Call for Abstracts: NBI Invites Knowledge, Evidence and Experience for 8th Nile Basin Development Forum
Entebbe, Uganda | August 2026 — Researchers, practitioners, policymakers, development partners, private sector actors, civil society organisations and youth from across the Nile Basin and beyond are invited to share their knowledge, evidence and experience at the 8th Nile Basin Development Forum (NBDF8).
The Nile Basin Initiative (NBI), in collaboration with its Member States and development and international cooperation partners, is calling for abstracts for the Forum, which will take place from 25–27 November 2026 in Dar es Salaam, United Republic of Tanzania, under the theme:
“Building a resilient and inclusive Nile future: investing in people, innovation and cooperation for shared prosperity.”
Held every three years, NBDF is the Nile Basin’s premier science–policy dialogue, bringing together evidence and decision-making and providing a platform for professionals from across the Basin and beyond to exchange knowledge, share experience and explore practical approaches to transboundary water resources management.
Investing in people, innovation and cooperation
NBDF8 comes at a critical time for the Nile Basin. Rapid population growth, increasing climate variability and growing development demands are reshaping the choices facing countries and communities across the Basin.
The Forum will focus on how investment can help build a Nile future that is both resilient and inclusive — able to withstand climatic, economic and political shocks while ensuring that the benefits of the Basin's shared water resources contribute to the wellbeing and prosperity of people across the region.
The Call for Abstracts focuses on the following three sub-themes:
- Investing in People — recognising human capability, voice, welfare, resilience and trust as essential foundations for cooperation.
- Investing in Innovation — strengthening the capacity to identify, develop, test, adapt, transfer, finance and sustain innovative approaches to managing shared Nile waters.
- Investing in Cooperation for Shared Prosperity — strengthening the political, institutional, technical and financial foundations needed for Nile countries to manage their interdependence, expand the benefits generated by the river and distribute them fairly.
Each sub-theme contains six topics, providing 18 areas of enquiry for prospective contributors. The topics are accompanied by key questions and examples of the types of contributions sought.
From abstract to webinar to Forum
NBDF8 is designed as more than a three-day conference.
Accepted abstracts will form the basis of a series of thematic webinars in October 2026, providing authors with an opportunity to present their findings to a Basin-wide audience, engage with peers and practitioners, receive feedback and strengthen their contributions ahead of the main Forum.
This approach will enable knowledge and ideas to circulate across the Basin before the November Forum, creating opportunities for dialogue and learning well beyond the conference itself.
The main Forum will be held in a hybrid format, enabling both in-person and virtual participate
Key dates
Abstract submission deadline: 14 September 2026
Thematic webinars: October 2026
NBDF8: 25–27 November 2026
Venue: Dar es Salaam, United Republic of Tanzania
NBI encourages prospective contributors from across disciplines, sectors and the Nile Basin to submit their knowledge and experience and contribute to shaping the conversation on the Basin's future.
Read the full call for abstracts, explore the 18 topics and submission requirements, and find updates on the Forum at nbdf.nilebasin.org
For enquiries on the call for abstracts, contact nileman.azza@gmail.com.
More about the Eighth Nile Basin Development Forum
https://nilebasin.org/content/nbi-launches-fifth-nile-basin-media-awards
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