Nexus Game

Face the complexity of water-food-energy management

Use the game
Learn more

Nexus Game

Face the complexity of water-food-energy management

Use the game
Learn more
Nexus Game - game board

The Nexus Game gives participants a unique opportunity to get an insight into challenges of water management for energy and food production, at the same time sustaining environmental flows. The aim of the game is thus to provide an opportunity for practicing how different water management policies can lead to sustainable development of society in harmony with Nature. It can be used both as a training tool and a policy exercise. Participants strive to address water needs of population, industry, and agriculture, at the same time facing challenges of climate change.The game is designed to demonstrate many interconnected Water-Food-Energy Nexus challenges.

The Nexus Game gives participants a unique opportunity to get an insight into challenges of water management for energy and food production, at the same time sustaining environmental flows. The aim of the game is thus to provide an opportunity for practicing how different water management policies can lead to sustainable development of society in harmony with Nature. It can be used both as a training tool and a policy exercise. Participants strive to address water needs of population, industry, and agriculture, at the same time facing challenges of climate change.The game is designed to demonstrate many interconnected Water-Food-Energy Nexus challenges.

Nexus Game - game

The players take on the roles of policy makers in two countries that have access to the same river. They have to match the increasing water demand with adequate supply. In order to achieve this goal, effective collaboration and information exchange must be established between stakeholders both within and across the borders. Since the goals of both countries overlap, the game provides an opportunity for practicing conflict resolution and cooperation at the international level.

The players take on the roles of policy makers in two countries that have access to the same river. They have to match the increasing water demand with adequate supply. In order to achieve this goal, effective collaboration and information exchange must be established between stakeholders both within and across the borders. Since the goals of both countries overlap, the game provides an opportunity for practicing conflict resolution and cooperation at the international level.

Nexus Game - game board

The Nexus Game provides players with a strategic overview of interconnections between water and energy in the context of security and sustainability at the transboundary level.

The Nexus Game provides players with a strategic overview of interconnections between water and energy in the context of security and sustainability at the transboundary level.

Benefits

Learn how to balance increasing water demand and solve water-supply conflicts between different sectors and countries

Discover and exploit the potential of innovative technologies for increasing energy and water use efficiency

Experience challenges connected with transitions in complex systems where multiple stakeholders’ interests collide

Practice collaboration among various organizations and groups of interest whose individual and collective goals differ

What participants say

  • “The Nexus Game is a good visual way to see the nexus dynamics in practice, especially the trade-offs that one has to make at times.”

  • “Even if the link between water-food-energy is simple in this game, you can see how these nexus elements interact. You can see how uncertainty of natural processes influences the result of your decisions. Group dynamics can vary a lot between two groups and between 2 games, and is an important (maybe the most important) part of arriving at decision.”

  • “The game really brings out the importance of balancing different facets across the different sectors of water, energy and agriculture to improve development in general. I think that interconnectedness was an excellent take-home message.”

  • “Thanks to the Nexus Game I’ve learned about cross-sector decision-making processes and how water, energy, food, ecosystems, climate change are intricately linked.”

Technical details

<strong>3 - 4 hours </strong>

3 - 4 hours

<strong>8 - 24 players</strong>

8 - 24 players

<strong>3 tables</strong>

3 tables

You can

Invite us to run a game workshop for you.

Take Part in the training for moderators and order a set of the game (it’s not ready for self-print yet)

Terms of use
Contact

Contact us







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Social Simulations

The game was developed in collaboration with the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) in cooperation with the Sustainable Energy for All initiative. It is designed to be used within capacity development programs for energy sector professionals (ministries, power plants, capacity building institutions, etc.) in Southern African countries.