The Nile Basin Regional HydroMet Project, which will establish the first Regional Hydro-Met System for the Nile Basin is due to be launched on Friday November 29, 2019 in the Kenyan capital Nairobi. The Nile Basin Regional HydroMet System will address the hitherto challenge of data and information required to support cooperative development and management of the shared Nile Basin water resources thus promoting their efficient utilisation. The first phase of the project worth USD 5.5 million is funded by the European Union and German government through GIZ. The project will be implemented over a three-year period from July 2018 to July 2021.

Later in the day, Ministers in charge of Water Affairs in the Nile Basin States will meet in their 27th ordinary Nile Council of Ministers (Nile-COM) meeting. Among other things, the Ministers from Burundi, DR Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda will consider approval of the work plan and budget for the NBI Secretariat for the financial year 2019/2020.

There will also be an expected change in the top political leadership of NBI, with Burundi handing over the position of chairman of the Nile Council of Ministers to Kenya. Accordingly, Burundi’s Minister of Environment, Agriculture and Livestock, Hon. Dr. Déo-Guide Rurema will be succeeded by Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Water and Irrigation, Hon. Simon Chelugui who will hold the position for the next one year. This is in keeping with the NBI tradition of rotating the position of chairperson among the Member States, for a one year term of office.