, and ecosystem services for sustainable development, while maintaining the health and integrity of natural ecosystems. The WEFE nexus highlights close interlinkages of different sectors and describes how they depend on and potentially impact different ecosystems.

Agenda