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Controversial Connections: The Water-Energy-Food Nexus in the Blue Nile Basin of Ethiopia

Author

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  • Detlef Müller-Mahn

    (Department of Geography, University of Bonn, D-53115 Bonn, Germany)

  • Million Gebreyes

    (Department of Geography, University of Bonn, D-53115 Bonn, Germany)

Abstract

The article takes hydro-development schemes in the Upper Blue Nile Basin of Ethiopia as an example to discuss the suitability and shortcomings of nexus approaches for the analysis of complex socio-ecological transformations. Based on critical theoretical debates and extensive field research in Ethiopia, the paper broadens the nexus perspective by integrating the three analytical dimensions of time, space, and power. The empirical material comes from a case study of the Fincha-Amerti-Neshe scheme that was implemented in three consecutive stages over almost half a century, combining dams, hydro-power plants, large-scale sugar cane plantations, and a factory for sugar production. The empirical findings follow the historical stages of the scheme and their physical outcomes, which affected much more than just water, energy, and food. The paper explores socio-ecological transformations along the analytical dimensions of time, scale, and power. First, it views time and temporality as essential aspects of change and calls for a more systematic recognition of the historical context out of which development trajectories and current nexus situations have emerged. Second, it takes a cross-scalar perspective to explain how local land use is influenced by regional and global drivers. And third, it emphasizes the importance of asymmetric power structures to explain the dynamics of hydro-developments and their social consequences. In conclusion, the paper calls for a “nexus-plus” perspective that is more sensitive to the historical and cross-scalar embeddedness of hydro-development, and which enables more inclusive and fair governance of scarce resources.

Suggested Citation

  • Detlef Müller-Mahn & Million Gebreyes, 2019. "Controversial Connections: The Water-Energy-Food Nexus in the Blue Nile Basin of Ethiopia," Land, MDPI, vol. 8(9), pages 1-20, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:8:y:2019:i:9:p:135-:d:264445
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Legese, Getachew & Van Assche, Kristof & Stellmacher, Till & Tekleworld, Hailemariam & Kelboro, Girma, 2018. "Land for food or power? Risk governance of dams and family farms in Southwest Ethiopia," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 50-59.
    2. Mark Howells & Sebastian Hermann & Manuel Welsch & Morgan Bazilian & Rebecka Segerström & Thomas Alfstad & Dolf Gielen & Holger Rogner & Guenther Fischer & Harrij van Velthuizen & David Wiberg & Charl, 2013. "Integrated analysis of climate change, land-use, energy and water strategies," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 3(7), pages 621-626, July.
    3. Christopher Clapham, 2018. "The Ethiopian developmental state," Third World Quarterly, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 39(6), pages 1151-1165, June.
    4. Unknown, 2016. "Energy for Sustainable Development," Conference Proceedings 253270, Guru Arjan Dev Institute of Development Studies (IDSAsr).
    5. Wibke Crewett & Benedikt Korf, 2008. "Ethiopia: Reforming Land Tenure," Review of African Political Economy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 35(116), pages 203-220, June.
    6. Tsegaye Moreda, 2017. "Large-scale land acquisitions, state authority and indigenous local communities: insights from Ethiopia," Third World Quarterly, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 38(3), pages 698-716, March.
    7. Wichelns, Dennis, 2017. "The water-energy-food nexus: Is the increasing attention warranted, from either a research or policy perspective?," Environmental Science & Policy, Elsevier, vol. 69(C), pages 113-123.
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    Cited by:

    1. Urgessa Kenea & Dereje Adeba & Motuma Shiferaw Regasa & Michael Nones, 2021. "Hydrological Responses to Land Use Land Cover Changes in the Fincha’a Watershed, Ethiopia," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(9), pages 1-23, August.
    2. Million Gebreyes & Davide Bazzana & Anna Simonetto & Detlef Müller-Mahn & Benjamin Zaitchik & Gianni Gilioli & Belay Simane, 2020. "Local Perceptions of Water-Energy-Food Security: Livelihood Consequences of Dam Construction in Ethiopia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-19, March.
    3. Motuma Shiferaw Regasa & Michael Nones, 2022. "Past and Future Land Use/Land Cover Changes in the Ethiopian Fincha Sub-Basin," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(8), pages 1-20, August.
    4. Bazzana, Davide & Gilioli, Gianni & Simane, Belay & Zaitchik, Benjamin, 2021. "Analyzing constraints in the water-energy-food nexus: The case of eucalyptus plantation in Ethiopia," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 180(C).
    5. Wakjira Takala Dibaba & Tamene Adugna Demissie & Konrad Miegel, 2020. "Drivers and Implications of Land Use/Land Cover Dynamics in Finchaa Catchment, Northwestern Ethiopia," Land, MDPI, vol. 9(4), pages 1-20, April.

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