| NBCBN-RE E-newsletter March 2009 ( Corrected Version ) | ||
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Regional workshop on “River Structures” , Ethiopia, February 2009 The 5th Regional Workshop on River Structures was carried out in the period from 20 to 23 February 2009, In Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. It was organized by Addis Ababa University the hosting institution of NBCBN Ethiopia Node and the coordinator of the NBCBN River Structures regional research cluster.
The workshop aimed at assessing the progress of the different research teams and also draws up revised work plans for completing the research by the end of 2009 when the current project phase will end. Other related matters were also expected to surface out during the discussion
In the other three days of the workshop, the achievements of each research group were discussed and the way forward until the end of this phase was determined with the help of the cluster scientific advisor. The main new actions decided to be implemented are:
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Regional workshop on “Application of GIS and Modelling in Hydraulic Engineering" , Egypt, March 2009 NBCBN-RE in collaboration with The Hydraulics Research Institute (HRI) the hosting institution of the NBCBN Egypt node, , is organizing the “5th Regional Workshop on Capacity Building in GIS and Modelling Applications in River Engineering” to be held in Egypt from 30th of March to 2nd of April 2009. This event is divided into two parts: A one day Seminar on "Advances in using GIS and Modelling in River Engineering and Water Resources Management". This part will be held in Cairo Pyramisa hotel on the 30th of March. The second part is the NBCBN GIS and Modelling Cluster workshop, and will be held from 31st of March to 2nd of April, in Mercure Hotel, Ismailia, Egypt. The seminar part is considered as an opportunity for cluster members and experts in the field to exchange the knowledge on the recent projects and ongoing research activities in different organizations. The seminar objective is to gather a group of professionals and researchers working in the field of river engineering and linked to research projects and organizations dealing with the advanced applications of GIS and Modelling .The regional workshop part is considered to be an important activity of the network research clusters in the project second phase, the main objectives of the regional workshop are:
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NBCBN in the 5th World Water Forum, March 2009
The topic is divided into three sub-sessions:
Within session 2, in which NBCBN will be represented by its manager as panelist, the key issues/questions to be discussed are:
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Online short course: Decision Support Systems in River Basin Management 11 May, 2009 – 3 July, 2009
This online short course is primarily focused on developing competences that belong to the first category. Following this course will help answering questions such as: What are the challenges of integrated RBM? Which guiding principles (sustainability, equity) form the basis for successful RBM? How can different management options be linked to the multiple river basin functions? How can we utilise systems analysis approaches to formulate structured decision making problem descriptions using alternatives and objectives? What is the role and applicability of various tools and techniques for solving such decision making problems (simulation, optimisation, multi-criteria analyses)? The course will also give an overview of a generic structure of computer-based decision support systems in river basin management as well as an overview of different kinds of DSSs required at different decision-making level (operational management, planning and design, policy formulation). The course is designed for young and mid-level professionals who are involved in decision making processes in river basins at different levels, or those who are developing modelling and information systems support for managing water resources in river basins. Participants who want to develop competencies in these fields can also apply for the course. The course is a pilot case study within the Ten Competence research project, thus it will be offered for free. Potential participants will need to carry out pre- and post-evaluation of the educational approach and of the virtual learning environment (which is developed within the Ten Competence project) in order to receive certificates. This is, of course, in addition to completing the assignments of the course. For registration questions please contact Nicole Stam (info@unesco-ihe.org) |
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The 3rd Regional Nile Day, 21st February 2009
Speaking as Guest of Honor at the 3rd Regional Nile Day celebrations held in Rutovu on 21 February under the theme: "United in Diversity by the River Nile – Our Heritage, source for Regional Cooperation", the First Vice President said: environmental degradation is a global problem for which every nation needs to come forward together. Earlier, the Executive Director of the Nile Basin Initiative (NBI) Ms. Henriette Ndombe said that after ten years of negotiations, today’s ambition is to sign and ratify the CFA. She said it is a life-giving and life time decision for all NBI Member Countries to act independently of history, geopolitics, the limits of sovereignty and political boundaries. “Through deepening cooperation, the decision will serve all long-term national interests”, Ms. Ndombe added. Referring to the major achievements over the last ten years, Ms. Ndombe noted that the establishment of NBI has laid a foundation for cooperation among countries in the region and this is by all means a great achievement. She said NBI is now focusing on bringing real benefits to the populations of the River Nile Basin. The two-day regional celebrations were inaugurated on 20 February 2009 with a press conference addressed by the Burundian Minister of Water, Environment, Land Management, Planning and Housing, Eng. Deogratias Nduwimana, Ms. Ndombe and Mr. Gordon Mumbo, the Regional Project Manager for NBI’s Confidence Building and Stakeholders’ Involvement Project. This celebration days involved different activities, formal, entertainments watch sport activities, and planting 5000 seeds tree in Rutovu, the Southern source of the River Nile. |
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Overview on NBCBN Research Activities Local action research on “Supporting Collaborative Development and Use of Water Engineering Research Knowledge in Uganda” Uganda lies wholly within the Nile Basin, and has over the years attracted several national and trans-boundary WRM initiatives to enhance sustainable and equitable resource utilisation. These include studies, research and implementation activities by a variety of national and international institutions and stakeholders. However, collaboration and coordination amongst the researchers and implementers is limited. Planning and design of research topics is not always based on prioritised national needs. This brings the idea of the local action research of the NBCBN Uganda node. This action is coordinated by Eng. Ronald Mugambe, with the cooperation of the following list of researchers from different water related institutions in Uganda:
The research objective is to attain an enabling environment for planning, prioritization, implementing, collaborating and disseminating water-related research and development activities to enhance national and regional growth. The methodology set to achieve this objective is divided into two steps, the first step is Stakeholder Analysis and engagement and this is done by profiling, analysing, discussion, and proposal development, while the second step is capacity building, which is achieved through, a synthesis of capacity building needs, capacity-Building Event, framework for Knowledge Management. The expected outcomes of the research are 1) Profiles of stakeholders, 2) Criteria for prioritizing research actions, 3) At least two proposals,[this can be one proposal: this is the main output of the research, 4) A detailed implementation plan, 5) A knowledge-management framework. Achievements so far are, i) forming of core research group of 5 members, ii)Planning meeting held on 18 March 2008, attended by ten researchers, iii) Research tools prepared: questionnaires and flyers, iv) Stakeholders’ Profile: Some stakeholders were visited and self-administered questionnaires handed out. At least two responded positively. The Future plan of this research can be summarised as follows
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The Nile basin Capacity Building network represented by its manager will participate in the 5th World Water Forum to be held in Istanbul, Turkey from 16th to 23rd of March 2009. The main contribution of NBCBN will be in the Topic 6.3: titled “Using the Assets of Professional Associations and Networks to Strengthen the Water Sector” which will be held in Room 4, Feshane Halic Hall on 20 and 21 March 2009. The topic main objectives are:
The UNESCO-IHE organizes an online course on ' Decision Support Systems in River Basin Management' which is sponsored by the Ten Competence research project. The course will run in the period 11 May 2009 to 3 July 2009. 
This year’s Nile Day Regional celebrations have ended in Burundi, with the First Vice President of the Republic of Burundi, H.E. Dr. Yves Sahinguvu confirming the firm support of his government to conclude negotiations and sign the Cooperative Framework Agreement (CAF) as soon as possible. “We should give a legal support to our incipient cooperation – without much still waiting – to engage all together to take up the challenges which are drawn up in front of us, for the development of our people”, H.E. Sahinguvu added.