The unprecedented surge in urbanization and population growth rates is generating multiple impacts, affecting food, energy and water (FEW hereafter) demands. Moreover, the adverse effects are extending to climate, as well as to human and ecosystem health. Coordinated efforts are often deemed critical to minimize the trade-offs while maximizing the synergies in the use and the effective analysis of the interlinkages among food, energy, and water within urban ecosystems. Data are collected and transformed into useful information through different indicators, which are often applied to guide several policies in the urban domain. However, their different nature now asks for a critical reanalysis to collate them into different groups, understanding their guiding principles and identifying possible gaps for further policy- and design-oriented studies. This paper reviews the state-of-the-art on existing urban FEW nexus indicators. Indicators were found to belong to four main distinct groups, measuring resource fluxes (52%); quantifying environmental impacts (13%), and efficiency aspects (29%). Results highlight a need to develop new indicators, considering the inclusion of all involved factors within new integrated metrics. However, prior to developing an overall sustainability indicator system is presented, it would be vital to incorporate as many flows as possible to represent the entire urban systems.

The critical interlinkages among the food, land, and water (FLW) systems are complex and context-specific. There has been limited research on how policies governing one resource have deep implications for the other linked resources. Further, the process of developing policies is highly complex, and each evolves differently. In addition, policy changes are implemented in response to socio-cultural, economic, environmental, and political changes. Thus, individual policies may develop conflicting priorities and effects. To ensure the effectiveness of national policies and strategies, it is crucial to gather context-specific evidence on the coherence between policies governing FLW systems and address points of incoherence. Policy coherence is important to identify and strengthen synergies across economic, social, and environmental policy areas and address any trade-offs1 between them to align domestic policy objectives with internationally agreed objectives. The study offers key evidence-based recommendations to address the identified gaps and challenges in the selected national policies, which are essential for enhancing policy coherence.

The Sustainable Development Goals are interconnected and cut across Food, Land and Water (FLW) systems. But the formulation and implementation of national policy objectives to attain the SDGs may be fragmented and uncoordinated. The CGIAR Initiative on National Policies and Strategies (NPS), aims to contribute to agri-foods system transformation, by identifying ways of building stronger FLW policies with greater coherence and investment capacity, to support Nigeria in addressing current crises and future development needs. This flagship report focuses on (in)coherence in policies related to FLW systems in Nigeria, through the lens of Policies and Institutions Landscape Analysis Framework. To achieve policy coherence for sustainable development, the report highlights the need for: 1. strengthening staff and institutional capacities for FLW contextual and policy analysis to effectively identify, anticipate and respond to crisis. 2. developing systemic polycentric decision-making and governance, involving multi-stakeholders at the Federal, State and Local levels. 3. providing sustainable funding for the effective implementation of policy objectives, projects and programmes in the relevant FLW-related sectors 4. maintaining continuity of the implementation of ongoing transformative FLW policy objectives and programmes when an incumbent government comes into power. 5. promoting evidence-based (real time and high-quality data) policy formulation, monitoring, evaluation, and learning.

The water-energy-food nexus has become a popular concept in environmental change research and policy debates. Proponents suggest that a nexus approach promotes policy coherence through identifying optimal policy mixes and governance arrangements across the water, energy and food sectors. Although the nexus literature identifies some barriers to achieving coherence it does not clearly explain why the barriers are present, what influences them, and how they can be acted upon. These gaps disconnect the nexus literature from the governance processes it ultimately seeks to influence. This paper examines how the integrative environmental governance literature can help to close these gaps. It extracts insights from seven streams of research literature and discusses their relevance for the nexus literature. We argue that connecting the nexus to decision-making processes requires: i) rethinking the boundaries of nexus analysis vis-à-vis other sectors and levels; ii) elaboration of shared principles that can guide decision-making towards policy coherence − or an appropriate form of fragmentation − in different contexts; iii) viewing policy coherence as a continuous process of changing values and perception rather than as an outcome.

