Future-Proofing Africa's Livestock Sector Policies: Lessons from African Countries and the COVID-19 Pandemic.
2020-12-17 08:00 - 17:00 UTC
Innovative ideas revolving around agri-tech, mechanization, food systems, healthy diets, and sustainable livestock in adjustment to the COVID19 pandemic. A panel of idealists, educators, and innovators discuss how to improve some of the greatest challenges pressing on African food systems as a result of the pandemic.
Click here to check out this event!

The Keys to Process Sustainability
2020-12-27
Understanding, evaluating, and progressing a sustainable life is difficult but vital. This webinar by Oliver Wight outlines the keys to sustainability, which is described as a self-perpetuating cycle, not only how to maintain this cycle by to continually build and improve sustainable results.
Click here to watch the Webinar!

FAO Water-Energy-Food Nexus Webinar series
2021-01-30 08:00 - 2021-03-30 17:00 UTC
This FAO series — organized in collaboration with SEI and KTH Royal Institute of Technology — introduces nexus concepts and gives examples of current efforts and best practices in the Near East and North Africa (NENA) region and beyond.
his series is developed under the regional project, “Implementing the 2030 Agenda for Water Efficiency/Productivity and Water Sustainability in NENA countries” (WEPS-NENA) under the FAO led regional Water Scarcity Initiative (WSI). This project is funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA).
Webinar sessions are taking place February 2nd- March 30th, registration is required.

2021-02-10 08:00 - 2021-02-12 17:00 UTC
How do we provide and maintain the food, energy and water supplies in urban environments as the population continues to increase? Obstacles and initiatives are the focus of this conference, and attendees will leave with new ideas and collaborators.

2nd Food- Energy- Water Nexus Conference 2021
2021-02-10 08:00 - 2021-02-12 17:00 UTC

KAPTalks with Kandeh Yumkella on COVID-19 and the Urgency of the African Energy Transition
2021-02-10 18:00 - 19:00 UTC
Join LIVE our special #KAPTalks with the former energy chief of the United Nations Kandeh Yumkella. The event will be fully online. Join us on 10th February at 18:00 CET.
The lecture is hosted by the Trinity College Dublin.
If the room is full and you can’t register or enter the event, follow live streaming at http://bit.ly/KAPTalks.
Check time of the lecture in different time zones: https://bit.ly/3pfUqtR.
Once logged in to the webinar you will have an opportunity to pose a text questions to Kandeh Yumkella.
To register for this webinar click here!

Development Challenges in Africa in the wake of the COVID-19 Pandemic: UNU-WIDER
2021-02-11 08:00 - 2021-02-12 17:00 UTC
This conference will bring together participants from scholarly, policy and business communities to discuss the policy challenges faced by Africa in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Featuring presentations from leading scholars and policy makers the conference provides a forum to discuss the socioeconomic implications, development challenges and potential policy solutions to the crisis in the context of the African continent.

Sustainable Energy for All Forum
2021-02-16 - 2021-02-18
UPDATE: Event Postponed
“Sustainable Energy for ALL (SEforALL) has decided to postpone the SEforALL Forum in Kigali, Rwanda to 16-18 February 2021.
This decision has been taken to ensure the health and well-being of participants considering the COVID-19 situation and as a result of in-depth discussions with our host, the Government of Rwanda, the United Nations and the SEforALL Administrative Board.”
About
The 2020 SEforALL Forum will focus on the need to act with urgency and ambition in order to achieve sustainable energy for all by 2030 and deliver on energy development as the golden thread of sustainable development that enables jobs, good health, food security, gender equality, and an end to poverty.
We will bring together a broad and diverse set of energy access stakeholders based on the following objectives:

Inspire and focus energy stakeholders on country-level implementation, highlighting the role of energy as central to the development agenda
Provide stakeholders with the knowledge and resources they need to accelerate and scale action
Create a platform to exchange ideas and form new partnerships

Details
Location: Kigali, Rwanda
Contact: SEforALL Secretariat
Website: https://www.seforall.org/forum
REGISTER HERE

Nexus Dŵr Uisce Sustainability Webinar Series 2021: Exploring Micro-Hydropower
2021-02-24 12:00 - 13:00 UTC
In the Dŵr Uisce Sustainability Webinar Series 2021, findings from the Dŵr Uisce project demonstrate how research-based practical solutions can improve the energy efficiency in the water sector. In the first webinar focused on micro-hydropower, low-cost and modular hydro turbines are presented along with their opportunities, design and results from pilot installations.

Water Security and Climate Change Conference
2021-03-01 08:00 - 2021-03-04 17:00 UTC
The Water Security and Climate Change conference (WSCC) is an annual event where scientists, policy makers and stakeholders from various sectors discuss the diverse facets of water security and its relation to climate variability and change.
The WSCC strives to go beyond science and build bridges between various disciplines and sectors as well as different groups of stakeholders. Serving as a platform for discussions about water and food secure societies, by providing a stimulating environment with the intention of yielding innovative ideas and grounds for implementation, the WSCC is continuing a series of successful conferences in Thailand, Germany, Kenya and Mexico.

The WSCC is an initiative of the ‘Higher Education Excellence in Development Cooperation – exceed’ program, and has been implemented since 2016 under the auspices of the Centers for Natural Resources and Development (CNRD) and the Sustainable Water Management in Developing Countries (SWINDON) network. The scientific committee includes the Food Security Center (FSC) as well as the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT).
In 2021, WSCC is convened by the Vietnam Academy for Water Resources (VAWR) in Hanoi. Due to the currently uncertain situation, we have decided to implement the Water Security and Climate Change (WSCC) conference in a virtual format. Participation will be free of charge and open to the public. The registrations are now open!

