Bamboo is one of the fastest growing and highest yielding renewable natural resource contributing to economic growth of many countries across the world, including Kenya, although this potential is yet to be fully exploited in Kenya and many other African countries. Kakamega County lies in the Western part of Kenya spanning an area of 3,051.3 KM2. Kakamega is boardered by...

Direct beneficiaries of the project total to 4,100 households with approximately 20,500 people living in eight rural kebeles out of which 52% are women; the beneficiaries are generally resource poor, disadvantaged and vulnerable groups.    To build resilience of the target communities against impacts of drought and climate change, the project implemented diversified livelihood options. The target...

The communities most affected by floods in South Sudan include the eastern counties of Jonglie State namely: Bor, Akobo, and Twic; and Upper Nile State counties of Maban and Malakal. These areas have the highest number of displacements; lots of families without shelter, have no basic livelihood, inadequate access to safe drinking water points and no access to learning centres for their...

The current fishing situation at Kyavinyonge - DRC on Lake Edward is not promising. Fish production has dropped so much; it is no longer like it was in 2017-2018. Several social - economic, security, and technical problems are at the root of the unproductivity. Our fishermen are often arrested in Uganda, our canoes and nets often thrown by Ugandan naval forces for failure to meet fishing...

Egypt's water resource is estimated at about 60 billion cubic meters annually, most of it from the Nile River, in addition to very limited amounts of rainwater and deep groundwater in the deserts. In contrast, the total water needs in Egypt reach about 114 billion cubic meters annually... The Nile River is the most prioritized issue that receives a lot of attention as it...

The trainees formed a network of Uganda Women and Youth Champions as a front to engage other stakeholders to develop meaningful and sustainable climate change action projects at personal, organizational, and institutional levels; beginning with creating pilot regional cities' demonstration centres - one City per region. Uganda Nile Discourse Forum (UNDF), in partnership...

The project has been recognized by local Government Authorities and the community as one of the most promising fish farming projects in Mwanza and consequently many groups and individuals organize exchange visits to learn and be inspired. Currently, 1,208 people have visited the project site and 301 among them established their own fish ponds in Magu District...

Every year, Nile Basin Discourse Forum (NBDF) Rwanda holds a General Assembly (GA) meeting for its membership. This year’s AGM was held on the 17th August 2021 at Nobleza Hotel in kicukiro, Kigali; with 45 out of 47 member organisations in attendance.In the capacity of the Guest of Honour, the assemby was graced by the Nile Technical Advisory Committee (Nile-TAC) member for Rwanda Ms. Jacqueline Nyirakamana who is also the Chair of the Regional Nile-TAC. The roles of the General Assembly as...

The project has led to reduced post-harvest losses of coffee and horticulture products through inculcating the practice of good post-harvest handling practices and value addition. Farmer groups have taken initiative to do value addition to coffee; giving birth to new products on the coffee market such as ready to drink coffee brands of KACODEP Coffee and MASAKA...

Uhai Lake Forum (ULF) - a member organization of the Kenya Nile Discourse Forum (KNDF) is implementing a Baseline Emission Inventory and Access to Energy Assessment Study for Kisumu County, Kenya. The study is to build capacity of the County Government of Kisumu officials, equipping them with skills to check / analyse greenhouse emission within the County, and come up with measures on how to control the same. The overall objective for the study is to develop a baseline emission inventory for...

The plight of widows and orphans has been dire in Kenya’s Homa-Bay County along the shores of Lake Victoria where HIV/AIDS has intensely ravaged the community, leaving hundreds of widows and orphans suffering.The widows suffer majorly at the hand of their in-laws, robbing them of the opportunity to access factors of production like land. This makes widows and orphans extremely vulnerable since some even lack homes/houses to live; thus, failing to play an active role in supporting their...

Youth are targeted because they are the biggest proportion of the population, they are a better resource to mobilise and are key drivers for change. Lake Rweru is an important Rwanda – Burundi transboundary water body with a wide biodiversity. It feeds the Akagera River, which feeds into Lake Victoria and the Nile through the Rusumo rapid falls. Lake Rweru is as well...

Solid waste management is one of the core functions of the local authorities in Kenya. The management of solid waste however has proved to be a challenge to the concerned authorities due to the continuous increase in population and lack of capacity to collect and effectively manage the solid waste generated.A CBOs’ Network which brings together different Community Based Organizations handling solid waste ‘stepped’ in to complement what the Kisumu City Council has been doing to control...

 "Failure to Act in The Restoration of Ecosystems Is to Fail Biodiversity and The Fight Against Desertification" On June 24, 2021 at CIBITOKE province, MUGINA commune, RUGAJO zone on RUGENDO  hill in Burundi, Burundi National Discourse Forum (BNDF) (Burundian Forum of the Civil Society of the Nile Basin (FCBN)) joined the Ministry of Environment, Agriculture and Breeding to a colourful event to observe the days dedicated to Water...

