Overlapping Water–Energy–Food and Climate–Peace–Security Interventions in the Middle East and North Africa, Europe and Central Asia

This paper examines the overlap between the thematic areas of water–energy–food (WEF) and climate–peace–security (CPS) within International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) projects in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and Europe and Central Asia (ECA). It assesses projects completed between 2016 and 2024 to identify those that align with both WEF and CPS approaches, aiming to inform future multisectoral development interventions. The paper defines these nexus approaches and their rationales, presents findings from a systematic portfolio review and analyses two case studies. It highlights that many IFAD interventions implicitly address interlinkages between water, energy, food, climate change, peace and security, while not being explicitly framed as WEF and CPS nexus projects. The analysis concludes with lessons for designing, implementing and evaluating integrated programming to address the complex challenges of climate change, resource scarcity, food insecurity and conflict.