The Nile River Basin is a vital natural resource and economic lifeline for its 238 million inhabitants, in eleven riparian countries (Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda). The basin is characterized by a largely untapped and tremendous potential for development, but unevenly distributed stages of poverty, economic and political growth. Each Nile riparian country has ambitious national development plans for poverty alleviation that encompass development of the river’s resources. All these much-needed investments are largely to be made at the national level; however, taking a regional perspective in developing and operating many of these investments provides opportunities for enhanced benefits. If unilateral plans are made and implemented without consideration of the larger river basin context, there is a risk that some of the national investments in water-related sectors could be sub-optimal and foreclose future development opportunities.
Join the 4th Nile Basin Development Forum (NBDF), a regional gathering of wide-ranging stakeholders from within and external to the Nile Basin, to foster cooperation and create a common understanding and appreciation of opportunities and challenges in sustainably managing and developing the basin’s water resources. The theme for the 2014 forum is “Building Sustainable Transboundary Cooperation in a Complex River Basin: Challenges, Lessons, and Prospects.” The forum provides a platform for exchanging the latest scientific information, knowledge, and best practices in transboundary water resources management and development. Moreover, it establishes and strengthens partnerships and networks among practitioners contributing to ensure sustainable management and development of the Nile River, including senior government officials, policy makers, water resource experts, academics and researchers, as well as the private sector, NGOs, civil society and local communities in Nile Basin countries, river basin organizations, and development partners.
The NBDF is convened by the Nile Basin Initiative (NBI) and is organized in collaboration with civil society and development partners, including the Nile Basin Trust Fund (NBTF) and Cooperation in International Waters in Africa (CIWA).
To attend, please register by September 19, 2014.