Knowledge Networks for the Nile Basin
Using the innovative potential of Knowledge Networks and CoP’s in strengthening human and institutional research capacity in the Nile region.
Implementing leading institute: UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education, Delft, The Netherlands (UNESCO-IHE)
Partner institutes:Ten selected Universities and Ministries of Water Resources from Nile Basin Countries.
Beneficiaries: Water sector professionals and institutions in the Nile Basin Countries
NBCBN Facts & Figures
Short description:In the Nile region political stability is much related to the availability of water. Unconventional solutions are needed to solve the water related problems.
Through the establishment of the Nile Basin Capacity Building Network (NBCBN), especially in the field of River Engineering (RE) – under the umbrella of the Nile Basin Initiative (Cairo Declaration, Jan 2002) - Unesco-IHE started to expand its facilitation from training and capacity building towards the development of a sustainable knowledge infrastructure: Knowledge networks and Communities of Practice for professionals in the water sector.
The NBCBN-RE knowledge network is young, active, has much potential and can contribute through its multi-national, multi-disciplinary and multi-stakeholder research to sustainable solutions for integrated water management, the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals and the Nilotic water & climate dialogue. It is the project pilot where Knowledge Network and CoP principles will be developed, tested, applied and monitored, while at the same time the concepts, approach, research results and lessons learned will be pro-actively disseminated to new network initiatives in the region, like the NBI induced programme.
The goals of this demand driven project are to complete and strengthen this knowledge network, to support its Communities of Practice, to build a sustainable knowledge base, to generate and implement joint research with tangible outputs, contributing directly to production of knowledge in water resources management and utilization into diverse external processes, to disseminate its lessons learned and to co-create sustainable ways of collaboration, knowledge dissemination and knowledge networking. In addition, the project targets at getting a better understanding of the impact of CoP’s and knowledge networks themselves to improve the flow of knowledge from demand, through knowledge production and societal dialogue till action.
By involving professionals, knowledge institutes and sector organisations from all ten Nile African countries in additional and complementary activities, as laid down in the Shared Vision Program of the Nile Basin Initiative, the project creates a solid passage from potential conflict to co-operation potential and confidence building between riparian states. It will stimulate fruitful dialogue in relation to the MDG’s on the basis of local owned research results.
| Location | Nile Region |
| Starting date | July 1, 2005 |
| Completion date | July 1, 2009 |
| Contribution by The Netherlands | Total project budget Euro 2,123,191 |
| Contribution by Nile countries |
Total contribution estimated at Euro 1,005,554 |
Contribution by others:
- Nile Basin Countries (organisation of launching events, logistic support for node infrastructure building)
- ATPS (African Technology & Policy Studies network)
- International organisations (potentially): UNESCO Cairo Office, ALECSO, CEDARE, FAO, UNDP, World Bank.
