Operationalizing the WEFE nexus through participatory strategic planning in the Jordan Valley

The Jordan Valley faces acute challenges of desertification, water scarcity, ecosystem degradation and socio-economic vulnerability, all exacerbated by climate change and geopolitical fragmentation. Addressing these interlinked pressures requires moving beyond sectoral interventions towards integrated and context-sensitive strategies. This paper presents a phased methodology for operationalizing the Water–Energy–Food–Ecosystem (WEFE) nexus for strategic planning in the Jordan Valley, developed through the PRIMA-funded EcoFuture project. Building on an initial diagnostic phase, the approach integrates participatory Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) with a strategic design process to move from system mapping to alternatives prioritization and strategic design for implementation. During a transnational living lab, Jordanian and Palestinian stakeholders assessed a portfolio of WEFE-aligned measures using a multi-criteria framework reflecting WEFE objectives, as well as socio-cultural, economic and feasibility objectives. The use of two decision algorithms—the Weighted Sum Method and the non-compensatory Minimax method—revealed convergent priorities and highlighted how alternative decision rationales may complement each other for better-informed planning. The resulting prioritized set of interventions constitutes the Agricultural Transformation Strategy (ATS), a WEFE-aligned portfolio that favours nature-based, regenerative, circular, and resource-conscious agricultural practices. Preliminary strategic design outputs—governance actions, implementation pathways, and systemic enablers—demonstrate how the assessment findings can be translated into actionable planning steps tailored to the distinct conditions of Jordan and Palestine. An illustrative bundling exercise further shows how synergistic packages of interventions can enhance feasibility and WEFE synergies. The phased approach provides a replicable blueprint for nexus-informed strategic planning in fragile, resource-scarce regions facing complex sustainability challenges.