Climate change is one of the human challenges all over the world that require quick actions rather than unilateral or bilateral ones-KAMANZI

Achieving sustainable socio-economic development through the equitable utilization of, and benefit from, the common Nile Basin water resources is a shared vision among Nile Basin Initiative member countries

Currently Nile Basin is facing considerable challenges with regard to poverty, degradation of water and environmental resources, low economic development and instability.

Senate President addressing Participant

Speaking as Guest of Honor in the third Nile Basin Development Forum, Senate president Dr. Jean Damascene Ntawukuriryayo has called for joint actions to tackle negative impacts of climate change on the River Nile. 

He added that Africa should move faster in drawing concrete action plans against climate change.

“Implementable actions should be taken to save millions of people which are directly dependent on the River Nile” Said Ntawukuriryayo.

As is the tradition, NBDF is held every two years with a respective theme. The 3^rd Nile Basin Development Forum whose Theme is “Climate Change and its implications for Sustainable Development and cooperation in the Nile Basin- Threats and opportunities to Nile Basin Cooperation”

The theme is in recognition of the current global climate Change, its potential impacts in the Nile Basin and the necessity to adapt to expected conditions including loss of species and floods, reduced river flow, land degradation and high temperature

Addressing the forum Hon. Minister of Natural resources Stanislas Kamanzi said that climate change is one of the human challenges all over the world that require quick actions rather than unilateral or bilateral ones.

He clarified that climate change is one of the most daunting challenges to humanity that require regional and global actions to sustain national initiatives in the respective countries.

“Climate change impact on the sustainable management and development of water and water dependant resources indeed needs to be comprehensively managed and well understood, for appropriate scenarios and implementable actions to be undertaken,” said Kamanzi.

According to the 2007 IPCC report on climate change informs us that "by 2020, between 75 and 250 million people are projected to be exposed to an increase of water stress due to climate change [in Africa]... Agricultural production, including access to food, in many African countries and regions is projected to be severely compromised by climate variability and change. The area suitable for agriculture, the length of growing seasons and yield potential, particularly along the margins of semi-arid and arid areas, are expected to decrease.

Observational records and climate projections provide abundant evidence that freshwater resource are vulnerable and have the potential to be strongly impacted by climate change, with wide-ranging consequences for human societies and ecosystems.

“Climate Change is a cross cutting issue” Dr. Rose Mukankomeje said

He noted that Changes in water quantity and quality due to climate change and any other human activities are expected to affect food availability, stability, access and utilization.

He highlighted that developing countries have to fulfill their pledges and speak loudly so that developed countries should step forward to tackle negative impacts of climate change on resources that are used to improve the livelihoods of population

While climate change and pollution are bound to have some effect on the availability of fresh water in the Nile basin, the Executive Director of NBI, Dr Wael Khairy added that today there is another greatest single pressure which is caused by the very rapid growth of population.

“As the Nile basin nations continue to rely on growing their own crops in inhospitable climates, scarce water will continue to be a necessity, An increase in population growth, will further drive the desire for more water” said Whael.

Dr. whael Khairy added that NBI is implementing several projects in Natural resources management and Power interconnection in the Nile region to complement national interventions with the aim of contributing to sustainable socio economic development in the Nile.

The 3^rd NBDF was an opportunity for member countries to launch the Nile Information System (Nile-IS). As explained by the Nile-COM Chair Hon. Charity Ngiru, the system is a web-Based tool for users to engage with a broader community of interested professionals around the world to share experience and exchange knowledge and knowledge products on the Nile Basin Initiative.

The Nile Basin Initiative is an Intergovernmental organization dedicated to equitable and sustainable management and development of the shared water resources of the Nile Basin. NBI member states include Burundi, DRC, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda. Eritrea is as an observer.