Developing countries face a difficult challenge in meeting the growing demands for food, water, and energy, which is further compounded by climate change. Effective adaptation to change requires the efficient use of land, water, energy, and other vital resources, and coordinated efforts to minimize trade-offs and maximize synergies. However, as in many developing countries, the policy process in South Asia generally follows a sectoral approach that does not take into account the interconnections and interdependence among the three sectors. Although the concept of a water–energy–food nexus is gaining currency, and adaptation to climate change has become an urgent need, little effort has been made so far to understand the linkages between the nexus perspective and adaptation to climate change. Using the Hindu Kush Himalayan region as an example, this article seeks to increase understanding of the interlinkages in the water, energy, and food nexus, explains why it is important to consider this nexus in the context of adaptation responses, and argues that focusing on trade-offs and synergies using a nexus approach could facilitate greater climate change adaptation and help ensure food, water, and energy security by enhancing resource use efficiency and encouraging greater policy coherence. It concludes that a nexus-based adaption approach – which integrates a nexus perspective into climate change adaptation plans and an adaptation perspective into development plans – is crucial for effective adaptation. The article provides a conceptual framework for considering the nexus approach in relation to climate change adaptation, discusses the potential synergies, trade-offs, and offers a broader framework for making adaptation responses more effective. Policy relevance This article draws attention to the importance of the interlinkages in the water, energy, and food nexus, and the implications for sustainable development and adaptation. The potential synergies and complementarities among the sectors should be used to guide formulation of effective adaptation options. The issues highlight the need for a shift in policy approaches from a sectoral focus, which can result in competing and counterproductive actions, to an integrated approach with policy coherence among the sectors that uses knowledge of the interlinkages to maximize gain, optimize trade-offs, and avoid negative impacts.

Land, water, and energy resources are coming under unprecedented pressure owing to growing populations, urbanization, industrialization, and changing lifestyles, food habits, and climate. Generally, sectoral approaches are taken to address these challenges that overlook the close linkages between the water, energy and food sectors and resultant cross-sectoral implications. The result is an uncoordinated and unsustainable use of resources that increasingly threatens water, energy, and food securities in many parts of the world. To enhance sustainability in resource use, the use of water-energy-food nexus (WEF) approach has been advocated in recent years. Despite its conceptual appeals, the practical application of this approach in government planning and decision making has remained limited in part due to lack of an appropriate framework to operationalize the concept as a planning and decision-making tool. This paper suggests a framework for operationalizing the nexus concept in planning and decision-making, using South Asia as an example. The framework outlines four steps to evaluate and prioritize nexus issues to improve cross-sectoral planning and coordination using three broad criteria to assess the impact of actions in one sector on another: synergies (co-benefits), trade-offs (externalities), and neutrality. A cross-sectoral coordination body provides the institutional mechanism for ensuring coordination of policy and action. The four steps are: (a) harmonizing policy goals, (b) identifying interactions and critical connections between these sectors in an integrated manner, (c) assessing compatibility of nexus objectives and policy instruments, and (d) screening programs, projects, and investments against nexus goals. The framework is expected to help governments in coordinating the actions of diverse actors across the water, energy and food sectors and designing policies and programs that address trade-offs, while increasing production sustainably, conserving natural resources, and enhancing -water-energy-food nexus outcomes.

