Addis Ababa, April 22, 2024 (FBC) – Executive Director of the Nile Basin Initiative (NBI) Secretariat, Florence Grace Adongo emphasized the need for stronger cooperation among the riparian states to ensure equitable utilization and sustainable management of the Nile water resources.
A national stakeholders meeting of the Nile Basin Initiative held in Addis Ababa today which aimed at raising visibility and awareness on the initiative and facilitating the tools for the implementation of its programs and projects.
Addressing the meeting, the executive director recalled that the NBI covers 10 percent of the African continent and is home to almost a quarter of the continents population.
The 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.
Stressing that no county can manage these challenges unilaterally, Adongo therefore, underlined that countries across the Nile Basin should come together to find a common solution for such common problems.
This move would have a paramount importance for equitable use of the Nile Basin’s shared water resources, according to her.
The executive director further stated that strengthening cooperation is essential to ensure equitable utilization, and sustainable management of the Nile River water resources.
Over 25 years, NBI 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, she pointed out.
Citing that Ethiopia has been at the forefront in supporting matters of cooperation, Adongo said we look forward for more cooperation and working together.
Recall Ethiopia is also one of the first countries that have endorsed the Cooperative Framework Agreement (CFA). She urged the remaining countries to ratify the agreement to transform the Nile Basin Initiative into a Nile Basin Commission.
Addressing the occasion, State Minister of Water and Energy Abraha Adugna also affirmed that the NBI has made significant achievements so far despite various challenges in the region.
NBI promoted basin-wide dialogue and stakeholder involvement on confidence building, providing strategic, technical and analytical framework, introducing best practice tools, and methodologies among others.
The state Minister reaffirmed the solid determination of the Ethiopian government to achieve NBI’s ambitions as Nile River is a transboundary water resource which crosses 11 riparian countries, ENA reported.
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.