Virtual Summer School // Analysing Transformative Processes for the Management of the WEF nexus and the Advancement of the SDGs in Sub-Saharan Africa
2021-03-07 08:00 - 2021-03-12 17:00 UTC
Young researchers based in or originating from sub-Saharan Africa together with young researchers from Germany are invited to apply for this virtual WEF Nexus summer school. The event will take place online and run from the evening of March 7th to March 12th 2021. It is organized by Osnabrück University (DE), Rhodes University (SA), University of Cape Town (SA) and University of Kwazulu-Natal (SA), Co-hosted online by The Integrated Assessment Society e.V. (DE) and sponsored by the Volkswagen Foundation’s program Knowledge for Tomorrow – Cooperative Research Projects in Sub-Saharan Africa.
For the past two years, Osnabrück University in Germany together with Rhodes University, University of Cape Town and University of Kwazulu-Natal in South Africa have been sharing knowledge, approaches and experiences on transformative processes in the context of the WaterEnergy-Food (WEF) nexus and sustainable development in Sub-Saharan Africa and Germany. The project seeks to better understand transformative processes associated with implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the context of the WEF nexus approach.
As a culmination to its transformational learning cooperation, the project partners invite applications from young researchers based in or originating from sub-Saharan Africa together with young researchers from Germany interested in joining its summer school in March 2021. The event will take place online and run from the evening of March 7th to March 12th.

The 6th Nile Basin Development Forum (NBDF) Nexus Webinar Sessions
2021-03-09 - 2021-04-29
The 6th NBDF virtual webinars focus on assessing whether the NBI Member States have been implementing water resources investments at a speed and scale commensurate with the growing demand for food, water, and energy across the Basin. The Nexus sessions have moved to April 13 and April 14. Registration is required.
Click here for the registration.

For the webinar agenda and more information, check here.

The 9th World Water Forum
2021-03-22 - 2021-03-27
About
The 9th World Water Forum will take place in Dakar from 22 to 27 March 2021. The objective of Senegal and the World Water Council is to organize a more socially, politically and economically effective Forum, a catalyst for action for commitments on water and sanitation, a connected Forum, linked to the agendas, platforms and commitments on SDGs, the Sendai agreement on natural risks and disasters, the Paris agreement on climate, Africa’s 2063 agenda, etc.
The Forum will also be an opportunity for Senegal and the World Water Council to exchange views on the future of water and sanitation, and a contextualized, global and community-based Forum anchored on key water challenges in Africa and around the world.
Thus, it is important to underline that previous editions of the World Water Forum included three major processes: thematic, political and regional. However, the 9th Forum intends to mark a break with the institutional organisation of past Foraums It is centred on an integrated preparation based on quality, multi-actor exchanges around a limited number of priorities integrating the previous tools of the processes: thematic, political, regional, citizen.
The “Dakar 2021” Forum will focus on four priorities, namely:

Water Security and Sanition
Cooperation
Water for rural development
Means and Tools including the crucial issues of financing, governance, knowledge management and innovation; four axes that constitute priorities for Africa, but also for the world as a whole.

The process will be led by specialized working groups structured around the 4 priorities. Each working group will be led by Senegal and the World Water Council, and supported by strategic partners (governments, intergovernmental, bilateral and multilateral organizations, financial institutions and non-governmental organizations). The strategic partners should play a leading role from the preparatory process to the organization of the Forum.
For more information visit the World Water Forum website

The WEF Nexus in Africa Initiative joins webinar series
2021-04-13 13:00 - 14:30 UTC
In collaboration with FAO, SEI, and KTH, we are co-hosting a series of webinars over the course of the year related to WEF nexus issues. In addition to ones already scheduled, on April 13 we will host a session on “The WEF Nexus in practice: multi-scalar case studies and a WEF Nexus Index” with speakers Janez Susnik (IHE Delft), Sara Masia, (IHE Delft), and Gareth Simpson (Jones and Wagener). This webinar will discuss WEF nexus model development, an ongoing WEF-Tools project, and a globally applicable WEF Nexus Index.
Date and Time
April 13th, 13:00–14:30 GMT+2
Detailed Description
The webinar will present three perspectives of about 20 minutes each, aiming to demonstrate the WEF Nexus in practice. The first comes from the recent SIM4NEXUS project (www.sim4nexus.eu), 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 (www.wef-tools.un-ihe.org), 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.
SIM4NEXUS (Janez Susnik, IHE Delft)
SIM4NEXUS is a recently-ended EC H2020 project. In this introduction, the SIM4NEXUS approach to mapping, modeling, and understanding the nexus is described. The approach includes nexus policy coherence assessment, qualitative nexus systems mapping, quantitative system dynamics modeling, and development of serious games. SIM4NEXUS applied its approach to 12 case studies in scale from sub-national to global, and include Sardinia, Andalusia, The Netherlands, Latvia, Sweden, two transboundary cases, and the EU.
WEF-Tools (Sara Masia, IHE Delft)
The WEF-Tools project aims at qualitatively and quantitatively assessing the WEF nexus in the Songwe River Basin (SRB), located on the border between Malawi and Tanzania. Reducing poverty, improving human health and livelihoods, ensuring water, food, and energy security, mitigating floods, and enhancing sustainable river basin management are the main challenges recognized by the SRB Programme (SRBP) jointly developed by the Governments of both countries. The WEF-Tools approach applied in the case study starts from conceptual mapping of the SRB nexus system to the development of quantitative tools such as System Dynamics Models, and identification of suitable indicators for the assessment of different scenarios, management strategies, subsequently providing decision-makers with feasible development pathways.
WEF Nexus Index (Gareth Simpson, Jones & Wagener)
A national-level composite indicator has been developed for 170 nations to provide a quantitative measure of the WEF nexus. Together with its interactive visualization tool (www.wefnexusindex.org), the WEF Nexus Index provides a means for assessing and benchmarking countries regarding integrated resources security. The tool also provides an entry point into the underlying pillars (water, energy, and food), sub-pillars (related to access and availability of the resources), and the 21 indicators that constitute the composite indicator. The tool can assist policy- and decision-makers and serves as a measure of a subset of the SDGs.
For registration and more details on the webinar, click here!

