NILE BASIN INITIATIVE BACKGROUNDByA.M.FARAHAT

THE ISSUE  Nile water agreements between Egypt and the British date back more than 100 years.  Core objective: No up projects affecting Egypt’s share of water.  The independence move of the sixties.  Criticism and the seeds of confrontation.  The consensus on the need for a paradigm shift: cooperation instead of confrontation.

EARLY ATTEMPTS  Before  1993: Technical Cooperation Committee for the Promotion of the Development and Environmental Protection of the Nile Basin (TECCONILE).  Shortcomings.

NILE BASIN INITIATIVE  1997 Nile-COM called World Bank to cooperate with UNDP&CIDA to establich a cooperating scheme for NB countries.  1998 NB countries (except Eriteria) jointly established an inclusive transitional mechanism for cooperation until a permanent framework is established.  In 1999 the process was officially named the NB Initiative.

SHARED VISION A negotiated statement: “ To achieve sustainable socioeconomic development through the equitable utilization of, and benefit from, the common Nile Basin water resources.”

REALIZATION OF THE VISION  Two main strategic action programmes (SAP’s); namely: 1.Eastern Nile Subsidiary Action Programme (ENSAP):  Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia 2.Nile Equatorial Lakes Subsidiary Action Programme (NELSAP):

NBI INSTITUTIONAL SET UP  Council Of Ministers Nile-COM.  Technical Advisory Committee Nile-TAC.  Nile Basin Initiative Secretariat Nile-SEC.

NBI: FUNDING & ADMINISTRATION OF FUNDS  NBI countries themselves and donor countries.  Canada, Denmark, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom.  2003: Nile Basin Trust Fund (NBTF).  World Bank administers the Trust Fund.  NBTF Committee.  Bilateral direct contributions to individual projects.

Nile Basin Trust Fund Used for the following purposes:  Basin-wide level: -Implementation of projects of the SVP. -Strengthening NBI institutional capacity. -Facilitate dialogue among NBI countries.  Sub-basin level: -Investment projects for ENSAP&NELSAP. -Capacity-building -Preparation of joint projects. -Advisory services.

SHARED VISION PROGRAMME Eight Projects:  Confidence Building and Stakeholder Involvement Nile-Sec/Entebbe.  Nile Basin Regional Power Trade.Tanzania  Efficient Water Use for Agricultural Production.Kenya  Transboundary Environmental Action.Sudan  Water Resources Planning and Management.Ethiopia  Applied TrainingEgypt.  SVP Coordination Project.Nile-SEC/Entebbe  Sustainable Development and Benefit Sharing Nile-SEC/Entebbe

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