Volume 23 | February 2022
February 2022 Newsletter
The Water-Energy-Food in Africa Initiative is excited to share with you updates on the current news and events, ways to get involved, and upcoming items to be on the lookout for.
Member Registration and Collaborative Platform

If you have not yet done so, we highly encourage interested participants to join the WEF Nexus in Africa Initiative as a member of our website and the Collaborative Platform.
Featured News
Simple Guide to Make an Impact to the World

With several challenges increasing around the world (poverty, climate change), its normal for human to think it’s impossible to make an impact and save the world. However, giving up is never a solution. We, human, are the part of solution. Therefore, there are simple things that if we can adopt in our daily routines can make a huge difference in saving the world.
 
Read the full news here to learn some guides that even the laziest person among us can do from their couch and contribute towards the world.
Why Climate Change Matters and Why to Act Now?

The article discusses the impacts of climate change mainly focusing on three areas: extinction of numerous plants and animals, severe weather events including floods and landslides and climate equity. Research findings showed that the extinction rates for endangered species are 100 to 1000 times higher and it could still increase in future by 10,000 times. Likewise, the global temperature is expected to rise by 3-4 degree Celsius by 2100 which develops a need to limit global temperature rise to roughly 1.5 degree Celsius. If projected impacts of climate change came to realization, the most vulnerable and disadvantaged population on earth will be subject to highest amount of climate change risk.

World’s strongest ocean current is speeding up — and humans are to blame

A study published in journal Natural Climate Change reported that the world’s strongest ocean current is speeding up and the human caused global warming is to blame. The researchers found that though the current is mostly driven by wind, the acceleration is large because of changes in the oceans heat. When the difference between temperatures between the hot and cold water increases, the current that border them speeds up.

Featured Events
Submit a Session Proposal: Sustainability Research & Innovation (SRI) Congress 2022

The second edition of the SRI Congress will be held in Pretoria, South Africa, June 20-24, 2022, and online. The SRI 2022 has announced the invitation to submit session proposals on the four Congress themes; (a) nexus issues, (b) different ways of knowing, (c) new horizons and (d) African science and innovation (cross cutting theme). This call for session proposals is open to groups composed of anyone working in sustainability science and practice, which includes the research sector, government, business, philanthropy, art and civil society. Submission deadline is February 18, 2022.

How Can Spiritual and Faith-Based Knowledge Systems Inform the Weather, Water, and Climate Enterprise?

The American Meteorological Society (AMS) Interfaith Committee is hosting a webinar series on February 22, 2022, related to conversations, work, and ideas on collaboration and relational building between the AMS and faith/spiritual communities. The webinar aims to explore how the AMS and spiritual/ faith-based communities with backgrounds on environmentalism can work together. Registration is required.

International Symposium Climate change & Water 2022

The International Symposium Climate change & Water 2022 is scheduled for May 31 - June 1, 2022, in Tours in the Centre-Val de Loire region of France. The purpose of conference is to orient the reflection and exchanges not only on the observation of the acceleration of the physical, chemical, biological and ecological effects of climate change but also on the proposed adaptation strategies at the local level.

First International Water Summit

The Zuckerberg Institute for Water Research (ZIWR) is organizing the first International Water Summit on May 22–23, 2022, at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU), Sde Boqer Campus, Israel. The summit will cover four main topics related to water security – desalination, water treatment, hydrology, and aquatic microbiology and address applied, and fundamental questions related to the nexus of water, humanity, and the environment.

Featured Publication
Basin perspectives on the Water–Energy–Food Security Nexus

This article is based upon the survey carried out for the Global Catchment Initiative (CGI) within the Global Water System Project (GWSP) and several case studies for a transboundary basin, a national basin, and several basins in India. The article discussed some major factors contributing to Water Energy Food (WEF) Nexus, the way they are perceived in different basins and included the ranking of river basin issues related to WEF Nexus. In the end, the paper concluded that WEF nexus could be an effective tool for advancing water and sustainability issues.

Jobs Opportunities
Vacancy// Intern for the Nexus Regional Dialogues Programme

The EU co-funded “Nexus Regional Dialogues Programme" is seeking an intern to support in multiple activities related to Water Energy Food (WEF) Nexus projects. The candidate should have knowledge and practical experience in the field of sustainable resource management and policy, possibly in one of the core topics (water, energy, and agriculture). Apply by February 22, 2022.

Vacancy// Tetra Tech International, Water Resources Management Team Lead

The Tetra Tech International announces application for an experienced Water Resources Management Team Lead in Iringa, Tanzania. The successful candidate will be responsible for strengthening basin water boards and water user associations for stewardship of water resources. In addition, the candidate will assist the management team with the preparation of work plans that define the activities to be carried out under the project. Deadline for submission of applications is February 21,2022. 

For more job, internships, or partnership opportunities visit the
General Notice

Please send relevant news, events, or activities to Michael Jacobson to be published to site or featured in newsletter.
Featured Opportunities
Dresden Nexus Conference (DNC) 2022:
Deadline Extended for Abstract Submission:
27 February 2022
DNC 2022 conference will take place on 23 to 25 May 2022 under the theme “Biodiversity – Stewardship for Vital Resources”. DNC 2022 welcomes contributions from both the areas of research and practice, where either disciplinary or inter-disciplinary, or transdisciplinary approaches are applied.
 
Contributors should address questions raised by the panel and link their research to this core issue of biodiversity and the resource nexus. Both oral and poster presentations are welcomed.
 
Abstract Submission:
The call for Abstract submission has been extended till 27th February 2022. The number of words limited to 350. The review of abstracts will begin from March 2022.