Water-Energy-Food Nexus project ‘Governance for social justice’ coming to an end

‘Water-Energy-Food Communities in South Africa: Multi-actor Nexus Governance for Social Justice’ is a three-year project funded by the Dutch research foundation NWO and the South African research foundation NRF. This research introduces the concept of Water-Energy-Food (WEF) communities, inspired by EU legislation for energy communities to produce their own renewable energy.

The study focuses on how similar communities in South Africa could be legally recognised and expanded to include water use and food production, and the consequences this would have for social justice, particularly for the poorest members of society and women. As the project draws to a close, the core objective remains to generate insights that will increase legal certainty and social justice for WEF communities.

This transdisciplinary research project is a collaboration between four universities in the Netherlands and South Africa: the University of Groningen and Utrecht University, and the University of Fort Hare and North West University in South Africa. Various non-governmental organisations were also involved, including WWF South Africa and Environmental and Rural Solutions (ERS).

Social justice

Funded by the NWO and NRF, the project investigated how Water-Energy-Food (WEF) nexus governance could promote social justice in South Africa. It focused on the case study areas of Matatiele in the Eastern Cape and Vaalharts in the North West and Northern Cape provinces. The project aimed to empower local communities as agents of change. To this end, it analysed the distribution of resources, the participation of women and disadvantaged groups in decision-making processes, and the challenges involved in integrating community initiatives into national legal frameworks.

More information

For more information on the project, the research team and publications, visit the WEF Communities website.