Building Resilience through Water-Energy-Food Nexus for South African Municipalities

Dr. Samiksha Singh, a researcher at the Gauteng City-Region Observatory (GCRO), recently shared insights from the GCRO’s Quality of Life 7 (QoL7) Survey during the ‘Building Resilience through Water-Energy-Food (WEF) Nexus for South African Municipalities’ Workshop. This event aimed to promote meaningful discussions on the interconnectedness of these essential resources and was jointly organized by ICLEI-Africa, the Economic Development Partnership (EDP), and the South African Local Government Association (SALGA). The workshop brought together local government practitioners from across South Africa, focusing on enhancing adaptive leadership training and discussing the Water-Energy-Food Nexus as a strategy for strengthening urban resilience.

In her presentation titled ‘Water, Energy, and Food in Gauteng: Insights from the GCRO’s Quality of Life 7 Survey (2023/24), Dr. Singh highlighted compelling findings from the survey, which uncovered pressing issues and opportunities for improving sustainable development practices across Gauteng. The survey revealed that concerns surrounding water quality and dissatisfaction with service delivery have grown due to ongoing supply interruptions. Regarding energy, satisfaction with energy provision has also decreased; ongoing load shedding has led residents to invest in expensive alternative energy sources that sometimes worsen air pollution. Additionally, food security is declining, primarily due to high food prices, which make it difficult for residents to afford nutritious meals. Since WEF issues are interconnected, solutions must be multifaceted to effectively address these complex challenges.

Dr. Singh emphasized that the data collected underscores the urgent need to rethink how we manage the Water-Energy-Food Nexus in Gauteng. A cohesive, sustainable approach to managing these critical resources is essential. This includes investing in renewable energy, improving water management policies, promoting sustainable agriculture, and enhancing food security. Discussions and workshops like this one, along with targeted interventions, are vital for tackling these intricate WEF challenges.