Challenges and Opportunities of the Nile Transboundary Waters

Challenges and Opportunities of the Nile Challenges and Opportunities of the Nile Transboundary Waters Transboundary Waters

Prof. Dr. Abdalla Abdelsalam Ahmed,Prof. Dr. Abdalla Abdelsalam Ahmed,Director General, UNESCO Chair in Water Resources, SudanDirector General, UNESCO Chair in Water Resources, Sudan [email protected], , [email protected]

15 - 18 Dec. 2013, Amman , Jordan

Near East and North Africa: Land and Water Days

UNESCO-CWR, SudanUNESCO-CWR, Sudan 11Prof. Dr. Abdalla Abdelsalm Ahmed Prof. Dr. Abdalla Abdelsalm Ahmed

The Nile BasinThe Nile Basin 1.Burundi, 2.Congo, 3.Egypt, 4.Ethiopia,

5.Eritrea, 6.Kenya, 7.Rwanda, 8.Sudan, 9.South Sudan, 10.Tanzania, and

11. Uganda.


Nile is the longest river in the world (6671 km).

The total annual flow of the Nile River is 84 km3 (measured at Aswan High Dam).

Max. flow 120 km3/yr 1916, Min. 42 km3 /yr 1984.

This represents only about 2% of the Amazon River, 6% of the Congo, 12% of the Yangtze, 17% of the Niger, and 26% of the Zambezi.

Main Challenges facing the NB CountriesMain Challenges facing the NB Countries

1.1.Population growth (2.5 – 3.0%) and poverty.Population growth (2.5 – 3.0%) and poverty.

2.2.Displaced people and refugees.Displaced people and refugees.

3.3.Climate change and food security.Climate change and food security.

4.4.Erosion and sedimentation.Erosion and sedimentation.

5.5.Natural disasters:Natural disasters:1.1. Flood devastation.Flood devastation.2.2. Drought and desertification Drought and desertification 3.3. Watershed degradationWatershed degradation4.4. Institutional structures and capacity Institutional structures and capacity

building. building.

5. 5. Political commitment and conflicts within the Political commitment and conflicts within the region of the NB. region of the NB.

6. Lack of financial resources and technology. 6. Lack of financial resources and technology.

7. Enabling environment for cooperation.7. Enabling environment for cooperation.

8. Trust and confidence building .8. Trust and confidence building .

EritreaEgyptBurundi Democratic Republic of Congo

Tanzania SudanKenya Rwanda

UgandaEthiopia

Full member

Observer

Nile Basin Countries in Gradual Process Towards Cooperation


Sudan

Egypt

Ethiopia

Eritrea D R C Uganda

Kenya

Tanzania Rwanda Burundi

Nile Equatorial Lakes Sub-Basin (NELSAP)Eastern Nile Sub-Basin (ENSAP)

Nile Basin(SVP. Cooperative Framework)

Levels of Cooperation within the Nile Basin Initiative (NBI)

Global (ICCON and International Discourse)


Implementation of NB Implementation of NB Cooperation Framework Agreement (CFA)Cooperation Framework Agreement (CFA)

Implementation faces some major legal problems and complications:- Implementation faces some major legal problems and complications:-

1- 1- One of the main objectives of CFA is to establish the NB Commission, to promote One of the main objectives of CFA is to establish the NB Commission, to promote and facilitate the implementation of the principles, rights and obligations set forth and facilitate the implementation of the principles, rights and obligations set forth in the CFA. Moreover, it serves as an institutional framework for cooperation. in the CFA. Moreover, it serves as an institutional framework for cooperation.

2- 2- Legal Issues: Legal Issues: CFA states that upon entry into force of the CFA commission shall CFA states that upon entry into force of the CFA commission shall succeed to all rights, obligations and assets of the NBI. The immediate question that succeed to all rights, obligations and assets of the NBI. The immediate question that arises is: What will happen to the rights and obligations under the NBI of the states arises is: What will happen to the rights and obligations under the NBI of the states that are not parties of CFA? it raises legal issues and exacerbate the existing that are not parties of CFA? it raises legal issues and exacerbate the existing disputes over the CFA. disputes over the CFA.

