The 2nd Workshop of the regional consultation on ‘Digital Transformation for advancing Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystems (WEFE) Nexus in the Mediterranean Source to Sea (S2S) continuum’ was held on 6-7 February 2025, in Malta and online (hybrid). The regional process, including its consultation workshops, is organised by the PRIMA ACQUAOUNT, TALANOA-WATER and H2020 TRANSCEND projects in synergy with and with the support by the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM).
The 2nd Consultation Workshop was organised in conjunction with the UfM Ad-hoc Meeting of the Drafting Group of the Ministerial Declaration on Water in the Mediterranean, that took place on the same dates in Malta, aiming to kick-start the related drafting process. The UfM Ministerial Meeting on Water would have as main themes: WEFE Nexus; Digitalisation; and Finance. It is scheduled to take place at the beginning of 2026, in Italy. The Malta Energy & Water Agency (EWA) generously hosted and supported both events.
Digital transformation in the context of WEFE Nexus refers to the strategic adoption and integration of conventional and innovative digital technologies across the interconnected systems of water management, energy production and consumption, food supply chains and environmental capital, in the spatial components of the S2S continuum. It involves leveraging advanced digital tools, data analytics, innovative technologies and related managerial approaches to optimise the efficiency, sustainability, and resilience of integrated WEFE systems.
Digital transformation is not just a technological upgrade. It is a strategic imperative for creating more sustainable, resilient, and interconnected responses to sectorial challenges in a holistic approach. Embracing integrated digital solutions is essential for overcoming current challenges and preparing for the evolving socio-economic demands of the future, particularly as these are shaped by climate change impacts.
Key components of digital transformation include, but are not limited to, data integration, real time monitoring, analytics and decision support, smart infrastructure, inter-connected platforms, automatization and optimisation, innovative tech ecosystems, etc. Digitalization in a WEFE Nexus in a S2S approach can contribute to integrated and data-driven management for informed decision-making, optimising resource allocation, increasing efficiency in operations, promoting innovation, etc., thus enhancing climate resilience.
The regional consultation process aims to:
- identify related strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) and present a related analysis
- highlight advancements made;
- craft recommendations for promoting digital transformation contributing to the draft ‘WEFE Nexus Strategy in the Mediterranean Source to Sea continuum’ as well as provide technical input to key regional political fora like the possible UfM Ministerial on Water, CoP of the Barcelona Convention, etc.
- help the PRIMA projects to adapt their research agenda towards transformational and actionable science that builds resilience to water scarcity and other natural resources management challenges under climate change impacts.
The 1st Consultation Workshop on ‘Digital Transformation for advancing Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystems (WEFE) Nexus in the Mediterranean Source to Sea (S2S) continuum’, was held on 4-5 June 2024, in Lisbon, back-to-back with the 14th Meeting of the UfM Regional Platform on Water (5-6 June 2024). Through setting-the-stage presentations, interactive discussions in working groups and in plenary, and multi-stakeholder discussion panels, the 1st Consultation Workshop launched the regional consultation process and elaborated on elements of a SWOT Analysis on the subject.
The 2nd Consultation Workshop in Malta & Online advanced the SWOT Analysis, and set the basis for the Recommendations on the subject. The Concept Note & Agenda of the Workshop, and a brief account of its key outcomes, are provided herewith.
The regional consultation will continue aiming at presenting its results at the UfM Ministerial Meeting. Its upcoming steps will be also assisted by the PRIMA WEFE4Med project that aims at fostering partnerships and facilitating knowledge exchange within a WEFE Nexus Community of Practice, while leveraging its network of WEFE Nexus demonstration sites as living laboratories, towards promoting sustainable solutions across sectors.