Nile Basin Initiative Institutional Strengthening

Results achieved as of July 2012 include: The Nile Basin Initiative (NBI) is a platform for the Nile Riparian countries to confer on issues of water management and development. It provides the countries with analytic tools and information that enable monitoring and the management of the basin as well as assists them to identify development opportunities prepare projects and seek investments. The NBI has succeeded in increasing cooperation among the Nile countries and played a critical role in project identification preparation and regional mobilization for US$1 billion of investment projects now under implementation. The projects focus on Power Trade and Generation Agriculture as well as River Basin Management. The NBI is now in the process of preparing a number of regional investments totalling US$1 billion. The ‘Institutional Strengthening’ project has succeeded in putting in place the governance institutional structures and processes for constructive dialogue among riparian countries on shared water and water’s benefits. The key achievements of the project include the harmonization of fiduciary systems the development of guidelines on human resources policies and procedures improved management and organizational systems at the Nile Secretariat and the two sub-regional Centers. A number of innovative tools such as the Nile Basin Decision Support System (DSS) and the knowledge-based integrated water resources management function (IWRM) were also developed under the project. Moreover to ensure the use of best practices in the management and development of the Nile water resources the Nile Basin Sustainability Framework was created. The NBI is now developing specific policies strategies and guidelines specifically for social and environmental issues.