UNFSS Independent Dialogue in Southern Africa: Managing the water and energy we eat: advancing water‐energy-food (WEF) nexus approaches to achieve food systems transformation in Southern Africa
2021-04-13 13:00 - 16:00 UTC
Meeting platform: By Zoom and invitation only. Click here to register.
Date and Time: 13/04/2021 | 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Description:
Join us for an Independent Dialogue convened by the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) and partners to discuss water-energy-food (WEF) nexus approaches to achieve food systems transformation in Southern Africa. Insights emerging from this regional, multi-stakeholder forum will be presented at the United Nations Food System Summit (UNFSS) in September 2021. Transforming #foodsystems is among the most powerful ways to make progress towards all 17 #SDGS. This dialogue will begin to unpack how food systems can be localized and transformed in a water-constrained region such as Southern Africa in a manner that acknowledges WEF nexus linkages, promotes regional trade and enhances equity and inclusion.
The session is designed to be interactive, allowing for small group discussion, collective brainstorming, and agenda-setting. As the region maps out the road to UNFSS 2021, this Dialogue will focus on the role of water and energy in food systems transformation. Speakers and panelists from across the world and the region will discuss how systems transformation for equitable food and water security in Southern Africa can be achieved.
Everyone working to advance transformative water, energy, and food systems is invited to join this Dialogue.
Curators:
Dr. Inga Jacobs-Mata (IWMI), Dr. Maike Hamann (CST/GRP)
Meeting Agenda:
The Road to UNFSS2021: Achieving water and food security by Professor Joachim von Braun (Chair of the Scientific Group for the UNFSS).
The Road to UNFSS2021: The role of water in food systems transformation by Dr. Mark Smith (DG, IWMI).
Progress and challenges in achieving SDG 2: Zero Hunger in the region, and implications for water, energy, and food security by a representative from SADC.
Panel discussion on realizing more just systems transformation for food and water security in Southern Africa by panelists from Water Research Commission (WRC) South Africa; Global Water Partnership (GWP); World Bank; private sector; food sovereignty networks in Africa.
Breakout group discussions, feedback from breakout discussions in plenary, and wrap-up of key messages and next steps by all.
Thematic areas of breakout group discussions:

Moving towards low carbon energy for food production. Key question: How can we sustainably produce more food in the region using low greenhouse gas energy sources?
Climate change impacts on water and food security. Key question: How can we sustainably enhance food security without compromising water security in the context of climate change?
Policy coherence and institutional coordination in water, food, energy, and climate change that operationalize the WEF nexus. Key question: What practical steps can/should be taken to ensure policy coherence and institutional coordination to improve water, energy, and food security in the region?
Advancing technical WEF models, tools, and frameworks for decision-making at multiple scales. Key question: How can WEF nexus models/tools facilitate a new understanding of interdependencies and trade-offs in the WEF nexus, as well as foster data sharing and enhanced decision-making in the region?
Putting nature back in the WEF nexus: towards resilient food landscapes. Key question: How do we build more resilient food and livelihood systems while protecting critical water sources, biodiversity, and other ecosystem services?
Community approaches to operationalize the WEF nexus. Key question: How can we promote equity and inclusion in WEF nexus governance to create opportunities for transformation towards more just food, water, and energy systems?
Trading in the WEF nexus across scales. Key question: How do we build resilience in interconnected food systems, from local to global scales?

To read more about UNFSS Dialogues, click here.

UNFSS Independent Dialogue in Central Asia: Advancing Water-Energy-Food Nexus for achieving food systems transformation under climate uncertainties
2021-04-15 14:00 - 14:30 UTC
Date and Time: 15/04/2021 | 2:00 pm – 2:30 pm
Meeting platform: Zoom (Will be shared soon), By invitation only
About:
Join us for an Independent Dialogue convened by the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) and partners to discuss water-energy-food (WEF) nexus approaches to achieve food systems transformation in Central Asia. Insights emerging from this regional, multi-stakeholder forum will be presented at the United Nations Food System Summit (UNFSS) in September 2021. Transforming #foodsystems is among the most powerful ways to make progress towards all 17 #SDGS. The expected key outcome of this dialogue would be getting involved and sharing the views of Central Asian stakeholders on sustainable food systems transformation and the importance of WEF nexus under climate uncertainties. Reaching a common understanding of the challenges and finding local solutions to the challenges facing food and water systems transformation along with attendant issues of water security for a range of other sectors will be explored.
The session is designed to be interactive, allowing for small group discussion, collective brainstorming, and agenda-setting. As the region maps out the road to UNFSS 2021, this Dialogue will focus on the role of water and energy in food systems transformation. Speakers and panellists from across the world and the region will discuss how systems transformation for equitable food and water security in Central Asia can be achieved.
This dialogue is based on invitation and participants are expected to present from Key line Ministries and Agencies of Central Asian States, Academies of Sciences, National Research Institutions, Basin Authorities of the region, NGOs, Private Sectors and other Development Partners including CG Centers.
Curators:
Mr. Oyture Anarbekov, Country Manager IWMI-Central Asia Office
Dr. Kamiljon Akramov, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI
Meeting Agenda:
The Road to UNFSS2021: Achieving water and food security via video from Joachim von Braun (Chair of the Scientific Group for the UNFSS). (3-5 mins)
The Road to UNFSS2021: The role of water in food systems transformation by Dr. Mark Smith (DG, IWMI). (10 mins)
Representative of Key Line Ministry of the Region by representative of Central Asian Regional Organization (TBC). (10 mins)
Introduction to break-out groups by curator. (5 mins)
8 Breakout group discussion by all. (75 mins)
Plenary discussion on feedback from break-outs by all. (30 mins)
Wrap-up of key messages and next steps by the representative of the Central Asian Regional Organization (TBC). (10 mins)
Language:
Organizers will arrange simultaneous translation from English into Russian and vice-versa.
Thematic areas of breakout group discussions:
Dialogue is expecting to gather around hundred participants/stakeholders of the region and discuss topic in identified following eight breakout working groups.

