Gaps Analysis for the Integration of the WEF Nexus Technologies in the Elaboration and Implementation of National Climate Policies (NDC and NAP) in Benin Republic, West Africa

Abstract

Climate change poses a serious threat to sustainable development in Africa, particularly in Benin, where agriculture, fisheries, and coastal resources are heavily impacted. The objective of this study was to propose strategies for integrating Water-Energy-Food (WEF) Nexus technologies into Benin's national climate policies. A comprehensive literature review, bibliometric analysis, and assessment of Nexus integration in Benin's NDC and NAP were conducted using the SWITCH-Med framework. The exhaustive bibliometric analysis of scientific publications on the Nexus evaluated knowledge production in Africa and Benin. Additionally, the SWITCH-Med assessment grid was used to thoroughly analyze the degree of Nexus integration in Benin's Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) and National Adaptation Plan (NAP). The results show that resources in the WEF Nexus sectors are available but their accessibility needs improvement, with a WEF Nexus index increasing from 44.3 points in 2019 to 47.1 in 2023. Gaps were identified in the sectoral management and intersectoral coordination of resources, and scientific production on the Nexus in Africa, including in Benin, remains limited. The NDC and NAP partially and indirectly integrate the Nexus, at 70% for the NAP and 50% for the NDC. Therefore, there is a need to promote integrated and trans-sectoral climate planning in Benin, optimizing resource use and multiple benefits. Specific recommendations are made to strengthen Benin's scientific research on the Nexus, while identifying the need to study the environmental aspect of the Nexus for better sustainable resource management.