“I have a small business and a medicine shop by the road side, I used to be burdened by the bad smell of garbage. I could sell lots of medicine for diseases like malaria, typhoid, diarrhea, respiratory diseases, and skin disease. But now the road is clean, no more bad smell and the sales of medicines for the aforesaid diseases has declined. The environment and the aesthetic view of the surrounding area has been enhanced.” Jada Tongun , Kator, payam - Juba Solid waste and its...

Serengeti Development Research and Environmental Conservation Center (SEDEREC) is a non-governmental organization Registered in Tanzania Mainland and a member of the Tanzania Nile Discourse Forum(TNDF). The Mission of SEDEREC is to Link Nature Conservation and Human Developments so that both Nature and humankind co-exist; and the overal objective is to ensure equitable social economic development within sustainable a environment. SEDEREC works to protect Lake Victoria's ecosystem through...

On 4th June 2021, DRC NDF (Forum Congolais de la Societe Civile du Bassin Du Nil (FCBN-DRCNDF)) released a statement profiling the eruption of Nyiragongo Volcano on May 22, 2021 and here below is the statement. You can download the original statement at bottom of the page. 1.  Introduction a) The Nile Basin and the volcanoThe Congolese Nile Basin is located in the volcanic mountainous zone and the Albertine rift. All the mountain ranges from the south of the...

In May 2021, more than 4,223 households were ravaged by the flooding of rivers; Rusizi, Kajeke and Mpanda. The areas that are highly devastated by the floods disaster include Gatumba, Kigaramango, Rukaramu and part of Mpanda cemetery.The rise of the waters of the three rivers is as a result of the steadily rising water level of Lake Tanganyika to which they are tributaries.Lake Tanganyika’s water level has been gradually rising for more than a year ago and has now reached a level so worrying...

The Sudanese Environment Conservation Society (SECS) in collaboration with Sudan National Discourse forum (SNDF) and Consumer Protection Society (CPS) conducted a training workshop on Environmental citizenship, within the framework of cooperation and common interest in environmental and consumer issues, due to their close association with human rights and improving living condition. The workshop took place from 8th to 11th of February, 2021 at SECS training Hall with 20 participants in total...

  On the 29th of April 2021, the Sudan Nile Discourse Forum (SNDF) celebrated National Nile Day 2021 at Khartoum under the theme "The role and voice of the local communities on Nile Basin development" Within the activities of the NBD regional Nile day year". Sixty one (61) participants from local communities attended the national Nile day celebration. The event was also graced by a wide participation from the Ministry of Irrigation and Water Resources, water experts, Civil...

In effort to support initiatives for sustainable integrated river basin management, UNDF member organizations are working with Uganda government and other stakeholders to save flood affected communities. This was Kick-started with mobilization and sensitization activities along the Lake Victoria shorelines from 3rd to 8th May 2021. The activity is in line with the NBD objective to support Nile communities for equitable utilization and sustainable management of the Nile basin resources,...

Between July 2020 and February 2021, Governance Links Tanzania, a member of Tanzania Nile Discourse Forum conducted a study on Business and Human Rights Footprint in the Construction Of Regional Rusumo Falls Hydroelectric Project. The overall objective of this study was to assess how the Tanzania section of the Regional Rusumo Falls Hydroelectric Project is complying with the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs), and specifically the requirement of human...

The Orange Fleshed Sweet Potatoes (OFSP) have been promoted due to its added value, as they are source of vitamin A content for rural farming communities. TAHEA works in partnership with other Organizations to promote Sweet Potato Production especially Orange Fleshed Sweet Potato (OFSP) for health, nutrition, food security and income for resource poor households. In the line with the project implementation, TAHEA trained Ukerewe prison officials on benefits of Orange sweet potatoes. The...

Victoria Eco-Farm is located in Dunga beach along the shores of Lake Victoria in Kisumu. The farm has been in existence since 2006 and produces different products like poultry for meat and eggs, milk from the dairy cattle, honey from bee keeping and also rear dogs for sale. The products have been generating good income while using a small piece of land since they don’t need huge chunks of land to keep. Victoria Eco-Farm is an affiliate of OSIENALA which is a member of Kenya Nile Discourse...

On 29th April 2021, Burundi Nile Basin Discourse Forum (FCBN) held a Nile Day celebration that took place at OSPIA COMPLEX, BUJUMBURA. This celebration is one of the many National Nile Day celebrations which followed the Regional Nile Day celebration that was virtually hosted by Uganda. Nile Basin Discourse participates as the main partner of Nile Basin Initiative. 34 participants including the representatives of central government and its institutions, the FCBN Steering Committee, public and...

Uganda joined the rest of the Nile Basin Countries to celebrate the Nile day 2021 on 14th and 15th of April 2021. The countries that share the Nile River Basin declared February 22, every year as the Nile Day and they commemorate the signing of the 1999 agreement that established the Nile Basin Initiative, aimed at equitable and reasonable utilization, Joint Corporation, and management of the waters of the river Nile. The theme for this year: “Rethinking Regional Investment in the...

