Despite growing recognition in academic and policy circles, the “Nexus” concept has long suffered from fragmented definitions, inconsistent governance structures, and insufficient practical guidelines, leaving it unable to translate into real-world impact. A new policy brief developed by UNU-FLORES and the PRIMA Foundation, with contributions from the wider Nexus research community including RETOUCH NEXUS coordinator Dr. Maria Vrachioli, directly addresses this gap. Responding to the outcomes of the Dresden Nexus Conference (April 2025), the brief calls for a clear, operational, and governance-ready definition of the Nexus, and sets out a concrete roadmap for standardization and certification of Resource Nexus projects.

The Resource Nexus must be understood as a broader framework that goes beyond the traditional Water-Energy-Food (WEF) Nexus. It should encompass soil, biota, marine ecosystems, material resources, and urban environments, remaining flexible and adaptive as new challenges emerge.

Environmental assets must be integrated with socio-economic systems. A genuine Nexus approach requires explicitly managing trade-offs and unlocking synergies across sectors, ensuring no policy advances one resource domain at the expense of another.

A Resource Nexus project must involve at least two interconnected resource systems and be anchored in strong, equitable governance. Marginalized voices must be heard, benefits shared fairly, and decision-making guided by robust, multi-stakeholder collaboration.

Transdisciplinary approaches are essential. Nexus initiatives must bridge policy, civil society, and practice, translating integrated analysis into actionable solutions at local, national, and international levels, and aligning with global agendas such as the SDGs.

A standardization and certification scheme for Resource Nexus projects is urgently needed. This requires harmonizing project design, assessment, and implementation criteria, enabling governments, funders, and international organizations to identify, compare, and scale high-impact initiatives with confidence.

Daniel Karthe (UNU-FLORES, Germany) · Antonella Autino (PRIMA Foundation, Spain) · Bassel Daher (Texas A&M University, USA) · Edeltraud Guenther (UNU-FLORES, Germany) · Rabi Mohtar (Texas A&M University, USA) · Annette Huber-Lee (SEI, USA) · Zeeshan Tahir Virk (University of Oulu, Finland) · Chrysi Laspidou (University of Thessaly, Greece) · Nidhi Nagabhatla (UNU-CRIS, Belgium) · Claudia Ringler (IFPRI, USA) · Michael Jacobson (Penn State University, USA)