Nile Basin Development Forum

A Session on Early Warning for All In the Nile Basin

Thematic Area 3: Climate Change Adaptation And Mitigation

Date: 16th October 2023 – 18th October 2023,

Venue:  Kampala, Uganda

Co-hosting organizations: World Meteorological Organization, Geneva, Switzerland

1.Background

The Nile Basin Development Forum (NBDF) is a high-level regional event convened every three years by the Nile Basin Initiative (NBI) in collaboration with its Member States and in partnership with development partners. The event is a science-policy-practice dialogue that provides an opportunity for constructive reflection on contemporary information, knowledge and best practices as well as building partnerships among professionals, in transboundary water resources management and development.

The goal of the 7th NBDF is to enhance processes by which transboundary water cooperation can translate into tangible mutual benefits for Nile riparian countries and contribute to NBI’s shared vision, which is to promote socio-economic benefits for the people and countries of the Nile Basin, and this while maintaining the integrity of ecosystems.

There will be 5 thematic areas:

The forum will be held in Kampala, Uganda from October 16th-18th 2023 under the theme Deepening Nile Cooperation: Accelerating the achievement of SDGs in a changing climate.

2. Thematic Area 3 description and objectives

Description of the Session on Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation

This session will:

  • highlight WMO, DRR, World Bank, IFRC and its partner’s actions and commitments for addressing water and climate related challenges in the framework of EW4ALL while identifying opportunities to implement the Africa Early Warning Action Plan in the water sector
  • reflect on the status of meteorological and hydrological observational stations in the region, leveraging on WMO initiatives like Global and Regional Observing Networks (GBON, and RBON), Hydrological Cycle Observing System (HYCOS) and data transmission from the regions, the contribution of these activities to the implementations of EW4ALL in the regions and engaging with various stakeholders and high-level government officials to accelerate the activities
  • dive into what is needed for initiatives to succeed as well as lessons learnt from case studies and past initiatives and chart a way forward.
  • discuss the progress of ongoing WMO projects in the region supporting the Member states in implementing EW4All and building climate resilience by underrating changes in water resources and climatic conditions, related hazards and the risks to communities, and the key actions necessary to enhance the access to critical information and services, that would enhance the ability of society, to respond effectively to the warnings.
  • State of climate of Uganda

The session targets all participants drawn in the NBDF. The session will also review the significant achievements accomplished by the IGAD-HYCOS project and the implementation of WMO Hydrological Observing System (WHOS), innovative solutions and HydroSOS. The session will aim to answer the following questions: a) What are the ingredients for success? b) Why do some activities kick-offs while others don’t? c) How can meaningful inclusion and diversity of stakeholders in activities be ensured and how can that contribute to success? 

Objective 

The session will provide a platform for all stakeholders within the Nile Basin and relevant organizations to discuss various priority hazards and learn about WMO initiatives and projects to mitigate them in the framework of EW4ALL. It will also provide an opportunity for advocacy on WMO strategic plans through engagement with high level government officials on different projects. Finally, the session will provide an opportunity to share lessons learnt (especially in IGAD-HYCOS Project), activities and new entry points and partnerships with various stakeholders and some innovative approaches to address the hazards at the community, national, regional and global scale.

As the African climate centre, ACMAD is working on Strengthening Climate Services User Interface Platform for water.  In this regard, ACMAD will be honored to participate in the discussion as a panelist on 17th October 2023 from 9:00 AM to 10:30 AM EAT.

The key expectations from the discussion are:

– better identify the needs of the water sector.

– plan the development of relevant climate services for the water sector.

– operationalize the water user interface and synergize the existing and new digital platforms like MyDEWETRA, HydroSOS, COPERNICUS/GLOFAS, CLIMATE STATION and Africa Drought Monitoring and Advisory system to work together towards contributing to achieving the EW4ALL initiatives.

To learn more about the Forum and register visit the Nile Basin initiative

For more information on the Thematic Session 3 read the concept note (will be added on the upcoming event material section)