ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia - The Nile Council of Ministers (NILE-COM) in charge of Water Affairs from the nine Nile Basin Initiative (NBI) member countries has successfully concluded its 18th ordinary meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The purpose of the two day (26-27 June) meeting organized under the theme: ‘Working together for a better future’ was to review progress of the activities of NBI and approve the work plan and budget for the fiscal year 2010/2011.  This is in addition to announcing changes in the positions of NILE-COM chair and Executive Director of the NBI Secretariat, respectively.

The Nile Basin Initiative (NBI) proudly announces the second round of the Nile Media Awards. The Award seeks to recognise journalists for outstanding reporting on the work of NBI and about the sustainable management of the River Nile water resources in general.

The Nile Basin States have today 14th of May 2010 opened the Agreement on the Nile River Basin Cooperative Framework for signature for a period of one year until 13th May 2011.  The event took place at Lake Victoria Hotel - Entebbe, under the auspices of the Government of Uganda

H.E. Asfaw Dingamo, Minister of Water Resources of Ethiopia; Hon. Ambassador Stanislas Kamanzi, Minister of Lands and Water Management of Rwanda; Hon. Prof. Mark James Mwandosya, Minister of Water and Irrigation of Tanzania; and Hon. Isaac Isanga Musumba, Minister of Foreign Affairs (Regional Cooperation) of Uganda who signed the Agreement immediately after the opening, all described the ceremony as a land mark event.  

The 7th annual Development Partners (Nile Basin Trust Fund -NBTF C) meeting ended in Entebbe with members commending the Nile Basin Initiative (NBI) for moving from planning to actual investments. Members also noted the increased country commitment towards the investments.

In his opening statement, the chairperson of the Nile Council of Ministers (NILE-COM) who is also Egypt’s Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, H.E. Dr. Mohamed Nasr El-Din Allam, provided an overview of the outcome of the extra-ordinary NILE-COM meeting held on 13 April 2010 in Sharm-el-Sheikh, Egypt. He also noted the positive impact of NBI and its improving image both within the region and worldwide. “The NBI is mentioned in several arenas as a model for regional cooperation and integration”, H.E. Allam added. He thanked the Development Partners for their continued support and excellent technical guidance to NBI.