The Nile Basin Initiative

Overview

The Nile Basin Initiative (NBI) is an intergovernmental partnership launched on February 22, 1999, by the Nile riparian countries to promote cooperative management and development of the Nile's water resources. The member countries include Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda, while Eritrea holds observer status. The NBI was created in response to the growing need for a unified platform where countries could work together to address shared water challenges and opportunities in the basin.

The NBI’s central objective is to ensure sustainable socio-economic development through the equitable utilization of the Nile’s water resources. It supports water security, energy generation, food production, environmental conservation, and resilience to climate change across the region. To achieve these goals, the NBI facilitates dialogue, knowledge sharing, and joint investments among its members.