Environmental Programs Positively Impacting on Sustainability of Nile Basin: NBI

Addis Ababa, April 29/2024 (ENA) The national environmental programs of the Nile riparian countries have been greatly contributing to the sustainability of the basin, Executive Director of the Nile Basin Initiative (NBI) Secretariat told ENA. 

Executive Director of NBI, Florence Grace Adongo underlined that as the environmental sustainability is one of the key pillars, NBI has continued to push those riparian countries to reinforce the program at the national level.

 “What we are doing is encouraging countries at the national level of their environmental re-afforestation and restoration program,” executive director revealed.

In this regard, Adongo lauded Ethiopia for its commendable strides in executing various environmental programs including the Green Legacy Initiative. “Ethiopia has done very well and we appreciate that,” she said.

Similarly, other countries for example Kenya, Uganda, Burundi, among others have got annual targets as well, she added.

Thus, she praised the efforts of countries at the national level, which are hugely impacting the sustainability of the Nile Basin, adding that for which we would want to appreciate nations for their contribution.  

Alongside the environmental programs, the executive director stated that the Nile Basin Initiative secretariat is demanding resource mobilization to implement extra projects for the basin.  

As the secretariat continues to reiterate its commitment, we are also looking into resource mobilization and having projects going forward, Adongo further revealed.

Mentioning key pillars to manage and sustainably develop the common Nile Basin, the executive director indicated that some of them do not attract resources quite easily like others.  

“We are adapting an integrated approach. If we are working in one basin for example developing hydro-power, we should also look at the catchment. If the catchment of that basin is not maintained then the infrastructure that we have built will not be sustainable.”  

Regarding the role of NBI in over 25 years engagement, Adongo said it served as the platform for dialogue, a catalyst for change, fostering regional integration, enhancing competitiveness and unlocking the Nile Basin's immense potential for Africa and beyond.     

NBI covers 10 percent of the African continent and is home to almost a quarter of the continent's population.   

In spite of its immense potential for massive development, Nile Basin countries face key development challenges which are related to water security, energy security, food security and vulnerability to the environmental shocks that are rising from the negative impacts of climate change.   

Acknowledging the aforementioned challenges, Adongo revealed that no county can manage these unilaterally. 

Therefore, she stressed that countries across the Nile Basin should come together to find a common solution for such common problems. 

Nile Basin Initiative is a regional intergovernmental partnership launched by the Nile Basin countries on 22nd February, 1999 to manage and develop the shared Nile Basin water resources in a cooperative manner, share substantial socio-economic benefits and promote regional peace and security.