Magnam Environmental Network acronym MAGNAM is a community Based Organisation (CBO) that initiated a homestead food security model project along the shores of Lake Victoria in Kisumu, Kenya. Magnam is a member of Kenya Nile Discourse forum (KNDF). The organization is encouraging the youth, women and any interested person to replicate what they have been doing for purposes of improving food security and to generate income as well. The project initiative entails production of different types...

The Fishers Union Organisation (FUO) is Tanzania Nile Discourse Forum (TNDF) a popular member known in in fishing of Sardines. FUO has come out with a project on Renewable Energy for night fishing of Sardines in Lake Victoria. The basic purpose was to replace kerosene lanterns for fishing. In 2005, FUO was established by a group of fishermen who are highly motivated and committed to contribute their time, skills and energies for the development and empowerment of socially disadvantaged and...

Uhai Lake Forum - a member of Kenya Nile Discourse Forum (KNDF) organized a community sensitization forum in Nyakach, Seme, and Kisumu central sub-counties to disseminate findings from the desk review report for baseline information on women and people with disabilities; on land rights and environmental issues affecting their access to justice during the COVID 19 pandemic. The objectives of the sensitization were to share the findings from the desktop review report with the community, and to...

In February 2021, the D.R Congo National Discourse Forum conducted a study on land management and protection of highlands of Beni and Lubero, two of six territories of North-Kivu Province.   The two territories are home to various ecosystems. The Congolese Nile basin stretches over the two plains Rutchuru and Ituri. The region is facing soil degradation due to excessive soil erosion.   The Congolese Nile Basin covers an area of nearly 26,000 km2 extending over North Kivu (Rutshuru, Lubero, and...

Water management is one of activities that have been attracting attention of different development actors especially those involved in agriculture, Water resources management, and environment protection among others. In Rwanda, one of NBDF Rwanda’s member’s Rwanda Development Organization (RDO) has been supporting small scale farmers in Nyagatare District for effectively harvest rain water for human and animal consumption and irrigation. In February 2021, RDO organized a three day field...

The Environmental Union Federation; the LDF in Aswan governorate, organized a virtual meeting celebrating of the National Environment Day under the slogan "Greening between Agriculture and Environment", to be found in this  link due to the conditions that Egypt and the world are going through due to the Corona virus pandemic. The celebration aimed to explain the need to change the Egyptians’ thinking about water to face the reality of scarcity, and to gradually shift to modern irrigation...

Since March 2020, the Lake Tanganyika water has risen to an incredible level. This year 2021, it rose to more than fifty meters. According to the geographical expert, he recalled that the level of Lake Tanganyika fluctuates in the order of 0.8m naturally depending on the seasons. These fluctuations are the consequences of a change in the balance between water inflows (rainfall at the lake level and the start of the outflow at the Lukuga River at Kalemie in the DRC.   Since the 19th...

Since early 2020, the world has been at war with an invisible and deadly enemy: COVID-19. It attacks all, relentlessly. The COVID-19 outbreak affected all segments of the population and is particularly detrimental to members of those social groups in the most vulnerable situations, including older persons, persons with disabilities, youth and children. Egypt was not far from the virus spread and has been facing a lot of challenges due to this global pandemic, but the NGOs, even with very...

On November 6 every year, the world celebrates the International Day for the Prevention of Environmental Exploitation in War and Armed Conflict. In the Congolese Nile basin, NBD members operate in an insecure environment where natural resources are exploited by armed groups operating in Northern Kivu. Mr. Elias Paluku TAHAWASIMA, the DRC NDF National Technical Support Expert shares experiences and challenges the NDF Membership go through while contributing to the livelihoods of the grassroots...

Chaque année le 6 novembre, le monde célèbre la journée internationale pour la prévention de l’exploitation de l’environnement en temps de guerre et de conflit armé.  Dans le bassin  du Nil congolais les membres du Discours sur le Bassin du Nil (NBD) font face à des défis relatifs à des conflits causés par les groupes armés notamment dans le Nord Kivu.  Monsieur Elias Paluku Tahawasima, l’expert National  du soutien Technique pour NBD, nous partage  l’expérience.Question : Connaissant...

As the world celebrates the World water week amid the COVID 19 this year, NBD shares a message from one of our members, and actor in water, sanitation, and environment in Burundi, Mr Nestor MBURENTE.Mr. Nestor MBURENTE, is the Legal representative of AVEDEC (Association Villageoise d'Entraide et de Développement Communautaire) in Burundi. AVEDEC is member of Burundi Nile Discourse Forum.   Being a member of  different  networks  of organizations  on Water and environment protection in Burundi,...

On August 19th every year, the World celebrates the International Humanitarian Day and pays tribute to Humanitarian aid workers assisting people in conflict crisis and mobilizes support to those affected by disasters. On this particular Day, Nile Basin Discourse also pays tribute Sustainable Development and Humanitarian Action (SDHA), a Rwanda based member organization involved in Humanitarian action and sustainable development. SDHA is member of Nile Basin Discourse Forum...

