ASSESSING THE ADOPTION OF THE WATER ENERGY FOOD NEXUS APPROACH FOR CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION IN CAMEROON

Abstract

The current was done in the context of the prevailing effects of climate change in ensuring security and sustainability in the resource systems of Water, Energy and Food. It explored the level of adoption of the Water-Energy-Food (WEF) nexus approach for climate change adaptation in Cameroon through a comprehensive analysis. The main objective was to comprehensively assess the current state of art in terms of integrating the WEF nexus approach in the Country. The specific objectives were: to analyse changing patterns of WEF nexus indicators over five years, to examine the evolution of nexus potential in strategic documents, and to assess at the operational level, the nexus potential of projects from relevant ministries integrating the three systems. The methodology employed encompassed linear correlation analysis for the identification of potential synergies and trade-offs; a chronological and comparative examination of strategic documents with respect to some predefined WEF nexus criteria, and the analysis of the WEF nexus potential in some projects. The main results of the study reveal some synergies between Energy-Food and Water-Energy, with Energy and Water exerting the highest influence on the WEF nexus index variation. Moreover, a growing nexus potential is observed in strategic documents over time, particularly in National Determined Contributions (NDCs); and the. Despite some deficiencies in technology involvement and stakeholder consideration, opportunities exist to enhance WEF nexus adoption in adaptation documents. Furthermore, project analysis identifies several initiatives with moderate to high nexus potential is observed from 2005 to 2021, suggesting the feasibility of mainstreaming the Hoff's framework for improved integration. In conclusion, the study highlights the need for updating institutional coordination, capacity building, evidence-based decision-making, policy coherence, and adaptive governance to effectively incorporate WEF nexus considerations into national frameworks, ultimately advancing climate change adaptation efforts and sustainable development goals in Cameroon