This week HR2W has participated on the AWSISA Africa and Global South Water and Sanitation Dialogue Conference in South Africa. This event convened experts from across Africa and beyond to discuss insights on the most pressing water and sanitation issues, with a strong focus on ensuring water security to the most vulnerable communities.
Integrated Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystems Solutions in Rural Locations Session
During the conference, HR2W had the opportunity to partner with the South African Water Research Commission and co-host a session in which experts could gather and discuss integrated Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystems (WEFE) solutions in rural locations. Through this lens, the session provided a practical and holistic lens that integrates resources to promote sustainable development and social equity.
We heard from Mamohloding Maahlo (WRC), who moderated the workshop, Amanda Loeffen (CEO of HR2W), Hon. Hemed Mwabudzo who presented on “Water Facilities for Inclusive Socio-Economic Rural Livelihoods in Kwale County”, from Commissioner Henk Boshoff (South African Human Rights Commission), Professor Tracy-Lynn Field (University of the Witwatersrand), and Mr. Eskendir Demissie (African Development Bank).
Throughout the event it became clear that there are persistent barriers to the access of water and sanitation in rural Africa, particularly in remote areas. This is particularly true in cases such as the one of Kwale County presented by Hon. Hemed Mwabudzo. The county spans 8,270.2 km²—65% of which is Arid and Semi-Arid Land (ASAL)—and is home to approximately one million people.
Due to harsh hydro-climatic conditions, the county has invested in over 500 boreholes, more than 250 of which are equipped with solar-powered pumping systems. Additionally, Kwale has constructed a series of medium and small-scale dams and water pans, integrating solar pumping, treatment facilities, and distribution networks wherever possible. This comprehensive effort now supports water and energy access for schools, health facilities, households, irrigation, and kitchen gardening—a practical illustration of the WEFE Nexus in action.
“The main challenge is that water-energy-food-ecosystems are inter-connected, but the solutions are fragmented.” – Amanda Loeffen
Why the WEFE Nexus Matters
As the session continued, the speakers shared case studies and real-life experience on the challenges of water and sanitation security in rural areas and the difficulty of sustaining the standards on availability, accessibility, affordability, safe, acceptability and quality for communities. However, they also highlighted how the WEFE Nexus can also bring:
- an increased sustainable access to water while also improving sanitation management with safer resource recovery and environmental protection,
- an increased food security with decreased pressure on water and better resilience
- and the promotion of healthy ecosystems to protect water quality, recharge aquifers and buffer stock.
The experts stressed throughout the session how the application of the Nexus must remain both a participatory approach as well as a holistic approach. If this two elements are considered, then this type of solutions is at the core of human rights. When solutions are locally designed, locally operated, maintained by communities, and cost-effective, they not only become more sustainable but strengthen the realisation of human rights to water and sanitation.
Through these solutions, policy can also be developed that supports the human rights to water and sanitation that build on evidence that works in a practical manner and that has a realistic chance of success. Policy can help us to replicate the solutions that work best.
The HRWS is not just a theoretical aspiration, it is a right for all people. The challenge we have is that it is difficult to achieve, especially when resources are limited, and the most vulnerable, and least able to pay, are the most challenging to provide for.
We need to have a new way to thinking that creates opportunity out of hardship, and innovation out of difficulty. The WEFE Nexus provides this bridge – it can help to provide that inclusiveness, and linking our duty to respect human rights, with our ability to do so.
