Discourse Intelligence Network Empowerment Through Participation Towards Cooperation on the Nile. Hellen NATU Nile Basin Discourse

Talking About

a. The Nile Basin Discourse Network b. The Relevance of NBD Network for discourse on trans boundary issues and practice → Pro-active and Critical Influence c. The Challenges for achieving all level and all inclusive hands on cooperation within NBD ≠ Collaborative achievement of the Empowerment level d. Suggestions for achieving all level and all inclusive hands on cooperation for NBD and Governmental and Inter-Governmental organizations → Improving the Practice

The Nile Basin Discourse Network

Empowerment through participation strategy Starting 2003 Regional Network,10 active NDFs, with ≈625 member organizations. (environmental, IWRM, WASH, Agriculture, Gender & Youth, Socio-economic, water-related cultural, etc) Empowerment through participation strategy Ensuring a fully informed and basin-wide civil society develops and plays a key role in achieving the vision, through pro-active and critical influencing of projects, programs and policies of the Nile Basin Initiative and other processes” The Principle “Reasonable and equitable utilization”.

The Relevance of NBD Network for discourse on trans boundary issues and practice → Pro-active and Critical Influence

Enhanced Capacity Building 4 Pillar Framework Evidence Based Collate supportive evidence in order to recommend remedial measures. Collecting citizen data , information and emerging issues Monitoring Framework of Improved policy, project and program monitoring. (through user generated content on water resource challenges and practices at local, national, regional) Enhanced Dialogue Dialogue on structures and systems supporting national and regional processes. for an enabling environment & common ground of players & regulators Enhanced Capacity Building Identification of gaps where capacity building is required and linking this to enhanced dialogue in the emerging dev and coop. framework.

Enhanced achievements of NBD Network’s Empowerment through participation Strategy to Nurturing Nile Cooperation, and actively influencing trans-boundary sub-basin development agendas. (i) NBD Network collaborating with Governments and inter-governmental organizations is outreaching on cooperation at platform events both upstream and downstream, to national and trans-boundary, to engage citizens consulting and communicating that influence ESIAs, SSEA, RAP. Citing: Nyimur-Aswa and the Baro-Akobo -Sobat Sub basins

(ii) NBD Network collaborating with Governments and (ii) NBD Network collaborating with Governments and inter-governmental organizations is outreaching on multi- stakeholder, multi-level inclusive capacity building, collecting citizen data and information at platform events both upstream and downstream in all 10 Nile Basin countries, that can enhance the fast-tracking of SDGs 2030, Citing cluster-based (i) Capacity Building on CRM and (ii) Gender representation on the Board

Trans-boundary Cluster 1 Egypt, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Sudan

Trans-boundary Cluster 3 Burundi, D. R. Congo, Rwanda

Trans-boundary Cluster 2 Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda

(iii) NBD Network collaborating with Governments and (iii) NBD Network collaborating with Governments and inter-governmental organizations is outreaching at Nile cooperation platform events focusing on multi- stakeholder, multi-level inclusivity. Citing (i) NBDF, (ii) Nile Day, (iii) Nile Media Awards, (iv) Nile Basin Discourse Summit

Basin – Wide Nile Day

(iii) NBD Network collaborating with Governments and (iii) NBD Network collaborating with Governments and inter-governmental organizations is contributing to operationalization of the basin-wide NBI’ s Gender Mainstreaming Strategy.

Gender inclusivity at Capacity Building on CRM .

The Challenges for achieving all level and all inclusive hands on cooperation within NBD → Collaborative achievement of the Empowerment level

Levels of Interaction to Empowerment

CHALLENGES 1. Challenges to comprehensively capturing the full range of the mandate, (a) Implementation of Laws and Framework fragmented, the case of the CFA, (b) Conflicts that affect political will (c) data. 2. The need to identify and secure considerable funding to implement the entire NBD Network’s present and future strategic plan and separate mandate that complements the Governmental and Inter-governmental mandates..

Taking into account the UNDERSTANDINGS Nile Basin countries; Sovereignty Policies that influence the political will The IWL, the Water Convention, the Convention on the Protection and Use of Trans-boundary Water Courses and International Lakes, Ramsar Sites. The NBI Cooperative Framework Agreement (CFA) The IGAD Water Resources Policy 2015 The EAC Protocol – Lake Victoria Basin Commission The COMESA Protocol – Agriculture (the highest consumer of water ) The Land Tenure

Suggestions for achieving all level and all inclusive hands on cooperation for NBD and Governmental and Inter-Governmental organizations → Improving the Practice

(i) Expand the content and funding base for NBD Networks’ comprehensive coverage of the program and sustainability. (ii) Implement the strategic directions being stipulated in the NBD Strategy 2018 – 2022. (iii) Learn from emerging issues from this Nile Basin Discourse Summit with the theme:“Involving all: New Ideas for collaboration in River Basins Policy and Activities” . 2.

THANK YOU Hellen Natu (PhD) Nile Basin Discourse