Moving towards low carbon energy for food production. Key question: How can we sustainably produce more food in the region using low greenhouse gas energy sources?
Climate change impacts on water and food security. Key question: How can we sustainably enhance food security without compromising water security in the context of climate change?
Policy coherence and institutional coordination in water, food, energy, and climate change that operationalize the WEF nexus. Key question: What practical steps can/should be taken to ensure policy coherence and institutional coordination to improve water, energy, and food security in the region?
Advancing technical WEF models, tools, and frameworks for decision-making at multiple scales. Key question: How can WEF nexus models/tools facilitate a new understanding of interdependencies and trade-offs in the WEF nexus, as well as foster data sharing and enhanced decision-making in the region?
Enhancing resilience of water system across multi-sector (agriculture, domestic, industry, and environment) demands. Key question: How do we build more resilient food and livelihood systems while protecting critical water sources, biodiversity, and other ecosystem services while satisfying growing water demand?
Socio-Economic Benefits of WEF Nexus. Key question: What steps need to be taken to assess the benefits and trade-offs across sectors, especially from a socio-economic point of view (employment, health, migration, equity, GDP, etc.)?
Community approaches to operationalize the WEF nexus. Key question: How can we promote equity and inclusion in WEF nexus governance to create opportunities for transformation towards more just food, water, and energy systems?
Trading in the WEF nexus across scales. Key question: How do we build resilience in interconnected food systems, from local to global scales?

Click here to find out more about the UNFSS Dialogues.

UNFSS Independent Dialogue in Egypt: The Role of Water Security for Food Systems Transformations
2021-04-19 01:00 - 15:30 UTC
Date and Time: 19/04/2021 | 1:00 pm – 3:30 pm (GMT+2)
Meeting platform: Zoom (Register here)
Description:
Water scarcity remains a key challenge for agricultural development in the MENA region, including Egypt. Scarcity is rapidly growing as a result of climate change and rapid increases in water demand for other uses. Considering that Egypt’s agri-food system provided critical cushioning for economic growth, jobs, and household income negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, it is paramount that more consideration is given to the important role of water security for Egypt’s food systems. With agriculture utilizing over 80% of Egypt’s water resources, meeting these challenges will require bold actions and new mindsets directed at water and food systems transformations to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
Join us for an Independent Dialogue convened in partnership between the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) and the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) to discuss the role of Water Security for Food Systems Transformation in Egypt. Insights emerging from this multi-stakeholder dialogue will be presented to the United Nations Food System Summit (UNFSS) in September 2021. Transforming #foodsystems is among the most powerful ways to make progress towards all 17 #SDGS.
This dialogue will discuss the importance of water security for all aspects of Egypt’s food systems, with a focus on equity, inclusion, capacity, innovation, and sustainability, including insights on how food systems need to change to improve water security (SDG 6), help eliminate hunger (SGD2), support energy security (SDG 7), improve climate adaptation and mitigation action (SDG 13) and help retain all life on land (SDG 15).
This pre-UNFSS2021 session, therefore, seeks to unpack the question: What is the role of water in transforming Egypt’s food systems for improved water and food security and environmental sustainability? Speakers and panelists from Egypt and beyond will engage in interactive group discussions, collective brainstorming, and agenda-setting. As Egypt and the MENA region map out the road to UNFSS 2021, the dialogue will discuss key messages that need to be heard at UNFSS 2021.
We invite everyone working to advance transformative water and food systems to join this Dialogue.
Curators:
Dr. Clemens Breisinger & Dr. Claudia Ringler (IFPRI),
Dr. Amgad Elmahdi (IWMI), and Dr. Jacques Wery (ICARDA)
Meeting Agenda:

Introduction, scene-setting, and order of the day by Yumna Kassim, IFPRI. (3 mins)
The Road to UNFSS2021: Achieving water and food security by Joachim von Braun (Chair of the Scientific Group for the UNFSS) – by video. (5 mins)
Water and Food System Transformations in Egypt by IFPRI. (5 mins)
The Need for System Transformation: A few thoughts from the policy by Mahmoud Abou Zeid (President of the Arab Water Council) (TBC). (5 mins)
Crop-level Solutions by ICARDA. (5 mins)
New Water Solutions by IWMI. (5 mins)
Introduction to breakout groups by Yumna Kassim, IFPRI. (3 mins)
6 Breakout group discussion by all. (40 mins)
Feedback from breakouts by all. (30 mins)
Panel discussion on the way forward by a moderator: Claudia Ringler (IFPRI), Phil Riddell (Advisor MWRI, TBC), Hammou Laamrani (League of Arab States, TBC), Dina Saleh (IFAD, TBC), Yasser AlShayeb (COEW-AUC, TBC), Hassan Husseiny (Gebal Egypt, TBC), and Farmer representative from TBD.
Wrap-up of key messages and next steps by TBD. (5 mins)

The Dialogue is expected to gather around 100 participants/stakeholders from Egypt and regional and international partners. Arabic translation will be available, except in breakout rooms.
Thematic areas for breakout group discussions:

