RETOUCH NEXUS at the Dresden NEXUS Conference 2025: Driving Innovation in Nexus-Smart Water Governance

The Dresden NEXUS Conference 2025, held from April 8–10, brought together global thought leaders, researchers, and practitioners to explore integrated solutions to environmental challenges using the Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystem (WEFE) Nexus approach. This year, RETOUCH NEXUS was proud to contribute to this vibrant exchange with a strong presence across multiple sessions—particularly through our workshop on nexus-smart water governance and our contribution to high-level panel discussions.

Session F8: Monitoring Framework for the Quantification of Nexus-Smart Water Governance

On April 8, RETOUCH NEXUS partners from TU Munich, adelphi, and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VUA) led Session F8, a hands-on workshop titled “Monitoring Framework for the Quantification of Nexus-Smart Water Governance.”

The session focused on how integrated monitoring frameworks can enable more informed and effective decision-making in the context of water governance, especially when multiple sectors and stakeholders are involved.

One of the session’s highlights was the presentation of a new data visualisation tool developed within the RETOUCH NEXUS project. The tool is designed to help policymakers and practitioners understand the interlinkages and trade-offs within water governance systems—enabling more effective monitoring and management aligned with the Nexus approach.

Through this tool, users can explore nexus-relevant indicators, compare governance performance across regions, and visualise how institutional arrangements interact with sustainability goals.

Engaging Discussions and Hands-On Collaboration

The session featured an interactive exercise, allowing participants to apply key concepts from the RETOUCH NEXUS framework to a fictional governance scenario. This hands-on component fostered meaningful exchange between attendees from different sectors and backgrounds, highlighting the importance of cross-disciplinary dialogue in addressing today’s complex water challenges.

Feedback from participants underscored the value of grounding theory in real-world application, and many expressed interest in future collaborations using the RETOUCH NEXUS framework and tools.

Panel Participation: Defining the Nexus

Our involvement at the conference extended beyond the workshop. On April 9, Dr. Maria Vrachioli joined a distinguished panel in Session A2: “A Robust Definition of the Nexus – Learning from Resource Nexus and Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystem Nexus Applications.”

This hybrid session aimed to refine and consolidate the definition of the WEFE Nexus, drawing from real-world applications and cross-sectoral experiences. Maria contributed valuable insights from the RETOUCH NEXUS project, emphasizing how operationalising the Nexus requires not only clear definitions but also practical tools, governance mechanisms, and local engagement.

Looking Ahead

The Dresden NEXUS Conference was a key moment for RETOUCH NEXUS to share progress, gather feedback, and build new connections with the global Nexus community. We’re proud to contribute to shaping a more integrated, sustainable, and evidence-informed future for water governance.

As we continue to test, refine, and roll out our tools and frameworks, we invite stakeholders, researchers, and policymakers to stay connected and join us in advancing nexus-smart governance across Europe and beyond.