Etant donné que les conditions pluviométriques connaissent une affectation à la baisse, il faut envisager essentiellement le degré d’urbanisation dans l’avenir pour pouvoir se prononcer sur le risque d’inondation future dans les fonds de vallées.Or, si rien ne change dans la politique d’urbanisation, notamment les initiatives privées de morcellement de terrain, il va de soi que l’urbanisation contribuera à l’extension de la ville, mais également à l’intensification de l’urbanisation à...

Rev Joe Asila, the Chairperson of Kenya National Discourse Forum (KNDF) says that eating insects is the answer to manage malnutrition and food insecurity in the Sub-Saharan Africa.  He noted this  in December 2018 during a visit to Kenya National Discourse Forum ( KNDF) affiliated Dunga Eco-Tourism Environmental Group. Dunga Beach in Kisumu County is famous for its unique eco-cultural tourist attractions, some sitting amid the beautiful papyrus reeds. A few metres from the beach on the...

  The KNDF National Chairperson Rev. Joe Asila says that Kisumu County economy would be under threat as invasive weed spreads in Lake Victoria rendering hundreds out of work. Lwang’ni Beach on the shores of Kisumu used to welcome hundreds of visitors and residents who flocked the beach to buy fresh fish. Today the story is different following the re-emergence of water hyacinth in the lake.  Hundreds of fishermen have been forced to move to  other areas, a development that is likely to hurt...

Kenya Nile Discourse Forum (KNDF) National Chairperson, Rev Joe Asila has encouraged residents of Kakamega County to use bed nets for their intended purposes.   He said this during the free medical camp organized by Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala at Bukhungu stadium held on September 22, 2018. Rev Asila took issue that several locals used the nets for fencing their farms.   In Kakamega County, the bed net has helped bring down malaria prevalence from 38 per cent in 2013 to 27 per cent in...

  Sudan suffers from a severe shortage in electricity generation.  Most of the electricity is generated from hydropower from dams and from furnace.  The Minister of Water Resources, Irrigation and Electricity has declared that an agreement has been reached between Sudan and Russia to establish a nuclear plant for the generation of electricity.

  The Blue Nile has a unique Ecosystem as it enters the Sudan.  It forms shallow meadows (Mayaas) that constitute an outlet for the flood water in the rainy season.   Acacia Nilotica (Sunut) trees are the dominant species in these meadows.  The Forests National Corporation (FNC) has reserved about 16,000 feddans (6,720 ha) as national reserved forests for the protection of the Blue Nile water course.

  Tanzania Home Economics Association (TAHEA-MWANZA) has been implementing the promotion of Sweet Potato production including Orange Fresh Sweet Potato (OFSP) for food security, climate change resilience, health and nutrition, and income generation since 2000 to June, 2018.

Assessment conducted by Burundi Red Cross Society, the Government of Burundi and other development partners indicate  that  12,956 people and 2,133 houses in 9 locations were affected by floods in May 2018. Skills and knowledge of communities on disaster mitigation are very important measures to alleviate similar consequences in the future.

  The Kenyan Government has directed the Ministry of Environment and Forestry to introduce a monthly national clean-up day to beat  plastic pollution. HE the Vice President William Ruto said this on June 5, 2018 during the celebration of World Environment Day.

  Water hyacinth is seen as an irritant that clogs waterways, making it harder for boats ferrying passengers or carrying fishermen to navigate Lake Victoria. While water hyacinth poses a threat to some countries, the Organization Centre for Innovations in Science and Technology in Africa (CIST- Africa), proved the contrary by turning it into cooking energy. CIST- Africa; also  member of Kenya Nile Discourse Forum (KNDF) produces 300 litres of biofuel daily that are used by about 540...

  The Sunut forest lies at the confluence of the White Nile and Blue Nile; at about 164 hectares. It is one of the few remaining urban forests in the Sudan. It falls within the flyway of the migratory birds from Eurasia to Africa and is an important educational site for students, recreational area for Greater Khartoum City dwellers and important site for researchers and bird watchers.  The bird sanctuary extends over 15 kilometers along the White Nile River bank and includes cultivated areas...

  The Organization of Journalists against Drugs Abuse and Crime   in Tanzania (OJADACT) under the technical support of The Tanzania Nile Discourse Forum (TNDF) contributed to the public awareness against Lake Victoria Degradation.  The intervention of OJADACT which is member of Tanzania National Discourse Forum, was in line with project entitled “Lake Victoria Region Local Authority Cooperation (LVRLAC)” supported by UN-Habitat and Swedish International Development Agency.

  In April 2018, Uganda Nile Discourse Forum (UNDF) witnessed a partnership understanding between one China Corporation and three Uganda based organisations.  The partnership was established between three UNDF member organizations namely Green Efforts Foundation (GEF), Centre for Participatory Research and Development (CEPARD), and Master Links Uganda Ltd and the China National Machinery Import and Export Corporation (CMC).

