Africa's pursuit of sustainable development is challenged by complex and interconnected issues such as climate change, rising water scarcity, environmental degradation, population growth, increasing inequality and poverty, and rising food insecurity and health concerns. Addressing these systemic challenges requires innovative, transdisciplinary approaches that support and amplify locally driven, integrated solutions.
On August 19-20, 2024, the Water Research Commission (WRC) and its partners, under the auspices of the Global WEF Nexus Community, convened a Regional Summit on Accelerating Progress Towards Achieving the SDGs through Broadening the Water-Energy-Food (WEF+) Nexus at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research Conference Center in Pretoria, South Africa. United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH) contributed to the Summit by introducing its new initiative to establish an African Academy for Water, Environment, and Health (AA-WEH).
On the first day of the Summit, Professor Tafadzwanashe Mabhaudhi, Water, Energy, Food, and Environment (WEFE) Nexus Lead, and Sogol Jafarzadeh, Gender and Capacity Building Focal Point for Africa, introduced the AA-WEH to the participants of the Summit, calling for a pan-African approach to address the most pressing water, environmental and health challenges of Africa from an African perspective. Led by UNU-INWEH and in collaboration with local and global partners, this initiative will establish a Transdisciplinary Community of Practice to promote joint research, capacity building, and gender-balanced, context-specific solutions that can be shared globally.
On the second day of the Summit, participants endorsed a statement outlining key pathways to accelerate progress towards the SDGs in the region. They affirmed their commitment to the central role of water, energy, food, environment, and health in sustainable development, socio-ecological and socio-economic sustainability, and overall well-being. The statement also included a specific endorsement of the AA-WEH:
“We welcome the initiative, driven by UNU-INWEH and regional partners, to establish the African Academy for Water, Environment, and Health. We support its vision to collaborate with partners in Africa and globally to create a gender-balanced Community of Practice and establish a cohort program to train youth, emerging African scholars, and practitioners as future leaders. This program will strengthen capacities in climate change, water, environment, food, and health.”
Professor Kaveh Madani, Director of UNU-INWEH, welcomed the news of the endorsement of AA-WEH by the participants of the Summit, stating: “As champions of the African Academy on Water, Environment, and Health, UNU-INWEH is committed to fostering an inclusive platform that evolves in response to the needs of its users and partners. This initiative is to be led by Africa for Africa, with lessons to learn and benefits for the whole world. The initiative is both timely and essential, addressing critical challenges in Africa while enhancing, not replacing, existing regional coordination mechanisms. By working together, we aim to drive sustainable development across the continent and ensure that solutions are tailored to the unique contexts and needs of African communities.”
UNU-INWEH extends its gratitude to the Water Research Commission and all partners involved in organizing and attending the Regional Summit on Accelerating Progress Towards Achieving the SDGs through Broadening the Water-Energy-Food (WEF+) Nexus.
If you would like to be part of this initative and have ongoing capacity building and research activities in Africa, please complete this form to join our efforts.
Media Contact
Sogol Jafarzadeh
UN and Government Relations Coordinator, UNU-INWEH
sogol.jafarzadeh@unu.edu
