The Nile Basin Initiative (NBI) is a partnership among countries that share the Nile River. It aims to work together to use the river’s resources, share benefits, and improve peace and security in the region. The NBI started with talks between the countries, leading to a shared goal: to achieve long-term progress that helps people and the economy through fair use of the Nile’s water. It was officially started in February 1999 by water ministers from nine countries: Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Burundi, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and Eritrea, which joined as an observer. From the beginning, the NBI has received support from the World Bank and other outside partners. The World Bank has a responsibility to help the NBI, acting as the main development partner and managing the multi-donor Nile Basin Trust Fund. One partner is the "Nile Basin Discourse," a group of organizations that works to influence how projects under the NBI are developed.

In May 2010, five upstream countries signed the Cooperative Framework Agreement (CFA) to increase their use of the Nile’s water and create rules for sharing it among NBI countries. This move was strongly opposed by Egypt and Sudan. Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, and Tanzania were the original signatories, with Burundi joining in February 2011. The agreement was later approved by Ethiopia, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, and Burundi between 2013 and 2023. South Sudan approved it on July 8, 2024. The DRC did not take a position, while Egypt and Sudan refused to sign, calling the CFA an effort to reduce their share of Nile water. Despite these objections, the CFA officially became legally binding for all NBI countries on October 13, 2024.

Institutional framework

The NBI structure includes three main organizations:

• The Nile Council of Ministers of Water Affairs creates policies and makes decisions. The chairperson is chosen on a rotating basis for one year. The person who hosts the regular meetings is usually selected as the chair for the next year. Since June 2010, the chair has been Asfaw Dingamo, Ethiopia’s Minister of Water Resources, who was chosen at the 18th meeting in Addis Ababa in June 2010. Before him, Egypt’s Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, Mohamed Nasr el Din Allam (2009–10), was chosen at the 17th meeting in Alexandria in July 2009. Earlier chairs included Jose Endundu, Minister of Environment of the Democratic Republic of Congo (2008–09), and Maria Mutagamba, Minister of Water and Environment of Uganda (2007–2008). The council meets annually and also holds special meetings. Special meetings were held in May 2009 in Kinshasa and in April 2010 in Sharm el-Sheikh.

• The NBI Technical Advisory Committee was created in 1998. It includes senior government officials who provide technical advice to the Council of Ministers. Each river country sends one representative and one alternate. The committee meets two to three times each year.

• The NBI Secretariat, created in 1999, supports the Council of Ministers and the Technical Advisory Committee. It is based in Entebbe, Uganda, and is led by an Executive Director. This position is filled on a rotating basis for two years. The current Executive Director, Teferra Beyene Asfaw from Ethiopia, started work in September 2012.

Two additional programs are managed by the Eastern Nile Regional Technical Office (ENTRO), located in Addis Ababa, and the NELSAP Coordinating Unit (NELSAP-CU), located in Kigali, Rwanda. Also, projects under the Share Vision Program have regional offices in Cairo (applied training), Addis Ababa (water resources planning), Dar es-Salaam (power trade), and Nairobi (agriculture).

Main programs

样的

</think>

The NBI includes three main programs: The Shared Vision Program, the Eastern Nile Subsidiary Action Program, and the Nile Equatorial Lakes Subsidiary Action Program.

The Shared Vision Program (SVP) is a Basin-wide program that focuses on building institutions, sharing data and information, providing training, and creating opportunities for dialogue and region-wide networks needed for joint problem-solving, collaborative development, and developing multi-sector and multi-country programs of investment to develop water resources in a sustainable way. It is financed through grants and aims to foster trust to build an enabling environment for investment. In 2010, it included the following eight projects mainly focused on regional training:

• An Applied Training Project that provides training in Integrated Water Resources Management;
• A Confidence-Building and Stakeholder Involvement Project that "is working to increase the involvement of a broad range of stakeholders—from policy and decision makers, to small business men and women, to fishermen and farmers, to religious and youth groups";
• A Regional Power Trade Project;
• A Transboundary Environmental Action Project that "provides training in environmental management and monitoring, water quality monitoring, and wetlands conservation";
• An Efficient Water Use for Agriculture Project;
• A Water Resources Management Project;
• A Socio-economic and Benefits Sharing Project that builds a "network of professionals from economic planning and research institutions, technical experts from both the public and private sectors, academics, sociologists, and representatives from civic groups and NGOs";
• A Shared Vision Coordination Project.