Nile Basin Discourse Forum Rwanda (NBDF) attended the Second Stakeholder Advisory Network (SAN) Committee Meeting held in Washington, DC April 18-19, 2018. The Stakeholders Advisory Network on Climate Finance (SAN) was launched in November 2016 to “advance the engagement of broader non-state stakeholders in the Climate Investment Funds and other climate finance institutes at the country, regional and global levels.”   It was initially overseen by a steering committee of five members from...

  From 19-29 March,2018,the Nile Basin Discourse Forum Rwanda (NBDF) and Partners trained farmers on Climate Change- Impacts & Adaptation for  sustainable agriculture  in Bugesera District.  The training is part of the project entitled “Promoting Sustainable Agriculture in a Changing Climate in Bugesera District. The training was organized in partnership with Rwanda Environmental Conservation Organization (RECOR), the Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological (SMHI) Nordic Climate Facility...

The United Nations recognized women’s rights of living in the peaceful world. In the resolution 1325 adopted on October 31st, 2000, the United Nations voted that women should be involved in the peace consolidation because those women and girls are the first victims during the conflict in the world.   As the World was celebrating the International Women Day  in March 2018, the DR Congo National Discourse Forum (DRCNDF) took this opportunity to call the general public to put women’s rights...

Kenya National Discourse Forum (KNDF)’s General Secretary, Mr Laban Korelach has called on the Kenyan Government to quickly come to the aid of maize farmers following the invasion of maize farms by the fall armyworm.  Mr Laban sent this message at two days Farmers’ Workshop held at Cicada Hotel in Eldoret on April 12, 2018. He noted that Kenya could lose half of its maize crop and face a massive food crisis following an invasion by armyworms. Currently farms at the Coast, Rift Valley, Western...

The Informed Rural Society (IRS) is a Non-Governmental Organization operating in Geita Region, Tanzania. It is a member of Tanzania National Discourse Forum (TNDF).  IRS has been a champion on environmental conservation in Geita District- Geita Region for over ten years.  In October 2017, IRS launched a school tree planting program called “Mti wangu, Shule yangu, Maisha yangu” literally meaning “My tree, My school, My life”. The project aims at sensitizing and mobilizing secondary school...

The East African Communities’ Organization for Management of Lake Victoria Resources - Tanzania chapter (ECOVIC) is a regional International Non-Government Organization with a Vision of Having a healthy and productive Lake Victoria Basin (LBV); and riparian communities living in a clean productive Lake Basin. The organization has been implementing activities that aim at protecting Lake Victoria's Zone 6 Regions namely Kagera, Mara, Shinyanga, Simiyu, Geita and Mwanza.

The Nile Basin Discourse (NBD) represented CSOs on the regional multi-disciplinary technical task team to interface and provide guidance to the communities of the Nyimur-Aswa project catchment area.  This was in collaboration with the Government of Uganda and other stakeholders during a community dialogue to enhance community participation in the on-going Nyimur-Aswa Multipurpose water project.  The meeting took place in Lamwo District, Uganda from 18th to 23rd March 2018.   The Ugandan team...

  The Uganda National Discourse Forum's affiliated member and a host for the Uganda National Discourse Forum, Center for Participatory Research and Development (CEPARD), was invited in January 2018 to participate in a learning visit to South Sudan during a mid-term review of the ZOA Resilience Recovery for food and Nutrition Security (RRFNS).  This was a cross-boarder engagement that brought many lessons to the Uganda family and also a sharing of best practices in Uganda to the South Sudan...

  Some fishermen in Nyanza and Western regions of Kenya use table tennis nets to do illegal fishing in Lake Victoria, an official has revealed. The chairman of Kenya Nile Basin Discourse Forum (KNDF) an affiliate of Save Fish in Lake Victoria Association; Joseph Odongo said the nets are exported to Uganda from Korea before being bought by fishermen from Kenya for fishing in the Lake. Mr. Odongo said most fishermen prefer the illegal table tennis nets because they can last for more than 20...

  Every year on the 27th of January Egypt celebrates the ratification of the law number 4 for the year 1994, and amended to the law number 9 for the year 2009. This year's celebration was attended by environmental experts, Development experts, decision makers, and civil society organizations to discuss the environmental situation in Egypt; its needs, its priorities and the actions that have to be taken from all sectors of the country for effective cooperation and partnership for environmental...

As the ten Nile Riparian Countries were celebrating the 12th Regional Nile Day on 22nd February 2018 in Addis Ababa Ethiopia, the DR Congo National Discourse Forum (DRCNDF) was holding a one day conference in Butembo city that focused on management of Lake Edward.    The THEME of the 2018 Regional Nile Day was "The Nile: Shared River, Collective Action.” On the side of DR Congo National Discourse Form (DRCNDF) the day was dedicated to the sub-theme entitled “Management of Lake Edward:...

