Water-food security nexus in Middle East and North Africa Region: an exploratory assessment
New Medit, vol 16, n.4, (December 2017), pp. 31-38
Jel classification: Q01, Q18, Q25
The multifaceted relationships between water resources and food security (FS) are at the core of sustainable development challenge in Middle East and North Africa (MENA). This paper proposes a multidimensional analysis of two indices related to water security and FS. The five components of the Water Poverty Index (mWPI) – Resources, Access, Use, Capacity and Environment – and the three components of the Global Food Security Index (GFSI) – Availability, Affordability and Food quality and safety – have been analysed and correlated. Results indicate a positive correlation between mWPI and GFSI, while correlation is higher when considering only Capacity and Access components. The correlation between mWPI with the different dimensions of the GFSI shows a higher correlation with food availability and food quality/safety. Integrating water security metrics into FS indices could be a useful step to operationalize water-food -nexus and to design effective actions and strategies to achieve FS in the MENA region.
water security, food security, water-food nexus, Middle East and North Africa
