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Call for applications: Water- Energy- Food (WEF) Nexus Training

Drone Shot of Watering of Vineyard

Achieving water, energy and food (WEF) security is a priority for southern Africa, especially under unfavourable climate changes, increasing urbanisation, population growth, and rapid ecosystem degradation. To do this requires a collaborative and inclusive approach, which considers the interconnections and interdependencies between the three sectors. Over the past decade, this has become known as the WEF Nexus and has rapidly gained traction as a transformative approach to achieve sustainable natural resources management and socio-economic development.

The WEF Nexus Masterclass and in-person Advanced School are capacity-developing initiatives to support early career researchers, postgraduate students, managers, and practitioners in understanding nexus thinking, particularly the WEF nexus.

Participants will learn about the WEF nexus and its concepts, and learn how to facilitate discourse and use new frameworks, tools and methods for analysing the WEF nexus. The online WEF Nexus Masterclass is designed as an introductory course. It serves as a feeder and is a prerequisite  for the in-person Advanced School to be held in Pretoria, South Africa in August 2024.

Figure: The Anthropocentric WEF Nexus Framework

What?

•    11 – 13 June 2024 - Online Masterclass 
•    13 – 17 August 2024 - In-person Advanced School for SADC Region 
•    19 – 20 August 2024 – WEF+ Nexus Regional Summit 

Who should apply?

  • Early career researchers (< 5 years post PhD).
  • Postgraduate students from any discipline working on WEF Nexus issues. Preference will be given to PhD candidates and Masters students in their second year of study.
  • Managers, and practitioners working for non-governmental and governmental organizations as well (NGOs, Government, River Basin Organizations).
  • Stakeholders conducting research and development related to the WEF nexus and related fields such as agriculture, forestry, water, energy, engineering, climate change, ecosystems, and environment.
  • Applicants must demonstrate an advanced (C1) English level (please see the application form).

Where?

  • The WEF Nexus Masterclass will be delivered online from 11 - 13 June 2024.
  • Participants who complete the Masterclass will be eligible to attend  the WEF Nexus in-person Advanced School for Southern Africa, to be held from 13-17 August at Future Africa, University of Pretoria, Hillcrest Campus, Pretoria, South Africa. (Event Facilities (futureafrica.science). Space is limited to 30 participants.
  • Participants selected for the Advanced School will be notified after the conclusion of the online Masterclass.

Programme cost

Apart from those who receive sponsorship, the WEF Nexus in-person Advanced School fee is  €100, which covers registration, lunches and teas during the Advanced School and the associated fieldtrip. Participants must pay  for their own accommodation, flights, airport transfers and meals outside the in-person Advanced School hours.

A limited number of full and partial sponsorships for travel and accommodation are available to financially needy candidates who meet the criteria to participate in the WEF Nexus in-person Advanced School. More details on the sponsorship are found on the application form. 

Windmill Energy on Green Grass Field
Windmill Energy on Green Grass Field; Copyright: Tom Swinnen, Pexels.com

How to apply?

Complete the application form by 30 April 2024. Please indicate whether you  wish to be considered for the Masterclass or in-person Advanced School or both.

Applicants should participate in the Masterclass to be accepted for the in-person Advanced School. This can be waived if participants took part in the Masterclass in 2021, 2022 or 2023.

Questions? Please  email wefnexustraining@waternetonline.org.