An investigation into more efficient Water, Energy and Food (WEF) nexus applications to enhance food security and sustainable livelihoods for the poor in the Philippi Horticultural Area (PHA), Western Cape

Abstract

This thesis addresses the question: To what extent can more efficient applications of the water, energy and food (WEF) nexus approach enhance the food security and sustainable livelihoods of poor people living in the Philippi Horticultural Area (PHA) of Cape Town in the Western Cape province of South Africa? The PHA, a vital centre for urban agriculture, faces acute water and energy challenges that threaten smallholder farmers and local food security. The thesis employed a qualitative approach, conducting a thorough review of the literature to critically examine the evolution and theoretical underpinnings of the WEF nexus approach, and its global and local applications, with a focus on its potential to alleviate the broader challenges of poverty and resource scarcity in South Africa. This theoretical underpinning was applied in engaging key stakeholders in the PHA through semi structured interviews and focus group discussion, thereby uncovering valuable perspectives on synergies and trade-offs between WEF systems in the PHA. This approach facilitated exploring how integrated resource management could address systemic inequalities and improve the distribution of WEF resources in the PHA. This was done within the frameworks and restrictions imposed by relevant legislation and policies and the challenges presented by local socio-economic conditions. The study evaluated the interplay between water, energy and food (WEF) sectors in the PHA, assessed its impacts on food security and livelihoods and identified necessary changes to maximise poverty reduction. The findings indicate that although the WEF nexus is well established in policy discourse, its implementation in the PHA is constrained by fragmented governance arrangements, sectoral planning silos and limited institutional coordination. The study further shows that farmers and local stakeholders already engage in informal nexus practices related to water reuse, energy efficiency and adaptive food production, but these remain weakly supported by formal governance and planning frameworks.