The Nile River Basin Webinar

The Global Water Alliance invites you to: The Nile River Basin Webinar
Governance Issues of the Nile Basin
A Technical Assessment: Looking back and discussing the future
August 19, 2020 | 10:30AM - 12:00PM EDT

The complex and varied uses of water are exemplified within the Nile River Basin, a transboundary water source with a long history of tension, conflict, but also cooperation. The Nile river drainage basin covers eleven riparian nations in northeastern Africa. Past treaties (1929 & 1959) will be discussed, as well as the 1999 Nile Basin Initiative (NBI), an intergovernmental partnership of ten of the eleven governments in the Nile Basin (Eritrea is an observer), and the Nile Basin Discourse, a network of civil society organizations supported by international development actors including the World Bank.

These organizations have made significant strides in promoting cooperation within the region. However, tensions have flared, notably between Egypt and Ethiopia over the construction and filling of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), a hydroelectric power dam on the Blue Nile. This dam is meant to serve as a power source for a significant portion of Ethiopia’s population.

Amidst these growing tensions, what are some of the best practices for developing collaborative and inclusive initiatives for water cooperation and peace building? Are there any win-win scenarios? While the situation gets significant attention in the political circles, this webinar will gather water professionals from several disciplines to discuss technical issues and suggest pathways for solutions.