This collection seeks research or review papers on WEFE Nexus approaches in water management, aiming to enhance resilience and sustainability. Globally, many regions face increasing pressures on water resources due to climate change, population growth, and intensive human activities. These factors often lead to conflicts and inadequate mitigation measures, exacerbated by insufficient data. Unsustainable water management practices strain resources, leading to wastage, declining aquifer levels, and environmental degradation. Addressing these challenges requires an integrated approach, considering economic, social, and environmental factors. Solutions must adopt a holistic approach to the WEFE interplay to achieve impact, with a pragmatic consideration of financial feasibility, economic return, sustainable resource use, and social acceptance.

Potential scientific topics for submitted papers may include:

• Analysis of governance structures and policy frameworks for integrated management of water, energy, food, and ecosystem services.

• Investigation of the unique challenges and strategies for managing the WEFE Nexus in urban environments, including water supply, energy demands, food security, and ecosystem preservation.

• Assessment of climate change impact on water resources, energy production, food security, and ecosystem services, and exploration of potential adaptation and resilience strategies for the WEFE Nexus.

• Strategies and measures for safeguarding access, fairness, and equity in resource allocation towards WEFE Nexus security.

• Circular economy and zero waste approaches to optimize resource use and minimize waste within the WEFE Nexus, including water reuse, energy recovery, and food waste reduction.

• Interactions between water, energy, food, and ecosystem services and their impacts on biodiversity, ecosystem health, and ecological balance.

• Local/regional community engagement and participation of stakeholders in WEFE Nexus management, including case studies of successful community-led initiatives.

• Analysis of international and transboundary challenges in managing the WEFE Nexus, including geopolitical conflicts over shared water resources and opportunities for cooperation.

• Investigation of technological innovations such as sensor networks, data analytics, and precision agriculture for optimizing resource use and enhancing efficiency within the WEFE Nexus.

• Assessment of the economic value of ecosystem services provided by water resources, such as water purification, flood regulation, and habitat provision, and exploration of methods for incorporating these values into decision-making processes.

Keywords: WEFE Nexus; water resources management; irrigation water; modelling; agroecology; environmental economics; stakeholder engagement; water conflict; hydro-diplomacy; ecosystem services; water governance.

This Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG2 (Zero Hunger), SDG6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), SDG12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), SDG13 (Climate Action), and SDG15 (Life on Land).

Water is a crucial resource; and its quality and availability constitute powerful determinants of sustainable health, economic growth and social development. Globally, water is a major challenge and there is need to explore the prime place of water towards the successful delivery of United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals in sub-Saharan Africa.

Tackling today’s water-related challenges and expanding relevant frontiers demand a scientific approach and a collaborative convergence of the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. This topical collection on water sustainability in Africa is an interdisciplinary assemblage of research, responses, conversations, perspectives, and creative approaches to the water, health and climate nexus. It offers new ideas, African viewpoints, indigenous knowledge and local content in dealing with water challenges.

Keywords: Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH); Drinking water treatment options; Aquatic environments and One Health; The arts and humanities for water and health; Water education, literacy and awareness; Water governance and resource management; Risks, vulnerability and resilience assessment; Water, Climate change and food security; Water, women and gender concerns; Wastewater treatment and bioenergy