From concept to practice: Operationalizing the water–energy–food nexus through digital decision support tools in African cities

The water–energy–food nexus promotes integrated resource governance as a pathway to urban sustainability and resilience, recognizing cities as major consumers of resources and key levers of climate action. By foregrounding systemic interdependencies, the nexus challenges siloed governance structures that often produce inefficiencies and unintended trade-offs. Despite its conceptual appeal, however, the nexus has struggled to move beyond rhetoric into practice. This paper synthesizes a doctoral research journey that addresses this gap through four linked studies: a systematic review revealing methodological fragmentation, a critique of the science–policy disconnect, the identification of eight enabling properties for operationalization, and the empirical application of a digital decision support tool in Cape Town. Beyond supporting integrated governance, the tool enables dynamic tracking of resource intensity as service provision improves, offering insights into efficiency and footprint