Despite recognising the fluid, negotiated and complex nature of reality, there is still a propensity to overly rely on rigid and reductionist theories for sustainable development planning and practice. Although there is no simple solution to this problematic tendency, there is an increasing recognition of the need for innovative and emergent approaches that are able to adapt and shift to fluid socio-ecological dynamics through collaborative relationships and social learning.
These approaches require assembling constellations of locally relevant development strategies that address human needs while minimizing environmental tradeoffs and fostering effective ecosystem management. Integrating theoretical strategies from the literature and operational insights that emerged from the lived complexity of implementing a community level water – energy – food nexus development project in rural Mozambique, we will discuss one promising sustainable development constellation that holds the potential to addresses short term needs while fostering the long term socio-ecological conditions needed for flourishing futures.