Food and Water Systems in a Changing Climate. Key questions: How can we retain water and food security under climate change in Egypt (and the MENA region)? Do we need to change or expand water sources, change commodities, sustainable development, multi-functional and benefits infrastructure, governance beyond water (nexus governance), etc.?
Policy Coherence and Institutional Coordination across Water and Food Security in Egypt. Key questions: What practical steps can/should be taken to ensure policy coherence and institutional coordination to jointly improve water and food security in Egypt to meet future needs? Are policy/institutional set-ups encouraging partnerships and investments by the private sector?
Equity Considerations in access to affordable Water and Food. Key questions: How can we improve equity in access to water and food and nutrition security for the poorest? Are current government policies adequate? Do we need to go beyond water and food policy to nexus policy?
Digitally informed Climate-Smart Solutions for Agri-Food Transformation in Egypt. Key questions: Have we fully explored all technological, innovative, and agronomic solutions to improve water and agricultural productivity in Egypt’s food production systems? Are we producing the right agricultural commodities (including livestock and fisheries)? How can we eliminate water pollution in Egypt? Produce more with less water and energy? Are we adopting and investing in the right digital Climate-Smart Agriculture?
Food System Efficiency beyond Production for a Greener and More Resilient Future? Key questions: What actions are needed to improve food systems beyond production, along the value chain, with no harm to natural resources? This includes water use in food processing, preparation, transportation, retailing, and consumption. This also includes the role of water in international and regional trade.
Food Systems Changes for improved Water Security. Key question: How can we change Egypt’s food systems to support all aspects of SDG 6 on clean water and sanitation? This could include changing diets, changing food processing practices, de-risking agricultural systems, redesigning the farming system, eco-nexus farming?

Check out to learn more about the UNFSS Dialogues.

UNFSS Independent Dialogue in Pakistan: Role of Water-Energy-Food Nexus for achieving food security in a changing climate
2021-04-21 10:00 - 12:30 UTC
Date and Time: 21/04/2021 | 10:00 am – 12:30 pm
Meeting platform: Zoom (Will be shared soon), By invitation only
About:
Join us for an Independent Dialogue convened by the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) and partners to discuss water‐energy‐food (WEF) nexus approaches to achieve food systems transformation in Pakistan. Insights emerging from this national, multi‐stakeholder forum will be presented at the United Nations Food System Summit (UNFSS) in September 2021. Transforming #foodsystems is among the most powerful ways to make progress towards all 17 #SDGS. The expected key outcome of this dialogue would be getting involved and sharing the views of stakeholders across Pakistan on sustainable food systems transformation and the importance of the WEF nexus in a changing climate. Reaching a common understanding of the challenges and finding local solutions to the challenges facing food and water systems transformation along with attendant issues of water security for a range of other sectors will be explored.
The session is designed to be interactive, allowing for small group discussion, collective brainstorming, and agenda‐setting. As the region maps out the road to UNFSS 2021, this Dialogue will focus on the role of water and energy in food systems transformation. Speakers and panelists from across the world and the region will discuss how systems transformation for equitable food and water security in Pakistan can be achieved. The dialogue will provide a knowledge platform to better understand the water‐energy‐food nexus under a changing climate and guidance to develop more climate‐resilient water and land solutions at multiple scales (farm, irrigation system, basin, country, and regional) in Indus Basin. The outcome of this dialogue will support climate adaptation interventions at various scales leading to reduce water consumption from the agriculture sector in the Indus Basin.
This dialogue is based on invitation and participants are expected to present from Keyline Ministries and Agencies of Pakistan Government, National Research Institutions, FAO, Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources, Universities, NGO’s, Private Sectors and Development Partners including CG Centers (IFPRI, ICARDA, and CIMMYT).
Curators:
Dr. Mohsin Hafeez, CR, IWMI Pakistan
Meeting Agenda:
The Road to UNFSS2021: Achieving water and food security via video from Joachim von Braun (Chair of the Scientific Group for the UNFSS). (3-5 mins)
The Road to UNFSS2021: The role of water in food systems transformation by Dr. Mark Smith (DG, IWMI). (10 mins)
Progress and challenges in achieving SDG 2: Zero Hunger in Pakistan, and implications for water, energy, and food security by Mr. Ghufran Memon, Secretary Ministry of National Food Security and Research (MNFS&R). (10 mins)
Introduction to break-out groups by the curator. (5 mins)
8 Breakout group discussion by all. (75 mins)
Plenary discussion on feedback from break-outs by all. (30 mins)
Wrap-up of key messages and next steps by TBC. (10 mins)
Language:
English. Dialogue is expecting to gather around a hundred participants/stakeholders of the region and discuss the topic in identified following eight breakout working groups.
Thematic areas of breakout group discussions:

Moving towards low carbon energy for food production
Key question: How can we sustainably produce more food in the region using low greenhouse gas energy sources?
Climate change impacts on water and food security
Key question: How can we sustainably enhance food security without compromising water security in the context of climate change?
Policy coherence and institutional coordination in water, food, energy, and climate change that operationalize the WEF nexus
Key question: What practical steps can/should be taken to ensure policy coherence and institutional coordination to improve water, energy, and food security in the region?
Advancing technical WEF models, tools, and frameworks for decision making at multiple scales
Key question: How can WEF nexus models/tools facilitate a new understanding of interdependencies and trade‐offs in the WEF nexus, as well as foster data sharing and enhanced decision‐making in the region?
Enhancing resilience of water system across multi‐sector (agriculture, domestic, industry, and environment) demands
Key question: How do we build more resilient food and livelihood systems while protecting critical water sources, biodiversity, and other ecosystem services while satisfying growing water demand?
Socio‐Economic Benefits of WEF Nexus
Key question: What steps need to be taken to assess the benefits and trade‐offs across sectors, especially from a socio‐economic point of view (employment, health, migration, equity, GDP, etc)?
Community approaches to operationalize the WEF nexus
Key question: How can we promote equity and inclusion in WEF nexus governance to create opportunities for transformation towards more just food, water, and energy systems?
Trading in the WEF nexus across scales
Key question: How do we build resilience in interconnected food systems, from local to global scales?