The Eastern Nile Subsidiary Action Program (ENSAP) "seeks to develop the water resources of the Eastern Nile Basin in a sustainable and equitable way to ensure prosperity, security and peace for all its peoples." It is managed by the Eastern Nile Technical Regional Office (ENTRO) based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. It is grouped into fast-track investments and more complex, longer-term multi-purpose track investments.

This track included four projects in early 2008:

The Regional Watershed Management Project aims to establish sustainable management of watersheds on the Tekeze, Atbara, Mareb, Abbay / Blue Nile, and the Baro / Akobo / Sobat rivers in Ethiopia and Sudan. The initial project sites identified include Lake Nasser / Nubia in Egypt; Jamma, Reb, and Gumara sub-basins, as well as watershed management in Tana – Beles as part of the Tana-Beles Integrated Water Resources Development Project in Ethiopia; and the lower Atbara, Ingessena Mountains and areas around Dinder National Park in Sudan.

The Ethiopia Power Export Project (formerly called the Ethiopia-Sudan Internconnection Project) will connect the power grids of Ethiopia and Sudan to facilitate cross-border energy trade and optimize existing and planned generation capacity. It aims to overcome the severe electricity shortage in both countries. The World Bank is providing a US$41 million credit for investments in Ethiopia approved in 2007. The Government of Sudan is funding activities in Sudan.

The Regional Irrigation and Drainage Project aims to develop and expand irrigated agriculture and improve the productivity of existing agriculture through more efficient use of water. It consists of three national sub-projects:

• Egypt West Delta Water Conservation and Irrigation Rehabilitation Project supported by a US$145 million loan from the World Bank approved in 2007
• Ethiopia Irrigation and Drainage Project, supported by a US$100 million World Bank subsidized credit approved in 2007, including for investments in the Reb and Magech drainage areas in the Amhara Region (Lake Tana basin).
• Sudan Upper Atbara Irrigation Project

The Flood Preparedness and Early Warning Project, a US$4 million project approved in 2007 with an expected duration of three years, will focus on building flood forecasting capabilities and flood emergency preparedness and response. This will include efforts to improve dissemination of flood warning information to communities at risk, strengthen existing institutions and mechanisms to alert communities; establish community-based plans to reduce flood damages and capture environmental benefits; deliver public education programs; and develop regional and local emergency preparedness and response plans.

The multi-purpose track includes a series of studies aimed at developing common analytical tools, as well as a tentative plan for coordinated investments called the Joint Multipurpose Program.

Specific common analytical tools will be developed for the power sector, watershed management and irrigation/drainage, integrated by an overall planning model.

• The Watershed Management Cooperative Regional Assessment is considered by the World Bank to be a critical building block for determining future regional watershed investments. The study will build a shared information base from which to assess impacts of different land management interventions on a regional scale. This assessment will include a transboundary analysis of the Eastern Nile watershed system and associated livelihoods and analyze how benefits accrue across the three countries under alternative watershed management interventions.
• The Eastern Nile Power Trade Investment Project is part of the overall effort to promote regional power trade by coordinating the planning and development of power projects and transmission interconnection across the three Eastern Nile countries. This study includes an assessment of the scope and potential of an Eastern Nile power market, potential power generation options in the three countries, potential sites for transmission interconnection, and potential power trading arrangements.
• The Irrigation and Drainage Cooperative Regional Assessment includes both regional studies of irrigation and development opportunities, as well as engineering studies of specific sites. The regional study seeks to develop guidelines for selection of projects of regional interest, quantify the benefits and costs of irrigation projects from national and regional perspectives, and explore institutional and legislative reform options to harmonize the approach to rural development and facilitate regional cooperation.
• The Eastern Nile Planning Model Project is intended to help Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan identify, prepare, and implement cooperative development projects that benefit all three countries.