  Association of Young Citizens of Lake Edward (AJRLE) in the Democratic Republic of Congo stood up for the protection of Virunga National Park and Lake Edward after an alarming decrease of fish production in the lake due to the illegal fishing by fishing communities. The association also invited the DRC National Discourse Forum (DRC-NDF) to join a two-day awareness raising workshop conducted on 16th and 17th January 2018 in KYAVINYONGE near Lake Edward.

  The Kenya National Discourse Forum (KNDF) affiliated youth group's company, Eco2librium, based in Kakamega is using sugarcane leftovers to produce charcoal for domestic use as an initiative to save Kakamega Forest from destruction. Recycling sugarcane waste started two years ago where the company managed to produce over 800 bags of charcoal briquettes per month. The Company’s Director Christopher Amutabi, says that charcoal made from sugarcane produces less ash and dust and burns three to...

Water hyacinth and other aquatic weeds have invaded Lake Victoria and dams. The invasion has caused very serious economic problems to the communities living around the lake as their economic activities depend on the Lake/dams.  On the Tanzanian side of Lake Victoria, the Socio-Economic Development Trust Fund (SEDTF) embarked on the project of water hyacinth removal and control at the landing beaches of Mwigobero and Nyarusurya of Musoma Municipal and various dams within Mara and nearby...

The DR Congo National Discourse Forum (DRCNDF) held a consultation meeting with consultants on the trans-boundary Management of Lakes Edward and Albert Integrated Basin Management Plan. The plan is under the second phase of Lake Edward and Albert Fisheries (LEAF 2). The meeting took place on November 16, 2017, and aimed at collecting data on different actors, opportunities and challenges of the basin in order to elaborate the trans-boundary management of Lakes Edward and Albert Integrated...

Horn of Africa Regional Environment Network (HoA-REN) launched a project on Adaptive Capacity of Khor El Teena Landscape to the Impacts of Climate Change during a workshop held on the 14th of November 2017 in El Obeid Town, North Kordofan state.   The HoA-REN Sudan Chapter to which the Sudan National Discourse Forum (SNDF)  is a member, is now in the process of implementing a project entitled: “Increasing the Adaptive Capacity of Khor El Teena Landscape to the Impacts of Climate Change” to be...

  Building capacity of members of Burundi National Discourse Forum (BNDF) is seen as an option to boost their knowledge in mainstreaming gender in all of their action plans. From 16th to 20th November 2017  in Bujumbura, CIDEP (Centre d’appui aux Initiatives locale de Développement et d’Assistance aux Personnes Vulnérables) - a BNDF member in partnership with ACORD-BURUNDI organized a five day training workshop on gender mainstreaming for CIDEP members.

Recent news has indicated that some material has been imported to strengthen the body of the Merowe Dam.  The Merowe Dam, also known as the Hamdab Dam, is a large dam near Merowe Town in northern Sudan, about 350 kilometres (220 miles) north of Khartoum and 40 kilometres (25 miles) downstream from the construction site at Hamdab. The Dam’s dimension makes it the largest contemporary hydropower project in Africa. It is situated on the River Nile, close to the 4th Cataract where the River...

  The DR Congo National Discourse Forum (DRCNDF) participated at the National workshop that discussed on harmonization of Laws and Policies on fishing and aquaculture at lakes Edward and Albert. The workshop that was held from 1st to 3rd December 2017 in Goma was organized  by the regional Coordination of Lakes Eduward - Albert Fisheries – Phase two ( LEAF2).

  Reforestation, sustainable farming, and wetlands conservation could significantly slash down the amount of carbon emissions that humanity spews into the atmosphere through fossil fuel use. The Kenya National Discourse Forum (KNDF) Climate Change expert, Mr Peter Omeny, stressed on this during a Climate Change Workshop held at Cicada Hotel, Eldoret in December 2017.

Uganda National Discourse Forum (UNDF) shares with and learns from the 1st Nile Basin Discourse Summit (NBDS). More than 50 members of the UNDF attended and participated in various sessions of the Nile Basin Discourse Summit 2017 held in Entebbe, Uganda from 29th - 30th November 2017.  Participants benefited from different presentations and discussions on various topics linked with the summit theme “Integration and Inclusion: New Ideas for collaboration in River Basins Management...

  NBDF Rwanda at the representation of the National Coordinator participated in the Environment and Sustainable Business Development Dialogue. The Dialogue organized by ARCOS and GIZ in collaboration with the Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA), the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and Rwanda Water and Forest Authority (RWFA) through its Water for Growth Rwanda (W4GR) Programme focused on “Leveraging adaptation opportunities, involving the private sector in...

The Kenya National Discourse Forum (KNDF) conveys its full support to the plan of establishing a sanitary towels factory that will benefit girls from poor families in Busia County, Kenya. The KNDF Vice Chairperson, Ms Anne Ombewa, said stakeholders in the education and health sectors are considering establishing a factory to manufacture sanitary towels to facilitate girls from poor families. The proposal of the factory dominated discussions at the Busia Menstrual Hygiene Workshop held on...

