Exploring the Water-Food-Energy and Climate Nexus: Insights from the Moroccan Draa Valley

Water, energy, food and climate are strongly interconnected spheres ranging from ensuring access to resources and services, to environmental and social impacts. Such interwoven concerns become even more relevant in drylands and oasis communities in developing countries where resources are already scarce and people are considered to be among the most endangered by the rising anthropogenic pressure on the environment and threats posed by climate change. Pinpointing these links is extremely relevant since it allows addressing synergies and preventing potential tensions. Using the Draa Valley Region in Morocco as a case study, the paper addresses and maps the interconnectedness between water-food-energy and climate. The findings of this study underline that while (national and regional) top-down policies concerning water-food-energy and climate nexus goal to take control of the related interconnections put at risk the long-term sustainability of the region in the area of water, energy and food; bottom-up and local policies are able to accommodate and respond to change posed by the nexus challenges in the short-term.