Operational WEFE Nexus Hub (Virtual Platform)

Project Title: Establishment and Institutionalization of WEFE Nexus for MENA

Donor: The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA)

Development Partner: The Union for the Mediterranean (UfM)

Target Countries: MENA countries, with a thorough focus on Jordan, Egypt and Lebanon

Starting date: January, 2023

End date: December, 2024

Context

The success of our project in managing water, energy, and food security in the MENA region hinges on active stakeholder engagement. By involving key government officials and main stakeholders from Jordan, Egypt, Iraq, Palestine, Lebanon, and Saudi Arabia at the decision-making level, and engaging non-governmental actors as part of the WEFE Community of Practice, INWRDAM ensured comprehensive participation. Workshops conducted in Jordan and Egypt identified stakeholders and potential users for the WEFE Nexus Hub, defining its uses and training needs. This collaborative input refined the Hub's design and tailored training programs to stakeholders' capacities. Investing in diplomatic relations facilitated regional dialogue and advocacy, promoting a unified approach to sustainable development and addressing shared challenges.

The Hub as a Tool for Practitioners

The WEFE Nexus Hub is a powerful tool designed to support the WEFE Community of Practice (CoP) by providing a centralized platform for knowledge exchange, collaboration, and regional dialogue. As part of INWRDAM's broader efforts to integrate the Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystem (WEFE) Nexus approach, the Hub serves as a vital resource for practitioners, policymakers, researchers, and stakeholders across the MENA and SEMED regions. As a dynamic and evolving platform, the WEFE Nexus Hub is central to the success of the Community of Practice, driving the collective effort to achieve sustainable water management and resilience in the face of growing environmental and socio-economic pressures.

The Hub serves as a platform to advocate and amplify the results and impact of WEFE-related initiatives. the Hub empowers users to influence policy, attract investment, and drive innovation in the WEFE space, by offering tools and resources to showcase successful projects, share best practices, and disseminate research findings

The coordination office of Blue Peace Middle East (BPME) is hosted by INWRDAM since January 2023, and will be one of the main users of the Hub. BPME registered to the Hub to exchange knowledge and success stories. The Hub will also support the Business Support Incubator (BSI) established by INWRDAM, through the Smart DESERT Project, under which the National Agriculture Research Centre (NARC) operates under the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA). NARC will also be one of the main users of the Hub, and contribute to its content involving initiatives, success stories and capacity building opportunities.

The Hub regularly announces key reports, including the WEFE Nexus Index and other relevant publications. Additionally, users will be able to register and contribute content, ensuring that the platform remains dynamic and reflective of the latest developments in the field.

The architecture of the WEFE Nexus Hub includes key components such as an interactive database, the WEFE Index, interactive maps at both country and global levels, publications, success stories, events and news updates, feedback mechanisms, an interactive blog, and an admin dashboard. This comprehensive design underscores the Hub's role as a dynamic platform for collaboration, knowledge dissemination, and informed decision-making across the components of the WEFE Nexus. Within this framework, users can actively contribute content through content contribution forms and submitting success stories, publications, and event announcements related to the WEFE Nexus within their organizations. These submissions undergo meticulous review by technical support of INWRDAM’s CoP, and pool of experts. Their verification and discussions take place in a secluded blog accessible exclusively to them, ensuring the accuracy and relevance of the content before publication. This structured approach not only enhances the credibility of the Hub, but also fosters a community-driven exchange of insights and best practices, thereby addressing WEFE Nexus challenges effectively.