Examining the water–energy–food (WEF) nexus through an SDG lens for the big 5 African countries

The misallocation and scarcity of food, energy and water resources have been a challenge for African countries, mainly as they try to achieve long-term future sustainable development. This study explores the dynamic relationship between water, energy, food and economic conditions in Angola, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa. Since the water-energy-food nexus underpins the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 6, 7 and 2), respectively the study uses SDG indicators to proxy food, energy and water. To do so, the study employs a Generalised Methods of Moments panel data technique for the period from 2000 to 2015. For the whole group of countries, a sub-nexus was concluded from Food to Water, Water to Food and Water to Energy for Ethiopia was confirmed, Energy to Water for Kenya and Water to Food for Angola. This study explains these important interlinkages appreciating the growing demand for the three resources as population in the continent keeps growing. The findings indicate synergies between the three sustainability demonstrations for the five countries that have important policy implications for the continent’s current and future developmental conditions.