3- 3- Egypt and Sudan argue that this is a draw back from NBI Egypt and Sudan argue that this is a draw back from NBI consensusconsensus..


Areas of Differences over the CFA

Four major issues were raised during the negotiations :1.use of terms (River Basin Vs. River System);2.prior Notification of Planned Measures; 3.the status of the existing agreements;4.the CFA amendment.

Water SecurityCFA defines water security as “the right of all NB States to reliable access to and use of

the Nile River system for health, agriculture, livelihoods, production and the environment”.

***NB States therefore agree, in a spirit of cooperation (Article 14):-

(a) to work together to ensure that all states achieve and sustain water security;

(b) not to significantly affect the water security of any other NB State.


Egypt and Sudan demanded that Article 14 (b) should be replaced by the following wording: (b) not to adversely affect the water security and current uses and rights of any other NB State, 14b original (not to significantly affect the water security of any other NB State)

It should also include notification of the planned projects

Article 14 (b)


CFA distinguishes between “NRB” and “NRS”.

1- NRB as “the geographical area determined by the watershed limits of the NRS of waters” 2- NRS as “the Nile River and the surface waters and groundwaters which are related to the Nile River”,

Egypt has been claiming that the definition of NRS applies to both environmental protection and water allocation. This means that the Nile waters is not only the 84 km3, (blue water), but more than 1,600 km3 (green water).

Nile River System Versus Nile River Basin


THE GRAND ETHIOPIAN RENAISSANCE DAM

UNESCO-CWR, SudanUNESCO-CWR, Sudan Prof. Dr. Abdalla Abdelsalm Ahmed Prof. Dr. Abdalla Abdelsalm Ahmed 1010

The Locations of the Ethiopian

Proposed Dams on the Blue Nile

Prior 2010

Opportunities in NBOpportunities in NBOpportunities in the NB are too many for example:-Opportunities in the NB are too many for example:-

Integrated water resources development would grantee an Integrated water resources development would grantee an

optimal and sustainable water use.optimal and sustainable water use.

Poverty reduction through cooperation.Poverty reduction through cooperation.

Shared programs and projects that lead to shared water Shared programs and projects that lead to shared water

benefits, benefits, e.g. Food security, hydropower sharing, trade --etc.e.g. Food security, hydropower sharing, trade --etc.

Socio-economic development by managing the natural Socio-economic development by managing the natural

resources in the whole NB as one unit.resources in the whole NB as one unit.

Peace and political stability.Peace and political stability.


Successful Stories of Cooperation in the Nile (NBI)Successful Stories of Cooperation in the Nile (NBI)

1.1. NBI is a story of successNBI is a story of success

2.2. A forum for NB countries to dialogueA forum for NB countries to dialogue

3.3. Established Regional institutionsEstablished Regional institutions

4.4. Built capacity of water resources sectorBuilt capacity of water resources sector

5.5. Addressed development through its SAP Addressed development through its SAP

6.6. Enhanced the knowledge base & information sharingEnhanced the knowledge base & information sharing

RecommendationsRecommendations

In Transboundary Water two mean issues are essential:-

1.1. Strengthening Policy, Legal and Institutional frameworks.Strengthening Policy, Legal and Institutional frameworks.

2.2. Joint management of the shared water system to balance competing Joint management of the shared water system to balance competing uses and enabling sharing benefits from the water resources utilizationuses and enabling sharing benefits from the water resources utilization

UNESCO-CWR, SudanUNESCO-CWR, Sudan Prof. Dr. Abdalla Abdelsalm Ahmed Prof. Dr. Abdalla Abdelsalm Ahmed 1313

A way A way ForwardForward

Build on the successBuild on the successful cooperative initiative (NBI) to ful cooperative initiative (NBI) to maximize the gain maximize the gain and to and to bridge the gapbridge the gap

and Move togetherand Move together

Thank you Thank you

for your for your

ATTENTION ATTENTION


Technology

Challenges and Opportunities of the Nile Transboundary Waters