The Resilient Caribbean Initiative (RCI), a collaborative effort between the Food and Agriculture Organi-zation of the United Nations (FAO), the Government of Mexico, and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), recently announced the launch of a comprehensive e-course titled “The Water-Energy-Food (WEF) Nexus: Building Resilience in the Caribbean.”
The free course, launched on Wednesday 5 February, is designed to equip stakeholders across the Car-ibbean and beyond with the knowledge and tools necessary to address the interconnected challenges of water, energy, and food security.
FAO’s Policy Officer for Environment and Climate Change, Mr Jacinto Buenfil spoke on the importance and value of the course. He stated, “The Water-Energy-Food nexus is critical to ensuring the long-term resilience of Caribbean nations in the face of climate change and resource scarcity. This course is de-veloped in collaboration with FAO Campus and the Amsterdam Centre for World Food Studies of Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.”
It builds upon the successes of the RCI’s ongoing efforts to strengthen institutional capacities in CARICOM member countries. Notably, the WEF Nexus subproject has provided direct benefits to more than 130 farmers, extension staff, and technical officers in Barbados, Jamaica, Saint. Kitts and Nevis, and Antigua and Barbuda. Participants in this subproject have undergone training in sustainable agricultural practices, including the use of solar-powered drip irrigation systems, hydroponics, aquaponics, and rainwater harvesting.
These efforts, along with the equipment provided by the project, have led to sig-nificant improvements in water and energy use efficiency, ultimately enhancing agricultural productivity and resilience to climate-related challenges.
Mr Buenfil further stated, “The course provides a valuable opportunity for policymakers, farmers, and development professionals to gain practical insights into sustainable solutions that integrate water, en-ergy, and food systems. By equipping stakeholders with knowledge and strategies tailored to the Carib-bean context, we are strengthening the region’s capacity to build more sustainable and food-secure communities.”
The course begins with an exploration of WEF insecurity in the Caribbean, identifying key issues, under-lying causes, and potential solutions. Participants will gain an understanding of the current state of wa-ter, energy, and food security in the region and examine the socio-economic impacts of these insecuri-ties. Through case studies and expert insights, the course highlights best practices and innovative strat-egies that can address these challenges.
The e-course is now open for enrolment and is designed for policymakers, development practitioners, researchers, and other stakeholders committed to advancing sustainable development in the Caribbe-an.