Governance of the water-energy-food nexus: a relational equity approach

This chapter focuses on the need for a novel approach to governing the water, energy and food sectors adopting the nexus concept. It argues that the successful integration of the water-energy-food (WEF) nexus conceptualisation for the governance of these sectors is contingent on the effective management of the relational equity of all stakeholders/actors. The chapter adopts a view on collective governance as an arrangement that brings together various actors and public agencies in collective forums, to engage in problem-solving-focused and consensus-oriented decision-making. It further contends that the collaborative approach is one of the most impactful means of nexus governance, enabled and facilitated by effective relational equity management. To illustrate its arguments, the chapter uses the case of Kazakhstan and its approach to policy design and implementation for the water, energy and food sectors. By emphasising the significance of effective relational equity management to enable and facilitate higher levels of integration across sectors, institutions, levels and scales, leading to more impactful policy design and implementation, this chapter lays the foundation for further debate in the book.