This study was part of the Himalayan Adaptation,Water and Resilience (HI-AWARE) Programme of ICIMOD funded by the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID) and Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Himalayan Climate Change Adaptation Programme (HICAP) implemented jointly by ICIMOD, CICERO and Grid-Arendal and funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Norway and Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA), and Koshi Basin Programme of ICIMOD funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) of Australia. | Developing countries face a difficult challenge in meeting the growing demands for food, water, and energy, which is further compounded by climate change. Effective adaptation to change requires the efficient use of land, water, energy, and other vital resources, and coordinated efforts to minimize trade-offs and maximize synergies. However, as in many developing countries, the policy process in South Asia generally follows a sectoral approach that does not take into account the interconnections and interdependence among the three sectors. Although the concept of a water–energy–food nexus is gaining currency, and adaptation to climate change has become an urgent need, little effort has been made so far to understand the linkages between the nexus perspective and adaptation to climate change. Using the Hindu Kush Himalayan region as an example, this article seeks to increase understanding of the interlinkages in the water, energy, and food nexus, explains why it is important to consider this nexus in the context of adaptation responses, and argues that focusing on trade-offs and synergies using a nexus approach could facilitate greater climate change adaptation and help ensure food, water, and energy security by enhancing resource use efficiency and encouraging greater policy coherence. It concludes that a nexus-based adaption approach – which integrates a nexus perspective into climate change adaptation plans and an adaptation perspective into development plans – is crucial for effective adaptation. The article provides a conceptual framework for considering the nexus approach in relation to climate change adaptation, discusses the potential synergies, trade-offs, and offers a broader framework for making adaptation responses more effective.

Building policy coherence is significant in governing natural resources, especially in a changing climate and growing population. Designing and implementing coherent climate-adaptive water productivity policies through holistic and integrated knowledge could manage the growing demand for food and water, and sustain small-scale farmers' livelihoods and economies, which is the aim of this research. This study focuses on the analysis of power dynamics and the social network that evolves around the control of information and technical assistance that shape policy narratives. Results showed that donors and financial institutions are the primary powers to control and organize knowledge and technical assistance linked to soil-water conservation especially when it’s combined with mobilizing relevant funds. Many smallholder farmers still adopt traditional patterns of cultivation due to the siloed knowledge gaps in the extension services of governmental entities, the unreachability of extension services, the lack of trust in their guidance, and the absence of innovations’ scalability. Building integrated extension services between ministries, by providing equal and suitable financial packages. This would be feasible by managing the coordination with financial institutions, monetary and nonmonetary incentives, and building on existing farmers’ collective organizations and farmers’ pioneers to enable a sociological transition to water productivity.

The data collection objective was to map Colombian national policies and policy instruments related to land, water and food issues. The database presents detailed information on national policies and policy instruments such as, the policy sector, the objective, the year. This data collection were used to lead policy coherence analysis among and between land, water and food policy domains. Metodology: The methodology used was policy mapping

Food, land, and water (FLW) systems are closely interlinked; actions in one system often impact the others. Enhancing the sustainability of these interconnected systems is crucial for advancing food security, sustainable livelihoods, rural development, environmental health, and climate resilience. Recognising these interlinkages, India is making significant policy efforts to achieve environmental, economic, and social well-being (PIB 2024a). However, the complexity and evolving nature of these interlinkages necessitate coherent policy efforts (CEEW and IWMI 2023). Policy coherence involves improving institutional coordination, leveraging policy synergies, and addressing trade-offs. It also entails enabling the convergence of resources and ensuring flexibility and adaptability to changes. Policy coherence promotes the inclusion of vulnerable groups, thereby advancing social inclusion and economic empowerment (CEEW and IWMI 2023). Therefore, it is critical for advancing national goals and unlocking opportunities to achieve global sustainable development targets. This report is part of a larger study examining policy coherence with regards to FLW systems in India at both the national and sub-national levels. The national-level study was guided by the National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog, the apex public policy think-tank of the Government of India. The study yielded three important findings. First, it identified the most relevant national policies within the FLW policy landscape. Second, it highlighted the best practices and key lessons for achieving policy coherence across these policies. Third, it underscored the importance of implementing policy coherence in FLW systems at the state level, which is an important governance level for policy implementation. To drive meaningful progress at the sub-national level, it is essential to ensure policy coherence that aligns sub-national targets with broader national and global goals, such as the SDGs (UNSSC 2022, OECD n.d.a). Odisha is known for its emphasis on scientific, evidence-based policymaking, sustainable development, and convergent efforts. This study aims to better understand state-specific best practices and key lessons for improving policy coherence among Odisha’s most relevant policies on FLW systems. The study also offers actionable recommendations for enhancing policy coherence.