50 DEVELOPMENT
Enhancing global cooperation to address the water-food-energy nexus
Suleiman J Al-Herbish , Director-General , OFID ( OPEC Fund for International Development )
In all our work , we seek to ensure a balance between economic growth , social progress and protection of the environment
Food security , access to clean water and access to modern energy services are three recurring themes in the debate leading to the global community agreeing on the post-2015 Sustainable Development Goals ( SDGs ). All three elements are essential for human development . And they are closely intertwined . Water is needed for almost all forms of energy production ; energy is needed to treat and transport water ; and both water and energy are needed to grow and produce food .
Traditionally , development planners have often sought solutions to the water , energy or food crises by addressing each problem separately . But tackling just one of the three elements can aggravate one or both of the others . A case in point is the irresponsible expansion of the production of first-generation biofuels in the second half of the last decade , which caused a huge rise in food prices , especially in the developing countries . This example was highlighted in a special study , “ Biofuels and Food Security ,” commissioned by OFID and published in 2010 .
It is a fact that the challenges posed to sustainable development by the strong inter-linkage between water , food and energy are confronted by all parts of the globe . However , some regions are more exposed than others . For example , in sub-
Water-food-energy Nexus in action © Ocean / Corbis
Saharan Africa , barely one-third of the population has access to electricity , and less than half has access to freshwater . The situation is likely to worsen as the availability of arable land ( for agriculture production ) declines ; as competition for land and water intensifies ; and as access to energy becomes a pressing constraint on economic growth .
As a development institution of almost 40-years ’ standing , OFID has extensive experience in addressing these connected challenges . In addition , our activities have covered other important sectors , including education , health , rural development , transportation , microfinance , industry and telecommunications .
In all our work , we seek to ensure a balance between economic growth , social progress and protection of the environment .