The Nile Basin Initiative (NBI) to Host High-Level Meeting on Transboundary Water Resources Management in Africa
ENTEBBE, Uganda – From May 23rd to May 26th, 2023, approximately 75 participants comprising of senior management from African Lake and River Basin Organizations, Regional Economic Communities (RECs), and the African Ministers’ Council on Water (AMCOW), members of the Diplomatic Corps in Uganda, and representatives of Development Partners, will convene at Speke Commonwealth Resort, Munyonyo to discuss joint planning and implementation on water governance, transboundary water management and development.
Organized by the African Network of Basin Organizations (ANBO) in collaboration with NBI and the World Bank, this pivotal high-level four-day meeting is being held in recognition of the need for closer cooperation among these institutions to not only enhance their respective organizational capacities but also increase their responsiveness to the needs of the continent.
Many African Member States recognize that the development of water infrastructure is a key driver of socio-economic development, and it is worth noting that 64 percent of Africa’s surface is composed of transboundary river basins. However, despite this abundance, these shared water resources are under-utilized and at the same time, are at risk of dwindling as a result of human activities exacerbated by climate change impacts.
African Member States have common developmental goals for the wellbeing of their respective citizens, and addressing these shared goals requires a cooperative approach – especially in transboundary river basins.
This high-level stakeholder engagement is a first step in exploring possible areas of collaborative action and offers a platform for learning and exchanging experiences and lessons learned in transboundary water management.
The Rt. Hon. Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga, the Deputy Prime Minister of East African Affairs will be the Guest of Honor and will open this high-level meeting, and Professor Patrick Otieno Lumumba will deliver the keynote address.
The objectives of this continent-wide stakeholder engagement include:
- Identifying sector areas on transboundary water resources management for joint planning and implementation.
- Leveraging partnerships and other transboundary cooperation arrangements that will support the management of shared water resources.
- Agreeing on mechanisms to promote the implementation of continental and global commitments on water and sanitation including Africa Water Vision 2025, PIDA-PAP II water projects, AU Agenda 2063, and SDG 6.
- Preparing a Joint Action Plan for implementation and reporting on the meeting outcomes.
Following this four-day engagement, in addition to reporting on the general meeting outcomes, a joint Action/Engagement Plan for implementation of regional and global commitments will be developed.
ENDS