NILE BASIN INITIATIVE FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS Q: What is the level of Member States’ commitment to Q: How is NBI work being used by the countries? Nile cooperation? A: Countries use NBI as a platform for joint planning and A: Member States are committed to the Nile cooperation. resource mobilization for example Burundi, Tanzania and This is attested to by the repeated reiteration from high Rwanda used NBI platform to coordinate them lead resource political leadership that cooperation is the only way to mobilization and now oversee implementation of the sustainable and equitable utilization of the Nile water Rusumo hydropower project. In addition countries use NBI resources. Member States have also indicated their as a platform for sharing information; information exchange commitment through in-kind and cash contributions towards on 9 planned measures has been done through the NBI the NBI. The commitments for cash contributions have platform, Member States are able to access data, utilize NBI shown a growing trend since 2006/7 from US $ 540,000 to analytic tools for water resources planning at country level. US $ 1,826,370 in 2013/14. The Sudan resumed participation The Nile Basin DSS, developed under the NBI- Shared Vision in NBI activities and South Sudan was admitted into NBI Program is currently being used to formulate catchment in 2013. This is a demonstration that Member States management plan in Uganda. Eight other NBI countries are value the Nile cooperation. It must be recognized that using the DSS in case studies. differences arose at the political level regarding the formal Countries have requested NBI to support them in arrangements for forging a comprehensive framework preparation of bankable projects. For example ENTRO is agreement on the Nile. This has indeed created some providing technical support to Sudan in preparation of obstacles for the technical work undertaken by the NBI. watershed projects. Projects identified and prepared by NBI However, such challenges are not uncommon in the creation have been integrated in national development planning for of such complex agreements. Despite the setback, all example the Gogo falls in Kenya, the Muvumba in Rwanda. nine members of the Nile-COM continue to meet to seek a Other States are accessing information through the NBI solution in goodwill. knowledge portals. The NBI policies provide a reference point for best practices in integrated water resources Growth in NBI member countries contribution management and countries use them as reference materials in development of their policies. Q: With the coming to the end of the NBTF, what mechanism has been put in place to ensure financial sustainability of NBI? And sustainability of results? A: Ensuring financial sustainability post 2014 is a key issue for the NBI. Member States have committed to increase their country contributions to cover the NBI institutional costs and operate its basic programs and sustain the most important capacities, systems and knowledge that have been developed by 2017. Other strategies to raise funds include NBI providing services to clients at a fee - NBI has expertise in technical analysis and preparation of bankable projects that it will aim to sell to clients as part of the fundraising strategy. Further, NBI will charge 10% overhead 1 costs on all projects managed by the NBI Centers. NBI will dialogue of all riparians irrespective of them being a also continue to engage with development partners both signatory to the CFA or not. An adequate form for this will – new and old to leverage additional program funding. In this come the time – will have to be found. regard, NBI is exploring designing a basket mechanism to complement the Member States funding of NBI’s core costs Q: What are some of the benefits of cooperation thus and to provide funding for the implementation of NBI’s far? What are the largest results of your work to date? program of work. A: The Nile cooperation has helped in transforming the On sustaining results, NBI is working with countries to conversation among the Nile riparians more towards mainstream it’s products in national development planning upstream – downstream mutuality and basin-wide as well as building the capacity of government officials to development. As a result, cooperation has been accepted utilize technical products such as the Nile Basin DSS from as the only alternative to sustainable management of the NB. Nile water resources. The NBI has provided a platform for discussion and understanding of the interests, positions and Lastly, NBI is working through existing government expectations of all riparians in what concerns the utilization departments (not creating parallel structures) to implement (current and future) of the Nile waters resources was its activities at national level. Such activities are often established. embedded in the departments’ plans and budgets. Awareness has been raised that the Nile is a shared resource Q: How does NBI seek to address the funding gap arising and the continuity and interdependence between the between the scheduled increase in country contribution ecosystems, and the need for an integrated approach in until 2017 and the projected core costs from 2014 to order to protect the ‘common goods’ was created 2017? Largest results so far include: A: To Date, NBI has a modest grant from CIWA to fill gaps i. Nurtured inter-riparian cooperation by providing the its country contributions until 2017. Member States are only Nile basin-wide platform for regional dialogue in committed to implement the step wise increase in country trans-boundary water issues; the Nile-COM meetings are contributions as agreed. In addition, the NBI governance has attended by all NBI member states. taken responsibility to formally engage countries to pay up their country contributions and arrears in a timely manner. ii. Facilitated investment projects of regional significance; NBI governance and management are in an intensified identified, prepared or facilitated over US$ 1 billion of resource mobilization campaign and will continue engaging investment under implementation, with an additional US$ donors (old and new) to leverage grant funds to compliment 1 billion under preparation; country contributions. iii. Built a strong technical foundation for cooperative Q: When is the River Nile Basin Commission expected to water resources management and development, come into place? including a comprehensive shared knowledge base on the water and related resources of the Nile as well as tools A: After entering into force of the Cooperative Framework to enable countries understand the implications of their Agreement (CFA) following its ratification (in most countries actions on neighbors and opportunities for managing involving parliaments) and depositing by six countries, risks and realizing tangible benefits. Tools such as the instruments of ratification with the African Union. It is not Nile Basin Decision Support System (NB-DSS) and the certain when this process will be completed. Nile Equatorial Lakes and Eastern Nile Planning Models respectively, have been operationalized to provide the Q: What will happen to NBI if the CFA is ratified and necessary analysis to inform decision-making in water enters into force without the consent of all riparians? resources planning and management; A: The NBI is a transitional mechanism which will be iv. Strengthened institutional foundation: Over the replaced by a permanent platform, the Nile River Basin last decade NBI has grown into a well-established Commission (NRBC). NBI will enter a transitional period of and successful regional institution; with appropriate a least one year, during which details of a new institutional organizational structure, strong financial and operational arrangement will be negotiated. This will also include management systems and effective program & project realignment negotiations of any funding mechanisms with management procedures. the development partners NBI will be committed to at the time. The assets of NBI – both physical and ideal in terms of the wealth of experience and knowledge base will then pass on to the Nile Basin River Commission. Whilst NBI continues to strive for a CFA accepted by all riparian subscribe to, it is NBI’s intent to continue to be a platform for inclusive 2 Q: Why has it taken so long to realize tangible benefits • Increased trust, reduced tension, and a growing on the ground and what action needs to be taken to community of interest across in the Nile Basin. speed up the process? (The NBI has contributed to increased trust among the A: Up until 2012, the NBI implemented the first Strategic Nile riparians; Action Program, which was an agreed upon program At the Subsidiary Action Level, NBI has delivered visible between NBI member states for which funding was obtained benefits in areas of power interconnections (Ethiopia- from member countries and development partners. The Sudan; already implemented through the two countries); primary focus was to put in place an enabling environment enhancing livelihoods of local communities through for investment in water resources in the Nile Basin. Building Watershed Management (Eastern Nile); a number of power the enabling environment was the primary objective of the transmission interconnection and power generation projects Shared Vision Program (completed in 2012) while small scale are at advanced level of preparation and/or beginning of investment projects were implemented (‘low-hanging fruits’) implementation.