  In September 2017, the Environmental Union Federation in Aswan in cooperation with the Egypt Nile Discourse Forum “EgNDF”, Idfu Youth Management and the association of society development in Ezbet Al-Masry organized a workshop on “climate change and development”.   The Workshop targeted the youth. Mr. Ahmed Abdel-Rahim, who represented the Ministry of Sports and Youth,

A month after the plastic bags' ban took effect in Kenya; shoppers have continued to show unhappiness on how their goods should be packed. Most supermarkets have not adopted alternative means of packaging goods and have instead shifted the burden to consumers.  In a visit to some supermarkets in Eldoret City,

  The DR Congo National Discourse Forum (DRCNDF) members and partners are on course fighting Gender based violence in the country.  The call for prevention was made on 1st September 2017 during a one day meeting that attracted 210 participants most of them being Senior five and Senior six students, and youth drawn from Butembo.

  Effects of climate change are real worldwide and communities are learning how to adapt to new styles of life. In Beni Territory, the Solidarity of Organizations of Women and Young Agricultural Producers (SOFEJEP) are coaching the local women and youth on adaptation to the climate change effect through handcraft making

  Prof. WANGARI MAATHAI was an icon whose legacy left prints in the minds of environmentalists and tree lovers worldwide. The quote of the internationally renown Kenyan environmental political activist and Nobel laureate, Wangari Maathai was the base of the campaign for tree planting in the City of Butembo, DR Congo in October 2017.

  This was the theme of first Women’s Health Summit that took place from  11th  to 12th October, 2017 at Silver Springs Hotel Bugolobi, Kampala Uganda. The Summit attracted 260 participants drawn from individuals, groups, Health experts, community leaders, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs),

Human-elephant conflicts mostly exist where human populations and wild life share resources outside protected areas. The negative impacts of these conflicts affect both humankind and wild life. The Mara river basin has been the key link between Serengeti Ecosystem in Tanzania and Massai-Mara ecosystem in Kenya connected through annual wildlife migration. However, for a long time the communities bordering

  The newly elected Kenya National Discourse Forum (KNDF) Executive Board members have vowed to extend support to the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) initiative of banning the use and manufacture of polythene bags. In their inaugural meeting held at Perch Hotel in Kisumu, presided over by the chairperson, Rev Joe Asila, and attended by the Vice-chairperson, Ms Anne Ombewa, KNDF Secretary General Mr Laban Korelach among others. The members resolved to support the...

  The National Discourse Forum - Rwanda (NDF- Rwanda) is a pioneer member to the regional Population Health Environment Network (PHE) that is jointly supported by Lake Victoria Basin Commission and the East African Community secretariat. PHE was conceived as a mechanism to bring a positive influence on population growth, health and environmental conservation patterns by enhancing resilience of communities, helping balance environmental protection, natural resource use and human well-being.

  The Rwanda National Discourse Forum (RNDF) has benefitted from a 30 months funding programme from the Nordic Climate Facility to implement the project entitled: “Promoting sustainable Agriculture in Changing Climate in Bugesera District.” The project is expected to reach 8000 community members as beneficiaries in 7 sectors of Bugesera District.  The project is jointly implemented by RNDF in the Sectors of Juru, Rilima, Rweru and Kamabuye of Bugesera District and Rwanda Environmental...

  Ssese Islands consists of 84 islands in the north-western section of Lake Victoria. Many of the islands are uninhabited except for a few fishermen so their forests and swamps are ideal habitats for birds. The wildlife on the islands includes hippos, crocodile, waterbuck, sitatunga antelope, chimpanzees and monkeys.  Distant at a nine-hour steamer trip from Port Bell or a 45-minute ferry trip from Bukakata is one of the richest areas for flora in Eastern Africa. The forest is also sanctuary...

  Two organizations, which are members of the Uganda National Discourse Forum (UNDF), have joined the Ndejje University in the campaign for School Based Awareness on Environment & Solid Waste Management among Children & Youth in Kampala District, Uganda.  The campaign is called “Green Youths Initiative (GYI)”. The overall goal of the project is to promote youth’s engagement in maintaining green environment and waste management in Kampala District.

  Lake Victoria Management Program in Kenya (LVEMP II Kenya) has undertaken Roof Water Harvesting in 20 Government institutions, the exercise of which could be described as completed and functional. This includes complete guttering of the roof surface area and installation of 10 thousand liters capacity plastic tanks in each of the 20 institutions. The Project has plans to add more institutions in the beneficiary list. Aldai Girls Secondary School located in Ibanja Sub location, Kaptumo North...

It is almost a year now that the “Forum Burundais de la société civile du bassin du Nil” (FCBN) joined other national stakeholders to establish the National Water and Sanitation Observatory platform (OBEA). The aim to join OBEA (Observatoire Burundais Aau et Assainissement) was to address the challenges on irrational water use in the country. FCBN joined with its huge membership of 40 Civil Society Organizations and one of its members, AVEDEC (Association Villageoise d'Entraide et de...