Learn more about the UNFSS dialogues, here.

Harnessing Solar Energy for the Treatment of Water in Africa
2021-04-29 14:00 - 16:00 (Europe/Moscow)
Save the date for the Africa Center of Excellence for Water Management (ACEWM) Webinar Series on the topic, “Harnessing Solar Energy for the Treatment of Water in Africa“.
Speaker: Dr. Endalkachew Sahle‐Demessie
Date: Thursday, April 29, 2021
Time: 2:00 PM EAT
Meeting ID: meet.google.com/xdn-izzp-nit

Panel series on theme "Agroecological and Regenerative Solutions for Stronger Communities.".
2021-05-19
A panel series featuring members of the UN Food Systems Champions Network and others moderated by Ruth Richardson and Danielle Nierenberg. The sixth panel event will focus on the theme “Agroecological and Regenerative Solutions for Stronger Communities” and is scheduled for May 19th, 2021.

Speakers include: Helena Leurent (Director General of Consumers International), Denisa Livingston (food justice organizer of the Diné Community Advocacy Alliance / Slow Food International), Tjada D’Oyen McKenna (Chief Executive Officer of Mercy Corps) and Lana Weidgenant (Deputy Director of Zero Hour International).

The next panel of the series will take place on June 10 and will focus on “Enriching and Diversifying Diets”.
A recording of the past panel sessions themed “Investing in a More Resilient Food System” from April 27, on “Developing Sustainable Fiscal Policy for the Food System” from April 6 as well as on “The Hidden Costs of Food Systems” from March 11 are available on the Food Tank’s YouTube channel. Details on past panel series and registration link is available here.

Register for the 2nd webinar: GBEP webinar series on promoting sustainable biogas
2021-06-03 11:30 - 12:30 (Europe/Helsinki)
You are warmly invited to the 2nd webinar in the 2021 Global Bioenergy Partnership (GBEP) Webinar Series on Biogas.
“Learning from successful case studies on biogas in Africa”
This webinar will present 3 varied case studies from Africa, and further discussion will focus on how policies and financing mechanisms contributed to the success of these models, and how they can be replicated elsewhere.
Register here | Agenda

More information on this webinar and the other webinars in the series is available on the GBEP website. You are encouraged to share the invitation with your interested networks.

Online Conference // 2nd IWRA Online Conference: Water, Food and Public Health in a Changing World
2021-06-07 - 2021-06-09
IWRA’s 2021 Online Conference in collaboration with the FAO, the American University of Beirut, Texas A&M University, and the Canadian Water Resources Association will address the critical interlinkages between water, food, and public health. The conference’s main goal is to promote the sharing and exchange of the latest scientific and policy knowledge on the links between Water, Food, and Public health for the sustainable governance, use, and management of these resources globally.

Description
Currently, the whole world has been focused on public health with the COVID-19 pandemic, which has also disrupted farming, production, and shipping, highlighting the fragilities of the interconnected systems we all depend upon. Water is a critical factor in both agriculture and food processing, as well as in nutrition and broader human health issues. This complex nexus of sectors is often treated in silos, from both science and policy perspectives. Examining the inter-linkages between water, food and public health is now more critical than ever, especially as the world changes in response to the stressors of pandemics, climate change, population growth, and urbanization.
IWRA’s Online Conference in collaboration with the FAO will address these challenges and priorities. The conference will be held from June 7th to 9th, 2021, and its main goal is to promote the sharing and exchange of the latest scientific and policy knowledge on the links between Water, Food, and Public health for sustainable governance, use, and management of these resources globally.
Themes

How can we better manage water for food and public health in a changing world?
How can agriculture contribute to food security and public health?
What opportunities lie in the improved cooperation between water, food, and public health sectors?
What are the synergies or trade-offs between ecosystem health and human health?
How can science better inform public policy, governance, and capacity building for water, food, and health?

Read more about the themes and their supporting topics, as well as their links to SDGs, by visiting the conference website here.
Call for Abstracts
Deadline: 19 April 2021
We invite experts from all backgrounds, i.e. academics, water professionals, private sector practitioners, and civil society stakeholders, who wish to present their work on the indicated theme and related sub-themes at this online conference, to submit an abstract. Please bear in mind the following:

Abstracts should clearly describe the research objectives, methods, findings, and relevance in a maximum of 400 words, in English (with no graphs, references, or citations)
Authors must use the official template and cover the abstract sections detailed in the template. Only word documents (.doc and .docx) will be accepted.
When indicating the theme of your preference for your abstract, choose one and submit it to online.conference@iwra.org.

Registration
Registration will open soon, check the conference webpage for the latest news here.

FAO Water-Energy-Food Nexus Webinar Series Session 9 - Selected experiences with WEF Nexus decision-making: an application in Jordan
2021-06-08 13:00 - 14:30 UTC
This webinar series is organized by the FAO in collaboration with the Stockholm Environment Institute and KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm. This ninth session of the Water-Energy-Food Nexus webinar series will summarize 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.
Date and Time
June 8, 2021 | 13:00-14:30 GMT+2
Background
The Water-Energy-Food Nexus Webinar series is organized by FAO, in collaboration with the Stockholm Environment Institute and KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm. The series introduces nexus concepts and gives examples of current efforts and best practices in the Near East and North Africa (NENA) region and beyond. Through this series, participants will gain an understanding of the importance of nexus concepts and learn how to identify nexus challenges, as well as find appropriate nexus solutions to achieve sustainability, resilience, and water security. This series is developed under the regional project, “Implementing the 2030 Agenda for Water Efficiency/Productivity and Water Sustainability in NENA countries” (WEPS-NENA) under the FAO led regional Water Scarcity Initiative (WSI). This project is funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA).
Session Description
This session will be presented by Francesco Fuso-Nerini and Camilo Ramirez Gomez from Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), and Annette Huber-Lee from Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI).
It will summarize 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 will have an opportunity to explore the WEF nexus integrated platform, followed by a Q&A session.
Registration
Register here for Session 9 on Zoom and visit the SEI event page here.
Detail program agenda is here.

