Operationalizing communication, dissemination, and exploitation to strengthen impact in water–energy–food nexus projects

Water–Energy–Food (WEF) Nexus projects are widely promoted as instruments for sustainability transitions, yet many struggle to achieve durable policy and planning impact. We reconceptualise Communication–Dissemination–Exploitation (CDE) as an adaptive governance planning heuristic rather than a reporting function. Using a triangulated mixed-methods design integrating literature and project reviews (27 papers; 10 EU projects), expert and stakeholder interviews (n = 28), a stakeholder survey (n = 51), participatory workshops (n = 37), evidence from Living Labs in four projects, and analysis of 215 social media posts, we examine how CDE operates across project lifecycles and use the combined evidence to co-develop nine planning-relevant indicators and an adaptive governance framework. Results indicate that communication and dissemination are generally stronger in reach and visibility, whereas exploitation, particularly institutional embedding and post-project continuity, emerges as the most consistently reported weakness. The nine indicators address reach, engagement quality, and long-term legacy. We also introduce a “Trinity of Nexus Implementation” framework linking collaborative and co-creation platforms, integrative tools, and institutional embedding mechanisms within an adaptive Theory of Change for environmental planning and governance.