Advancing trans-boundary cooperation and supporting basin countries

The Nile Basin Initiative (NBI) has provided the first and only inclusive platform for dialogue among all riparian states. Given the earlier history of non-cooperation characteristic of the Nile Basin, creating an enabling environment was made a priority. This included building trans-boundary institutions and raising awareness; building inter-riparian confidence and mutuality; and paving the way for cooperative development such as water resources investment and planning and management of the shared Nile water resources.

Forums created and facilitated by NBI have brought together decision and policy makers, technicians, engineers, academicians and other experts from across the basin. As a result, nobody in the basin any longer questions whether cooperation on the Nile is necessary, desirable or doable. Rather, the conversation has shifted focus onto how to promote and expedite it.