Tripoli, 17th September 2025 – The Ministry of Planning and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and the African Development Bank (AfDB), convened a high-level Policy Dialogue on the Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystems (WEFE) Nexus, bringing together national institutions, academia, municipalities, civil society, and international partners to discuss motivations, challenges, and opportunities for Libya.

The dialogue brought together senior representatives from the Government of National Unity, national entities, universities, municipalities, and civil society, alongside key international partners.

Opening the event, H.E. Mohammed Bin Sharia'a, Deputy Minister of Planning for Strategies and Development Affairs, said: “In Libya, the sectors of water, energy, food, and ecosystems are closely linked and deeply intertwined. Treating these sectors as an integrated system is the most effective way to achieve rational resource use and ensure their long-term sustainability. The Ministry of Planning is committed to supporting this dialogue to develop more effective policies."

Ms. Hanan Aqeel, Head of Cooperation at the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, highlighted the critical challenges facing Libya, saying "Libya faces water scarcity, increasing climate pressures, and growing demand for food security and energy. The urgent need for a unified vision to address these issues, warning that without a cohesive strategy, these problems will intensify and threaten the country's present and future".

Building on Libya’s National Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (2023–2035), Draught Management and Mitigation Strategies, and the ongoing preparation of the National Water Security Strategy, Carbon Inventory and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), the participants highlighted the importance of embedding the WEFE Nexus into national frameworks. Recommendations included strengthening governance and inter-ministerial coordination, improving efficiency in water and energy use, enhancing resilience to droughts and floods, restoring ecosystems, and mobilising financing.

Dr AbdulHakim Elwaer, Assistant Director-General of FAO and Regional Representative for the Near East and North Africa, said: “There is a need to consolidate collaboration between FAO and UNDP and other UN organisations to mobilise needed resources to support Libya WEFE projects and establish a Libyan WEFE commission to keep this momentum towards sustainable development.”

Dr Sophie Kemkhadze, UNDP Resident Representative in Libya, highlighted UNDP’s role in advancing the WEFE approach: “UNDP has been working closely with national partners to advance water security and accelerate Libya’s energy transition through renewable solutions. The WEFE Nexus builds on this foundation by connecting water, energy, food, and ecosystems into a single integrated system. Addressing these challenges together, rather than in silos, allows us to design innovative, coherent solutions that strengthen resilience, diversify energy, and ensure food security. This holistic approach is not just about managing resources, but about enabling long-term stability and sustainable growth.”

By embracing the WEFE Nexus, Libya can move towards water security, a cleaner and more diversified energy mix, improved food self-reliance, and healthier ecosystems. With the support of the African Development Bank and in close partnership with national institutions, UNDP will continue to provide technical expertise and capacity development to accelerate progress towards shared goals of resilience, stability, and sustainable prosperity for the people of Libya