The water-energy-food nexus faces many challenges that negatively impact the farmers growing our food – not enough water, potential effects of climate change, difficulty connecting to markets, inaccessible renewable energy technologies, and a lack of agricultural knowledge, to name a few. However, with all these challenges come opportunities for businesses, non-profits, and academic/research organizations to step in, leverage their innovative solutions, and help improve the agricultural sector’s sustainability while helping farmers grow more food with less water and energy. One of the ways in which these innovations have been able to scale and create impact, is through the Water and Energy for Food Grand Challenge.
Since 2020, the Water and Energy for Food (WE4F) Grand Challenge has worked with innovators through five Regional Innovation Hubs covering East Africa, Middle East and North Africa, South and Southeast Asia, Southern and Central Africa and West Africa. These hubs have provided more than 135 innovators with grants, technical assistance, investment facilitation, and enabling environment support. Through this support, innovators scaled their nexus solutions, impacting 3.6 million end-users and helping them grow 6.8 million tons of food, save 1.2 billion kilowatt-hours of energy, reduce water consumption by 10.8 billion liters, and prevent 1.5 million tons of CO2e.
As the program draws to a close over the next year, there are many lessons learned and recommendations to be shared with the broader community. To begin learning about WE4F’s experiences, the program cordially invites you to attend a webinar scheduled for June 18th at 9am ET.
Entitled “Water and Energy for Food Grand Challenge – Final Evaluation Webinar”, and hosted by Dexis Consulting Group, this webinar will present findings on USAID-implemented activities in the Middle East and North Africa, South and Southeast Asia, and Southern and Central Africa.
View the slide deck: [ Ссылка ]