Hybrid Conference on Sustainability Research & Innovation Congress 2021
2021-06-12 12:00 - 2021-06-15 23:45 UTC
The Sustainability Research & Innovation Congress 2021 (SRI2021) is the world’s first transdisciplinary gathering in sustainability – it will be a space of fierce advocacy for sustainability scholarship, innovation, collaboration and action. This annual event unites global sustainability leaders, experts, industry and innovators to inspire action and promote a sustainability transformation. For the first time, the Congress will launch as a live virtual event with a diverse and innovative online program. In addition to the 100+ sessions available throughout the day and night, thanks to the global reach of SRI and partners, the SRI2021 Online Package includes exclusive events and services.
SRI2021 will be live virtual event, with a diverse and innovative online program. SRI2021 will take place at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre in Brisbane, Australia, from 12-15 June, 2021. Click here for registration.

All registrants will access content and opportunities to connect prior, during and after SRI2021, making the Congress the foremost home of sustainability research, innovation and practice.
Pre-congress offerings include SRI Talks, trainings and other engagements. During SRI2021, registrants have a unique opportunity to build relationships, share knowledge, expertise and experience, and seek partnership opportunities on our innovative virtual platform. Keep the conversations going and revisit sessions on the virtual platform in the days and months that follow SRI2021.

2021 Congress Pillars:

SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS FROM THE GLOBAL SOUTH: Flipping the script on sustainability, introducing perspectives and lessons from the Global South, finding partners in the Global North, and exploring the differences.

INTEGRATED ACTION FOR THE SDGs: Identifying pathways to societal transformation, mapping actors, and evaluating synergies, trade-offs and risks.

ADVOCATING KNOWLEDGE-TO-ACTION: Advancing sustainability science through knowledge co-design.

SUSTAINABILITY FOR WHOM?:Encouraging diversity and inclusion to advance sustainability throughout generations.

RESILIENCE: Research and innovation which builds our capacity to deal with disturbances to function and flourish.

Learn more here.

Zero Hunger Pathways Project Dialogue 3: Trade-Offs Evaluation and Science-Policy Communication
2021-06-14 16:00 - 18:00 UTC
It is with great pleasure that we invite you to the third dialogue hosted by SDSN USA’s Zero Hunger Working Group: Trade-OffsEvaluation and Science-Policy Communication on June 14, 2021, from 4:00 – 6:00 PM Eastern Time.
This 2-hour virtual event will engage participants in a discussion on the hunger crisis in the United States, including causes, context, responses, and opportunities, through the lenses of equity, resilience, sustainability, and health/nutrition.
This ZHPP dialogue will focus on identifying: 1) tools and models to evaluate pathways for improving food and nutrition security in the US; 2) multi-faceted evaluation metrics that reflect food systems sustainability, equitability, resilience, and health outcomes; 3) mechanisms and barriers for proper stakeholder engagement and trade-off dialogue; 4) mechanisms and barriers for science-policy communication. This event aims to bring together cross-disciplinary scientists and expert groups as well as cross-sectoral stakeholders and policymakers.
The dialogue is the third in a series of conversations focusing on barriers and opportunities to achieve Zero Hunger in the United States, in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The dialogue series will contribute to a report outlining social, policy, and technical recommendations to reach Zero Hunger and identifying education, engagement, and research activities the SDSN USA coalition and partners can undertake to reach Zero Hunger in the United States by 2030.
We invite you to join as an active participant in this dialogue and to share with colleagues whose expertise and interests are relevant to the topic.
Registration is required. Click here.
Contact usa@unsdsn.org if you have specific accessibility needs or questions about the event.

Posted in Zero Hunger
Tagged Zero Hunger

Digital Forum: European Development Days 2021
2021-06-15 09:30 - 2021-06-16 18:00 UTC
The theme of the 14th edition of the European Development Days is ‘The Green Deal for a Sustainable Future’. It will take place in a digital format on June 15 and 16, 2021.

Biodiversity loss, climate change and environmental degradation are defining challenges of our generation and require more coordinated and incisive international efforts. The COVID-19 pandemic has shown the interlinkages between human health and an healthy planet. The post COVID recovery should be an opportunity to build back greener and more inclusive societies and economies.
In this respect, the European Development Days will provide a decisive moment for analysis and reflection on the road to the CBD COP15 in Kunming in October and the Glasgow COP26 in November 2021.
Picked sessions on WEF Nexus
The following is only a selected list of sessions. You can find the full agenda here.

It’s a match?! Linking Water, Energy and Food with the Private & Finance Sectors. The role of the private and finance sectors in increasing smallholder agricultural productivity and eradicating hunger in Africa.
Tuesday, June 15, 2021 at 17:20 to 18:05.
Nexus, Digitalisation and Human Capital for a Green-Deal in Transboundary Waters. Human capacity development, new technologies, connectivity and tools for better-informed development policies and promote sustainable employment for youth across sectors.
Wednesday, June 16, 2021, 15:10 to 15:55.
Biodiversity conservation and water harvesting for climate commitments in LAC. Ancestral knowledge and modern economic tools to enhance socio-ecological resilience.
Wednesday, June 16, 2021 11:40 to 11:50.
Predicting conflicts: The Water, Peace & Security partnership Early Warning Tool. Using machine learning, data and analysis to monitor water-related security threats and identify conflicts hotspots for timely action.
Wednesday, June 16, 2021, 16:10 to 16:55.

