Understanding the Global Water Crisis : Lessons from the Nile Basin Dr Understanding the Global Water Crisis : Lessons from the Nile Basin Dr. Patricia Kameri-Mbote, 2 January, 2019

Outline Introduction Nile Basin Lessons Learnt Governments Civil Society Lessons Learnt 2 January, 2019

Introduction Transboundary waters present challenge Different states with different interests as per their national needs Different groups of people in the different states with different needs ‘Fierce competition for fresh water may well become a source of conflict and wars in the future’ Transboundary waters can act as catalyst for peace ‘But the water problems of our world need not only be a cause of tension, they can also be a catalyst for cooperation…If we work together, a secure and sustainable water future can be ours’ How do transboundary resources become lever of peace Versus conflict? 2 January, 2019

Nile Basin as an Example Ethiopia, Eritrea, Egypt, Sudan, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, DRC, Rwanda, Burundi & about 3 million square kilometres. The Nile Basin Initiative (NBI) developed over the years and formally established in 1999 within context of long legacy of mutual recriminations, regional conflict, drought and other problems Initially cooperation was around scientific information sharing Basin countries working together to develop the Nile for all 2 January, 2019

Nile Basin as an Example (2) NBI shared vision: “To achieve sustainable socio-economic development through equitable utilization of, and benefit from the common Nile basin water resources” A very comprehensive programme developed for sustainable and equitable basin use Organs The Council of Ministers (Nile-COM) The Technical Advisory Committee (Nile-TAC) The Nile Basin Initiative Secretariat (Nile-Sec) 2 January, 2019

Nile Basin as an Example (3) Programmes: 1. The Shared Vision Programme covering all riparian states (regional power trade, water resources planning, confidence building and stakeholder participation, socio-economic development and benefit-sharing) 2. Subsidiary Action Programme (Sub-basin projects) involving specific groups of riparian countries categorised into two: Eastern Nile Subsidiary Action Programme (ENSAP) Ethiopia, Eritrea, Egypt, Sudan Nile Equatorial Lakes Subsidiary Action Programme (NELSAP) Sudan, Egypt, Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, DRC, Tanzania & Kenya 2 January, 2019

Nile Basin as an Example (3) These programmes are geared to reach the lowest appropriate level Principle of subsidiarity Aim at poverty reduction, economic development, reversal of envtl degradation Search for win-win opportunities between riparian countries Water resource & water-shed management Envtl & natural resource management Food security Flood preparedness Power & infrastructure 2 January, 2019

Context of NBI Developed at a very high political level No direct involvement of groups outside the government About 160 million people associate with the Nile River basin and depend on it for subsistence/livelihood and economic activities There are international agreements on the use of the Nile which are contested by some countries as inequitable International law state-centric involving scientific, political and legal consensus among states) 2 January, 2019

Context of NBI Recognized need to bring all stakeholders on board The Nile Basin Initiative predicated on view that Nile waters constitute a major and vital resource for the people of the basin countries Governments cannot go it alone and must include other stake holders such as civil society [Civil Society Stakeholder Initiative] 2 January, 2019

Nile Basin Discourse The Nile Basin Discourse initiated to bring the voices of stakeholders other than government on board Promotes a broad based open dialogue on development in the Nile basin through the NBI between: All role players Stakeholders and affected parties Facilitates interaction between stakeholders Endeavours to capture voices of the poor at national, sub-national & local levels on issues of: Poverty, food security, economic & social human rights & threats to livelihoods posed by environmental degradation 2 January, 2019

Nile Basin Discourse (2) Expected that the participation of a diverse array of stakeholders will: Contribute to the Nile Basin Initiative’s effectiveness; and Contribute by bringing non-govt to address poverty, improve livelihoods of all within the basin, and address insecurity and strife in the region 2 January, 2019

Lessons Learnt 1. Cooperation over water resources is possible even in regions where conflicts are rife or very likely Need to capitalise on ‘peace dividends’ from tbwater resources management initiatives such as Nile 2. Stakeholder involvement/participation is critical to enhancing broad ownership & ensuring inclusiveness of processes 3. Need to invest in building cohesive communities through addressing broader human security issues 2 January, 2019

Lessons Learnt Poverty, lack of/constrained access to resources, food insecurity, governance, refugees & IDPs, disease Shared water resources present good entry point 4.Moving from diplomacy to participation in shared river basins is a political process 5. Substantive rights to access water are as critical as procedural rights in the management of shared river basins Access to information, Access to Justice, freedom of Association, Participation 2 January, 2019