The Joint Multipurpose Program (JMP) is a long-term program with a 25-30 year horizon that includes a coordinated set of investments to ensure the sustainable development and management of shared Eastern Nile waters, including the Abbay (Blue Nile), Tekeze (Setit)-Atbara, Baro-Akobo-Sobat, portions of the White Nile and the Main Nile. The first set of investments under the program is likely to include:

• Watershed and environmental management, including reforestation, river bank erosion control, and creation of alternative livelihoods.
• Linking river and power systems through an infrastructure backbone including a regional power grid and increase capacity for water storage for flood control, hydropower, irrigation and water conservation. Other potential benefits include improved inland navigation, more productive fisheries and sufficient flows of water to maintain critical ecosystems.
• Enhancing agricultural production through intensified and expanded irrigated agriculture, coupled with targeted investments in agribusiness, marketing, and other agricultural support services. Improved watershed management would also help expand rainwater harvesting, improve livestock productivity, and promote fisheries development.
• Complementary investments to leverage growth and promote regional integration, such as in telecommunications, transport, industry, tourism, and credit systems.
• Establishing institutions for joint.

Funding

The Nile Basin Initiative receives support from the countries in the Nile Basin and from international financial institutions, such as the World Bank, the Global Environmental Facility, and the African Development Bank, as well as other donors. In 2003, a trust fund managed by the World Bank was created to help coordinate contributions from donors. Donors who gave money through the Nile Basin Trust Fund until early 2008 included Canada, Denmark, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. Other donors to the NBI include Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Latvia, Estonia, the European Union, and various UN agencies like UNDP and FAO.

Until early 2008, donors had contributed over $130 million of the original $150 million promise. $14.4 million came from the governments of the Nile Basin countries.

Initiative by upstream countries to form a Nile River Basin Commission

In May 2010, five countries located upstream of the River Nile signed an agreement to use more water from the river and create rules for sharing water among the Nile Basin Initiative (NBI) states. This move was strongly opposed by Egypt and Sudan. The Cooperative Framework Agreement (CFA), which had been discussed for many years under the NBI, was open for signing for one year. Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and Tanzania signed the agreement. Ethiopia officially approved the agreement in 2013. The Democratic Republic of the Congo did not sign the agreement, while Egypt and Sudan refused to do so. A government official from Egypt said in May 2010 that Egypt would not join or sign any agreement that changes its water share.

The agreement had been planned during a meeting of ministers in 2007 but was delayed because Egypt asked for more time. Later, in May 2009, during another meeting in Kinshasa, upstream countries decided to sign the agreement even if not all countries signed at the same time. However, the signing was delayed again when Egypt requested more time at a meeting in Sharm el-Sheikh in April 2010. A specific part of the agreement, Article 14b, about water security, was a major point of disagreement between Egypt and Sudan. This article stated that member countries would work together to avoid actions that could significantly harm the water security of any Nile Basin country. Egypt and Sudan wanted the article to say "not to adversely affect" water security and current water use and rights without the word "significantly."

A former Egyptian minister of water resources and irrigation, Mahmoud Abu-Zeid, said the agreement was a positive step, as most of its articles were agreed upon by all parties. Another part of the agreement, which focused on protecting the environment of the Nile Basin, including areas like the Sudd in Sudan, and a rule requiring "prior informed consent" before building new dams, had also caused disagreements earlier. Representatives from upstream countries said they were tired of needing Egypt’s permission first before using Nile water for projects like irrigation, as required by a 1929 treaty between Egypt and Britain. However, after several agreements and improved trade relations, upstream countries later expressed support for Egypt. Once the agreement became official, the NBI would become a permanent Nile River Basin Commission.

Ethiopia, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Burundi, and South Sudan ratified the agreement between 2013 and 2024. Despite opposition from some countries, the CFA officially became legally binding for all NBI states on October 13, 2024.