More information about the EDD and this year’s agenda are available here.

Joint NEX-LABS, FAO and PHEMAC webinar: Supporting Water Energy and Food Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean
2021-06-17 13:00 - 14:30 UTC
The NEX-LABS project is co-organizing this webinar in collaboration with the United Nations’ FAO, PHEMAC project and with the support of the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA)
In this event, two support perspectives are presented aiming to demonstrate the Water, Energy and Food Nexus in practice.
The first comes from the ongoing PHEMAC project, funded under the ‘Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area‘ Programme (PRIMA) 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-Mediterranean Partner Countries’ entrepreneurs to develop novel technologies or services to face NEXUS challenges, productivity enhancement programs 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.
The event will take place on Thursday 17th June from 13:00 CEST to 14:30 CEST.
Click here to register.

WORKSHOP AGENDA

13:00-13:10 – A NEXUS story. From 5TOI to WEF-CAP, Dr. Gustavo Pérez (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona)
13:10-13:25 – PHEMAC iHuB platform, Dr. Majid AlSadek (Egyptian Center for Innovation & Technology Development); Mr. Danilo Giacomi (Net7)
13:25-13:40 – Landscape identification for clustering scenarios to implement NDOLLS tackling the policy capitalization, Dr. Amr Radwan (Academy of Scientific Research & Technology); Dr. Rana El-Hajj (American University of Beirut)
13:40-13:55 – Consolidation and buildup of a networking strategy to support the establishment of reference Nexus Living Labs in the Southern Mediterranean, Ms. Krystel Khalil (Berytech)
13:40-13:55 – Motivation of WEF NEXUS entrepreneurial attitude, Dr. Mohammed Aljafari (Royal Scientific Society)
14:00-14:30 – Q&A and discussion, Prof. Manuel Valiente & Dr. Gustavo Pérez (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona)

Welcome to AquaTech Hackathon 2021
2021-06-26 09:00 - 2021-06-27 17:00 UTC
Aqua refers to anything relating to water; living in or near water, taking place in water. As such, Aqua Technology (or AquaTech) refers to technologies built to address or improve water-related cases, and to fast-track sustainable solutions for Africa’s water-energy-food nexus challenges.
An AquaTech Hackathon, hosted by The Business Clinic will take place virtually with a focus on the Eastern Cape province on 26 – 27 June 2021. This is a response to challenge creative thinking, unearthing, and the development of solutions to address this growing challenge in order to protect this precious resource.
Throughout the weekend, the participating teams will engage in the process of ideating and using technological tools to build solutions in response to the challenges. Mentors and representatives of the stakeholder will provide guidance and assistance to the teams as they develop minimal viable products.
Facilitated by ICT organization Geekulcha, the hackathon will focus on aqua technologies’ solution development to help unearth innovation in the water space. The hackathon will encourage participants to ideate and develop Minimal Viable Product (MVP) solutions on the theme of AquaTech.
Hackathon winners will also have the opportunity to pitch to the 4IR AquaTech Accelerator, a 6-month mentorship-driven program that is designed to identify, develop, support, fund, and up-scale a new generation of 4IR enabled solutions.
Click here to Register.

Consumer behavior and healthy diets: International Academy (IAFoST) Scientific Roundtable Discussion (SRD)
2021-07-01 08:00 - 09:30 UTC
This roundtable discussion organized by the academy council will discuss the role of consumer perceptions, food habits, cultural influences, gender, socio-economic and other factors including poverty and urbanization on food choices and food consumption patterns and their effects on nutrition and health including diet-related, non-communicable diseases, and the need
for advocacy and public enlightenment on nutritious and healthy diets for food security and wellness to help inform and strengthen the scientific resource on these subjects.
Chairs:
Academy Presiding Officer Dr. Aman Wirakartakumah and Academy Presiding Officer Elect Dr. Charles Aworh
ROUNDTABLE SPEAKERS:
Professor Sir Charles Godfray, Oxford Martin School, Oxford University, UK
Dr. Pavinee Chinachotti, Chair, Food Innovation, and Regulation Network (FIRN) Thailand
Dr. Sebastiano Porretta, Senior Researcher, Italian Ministry of Economic Development, Italy
Dr. Caroline Smith DeWaal, EatSafe, Gain, USA
Dr. Petra Klassen Wigger, Global R&D Scientific Advisor Nutrition and Health, Nestle, Switzerland
Click here to register.
Originally posted.

Sign-Up: IWRA Master Classes on Water Cooperation & Diplomacy
2021-07-08 17:00 - 19:30 UTC
The International Water Resources Association (IWRA) in collaboration with the Universities Partnership for Water Cooperation and Diplomacy (UPWCD), are excited to launch a new online series of master classes on Water Cooperation & Diplomacy that will take place on the months of July, September and early October this year.
This series of ten weekly classes (see indicative programme here), will be held for two and half hours each, divided into:

Public lectures: A 90-minute session, freely accessible and open to all; followed by,
Skill-building workshops: Each session will run for 60 minutes, only for IWRA Gold and Silver members, as well as UPWCD students and members. Registration will be on a first come first serve basis, as limited places are available.

Confirmed dates and times:

Every Thursday of July, starting on July 1st until July 29th
Every Thursday of September, starting on September 2nd until September 30th except for Thursday, September 16th, which is a religious holiday
The first Thursday of October. This is on October 7th.

More description is available here.