  The world has set up targets of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to be reached by 2030 and water resources protection is among many of the targets of the resolution adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 25 September 2015.  Target 9 of Goal 3, (Ensure Healthy Lives and Promote Well-being for all at all Ages) set 2030 as the year when the substantial reduction of the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination...

  The National Discourse forum Burundi (BNDF) joined other in-country environmental protection stakeholders in training for improving climate change resilience of their communities by protecting the environment and reducing Climate change impacts. The five day training of national stakeholders on climate resilience was organized by World Vision Burundi from 22nd - 26th May, 2017. The training assessed the situation of climate change and environment protection in the country.

  From 8-18 May 2017 leading scholars, leading experts, and policy makers met in Bonny Germany to discuss on how to build bridges between sustainable development and climate change in the Interconnections Conference. In this conference the Chairperson of Tanzania National Discourse Forum, who is also the Executive Director of Governance Links - Tanzania, Mr. Donald Kasongi, underlined key institutional drivers that may bring support to the acceleration of new climate economies at...

  To some, the water hyacinth weed (Eichhornia crassipes) is a blessing. But to others, the weed is loathed and it’s a menace. The weed is one of the most sensitive environmental issues currently affecting Lake Victoria Basin and its surroundings. Lake Victoria has been the habitat of a large variety of fish species and diverse variety of medicinal plants, according to Prof. Raphael Achola Kapiyo, an Environmental Scientist at UHAI Lake Forum.  To a section of fisher-folk, water hyacinth...

The Sudan National Discourse Forum joined the Horn of Africa Regional Environment Network (HoA-REC&N) to strengthen and advocate for initiatives related to environmental conservation and natural resource management. The HoA-REC&N was established in 2006 through the support from the government of the Kingdom of the Royal Netherlands. The HoA-REN focuses on environmental concerns and sustainable development options within the Horn of Africa. The Network promotes more than 40 higher...

Centre for participatory research and development (CEPARD) and Miss Tourism Uganda are jointly campaigning for the promotion of Nile Domestic Tourism.  The month of June saw the two companies campaigning in the Greater Masaka Region beginning with Kalangala District, Ssese Islands in Lake Victoria.    CEPARD is an active member of Uganda Nile Discourse Forum (UNDF) and UNDF is membership organization that forms part of the Nile Country level institutions that form the Nile Basin Discourse...

  The representative of the Ministry of Irrigation and Water Resources recently declared that the Nile will be free of pollutants in the near future. This was declared in a meeting of the Committee on Energy and Environment in the Parliament while the MPs and committee were to discuss on the request for briefing submitted by one of the MPs on some companies and factories that get rid of theirs Industrial and Domestic waste in the River Nile from southern Aswan to the North Delta, and the...

  Egypt is among 14 countries in the North Africa and Mediterranean benefitting from an EU funded project titled “ODYSSEA - transforming Mediterranean Sea data into valuable innovative information services.” 28 partners from all over the basin are involved in the project implementation.   Despite the project is keen about the Mediterranean in Egypt, River Nile is taken as main target to set an observatory system for data collection and this part will be conducted by Arab Network for...

The National Discourse of Rwanda (NDF Rwanda) joined the Stakeholders Advisory Network Committee (SAN) established to engage non-state actors in climate finance at national regional and global levels.The NDF Rwanda participated in World Bank’s Stakeholders Advisory Network, (SAN) meeting that focused on advancing engagement of non-state actors in climate finance at the national, regional and global levels. The workshop took place in May 13 – 14, 2017 - Bonn, Germany.Mr. John Gakumba, the...

The Centre for Participatory Research and Development (CEPARD) is partnering with Kakuuto Community Development project (KACODEP) to sustain the post Kagera Trans-boundary Agro ecosystems Management Project (Kagera TAMP-FAO) outcomes.The Kagera Trans-boundary Agro ecosystems Management Project (Kagera TAMP-FAO was a 4 year (2011-2014) project, funded by Global Environmental Facility (GEF) through FAO Uganda. The project was implemented in 4 East African countries i.e. Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi...

The National Discourse Forum Rwanda conducted baseline survey in eight sectors of Bugesera District to provide information at the sector community level about some basic indicators of improved fruit tree coverage, buffer zone management, irrigation practices, land management, pest management, climate change adaptation, natural resource management, climate change awareness, information networks for weather and agricultural information which can be compared across target sectors and monitored...

The DR Congo National Discourse Forum (DRCNDF) has, in April and May 2017, trained 55 representatives of members from Butembo and Beni on how to elaborate community development projects and social development activities s considering the Climate Change Risks. The workshops were organized by DRC NDF under sponsorship of World Wild Fund.With the support of Mr. Kasolene Jean Claude Kyungu the NBD in-country Climate Change Expert, participants learnt how to use the participative evaluation of...