Executive Summary
The Eastern Nile Subsidiary Action Program (ENSAP), managed by the Eastern Nile Technical Regional Office (ENTRO), demonstrated significant progress during the fiscal year July 2024 to June 2025. The program, which aims to develop the water resources of the Eastern Nile sustainably and equitably to reduce poverty and enhance prosperity, security, and peace, achieved an impressive overall physical implementation rate of 90%. Most thematic areas within ENSAP exceeded 95% completion of their planned activities, with the Internship Program being a notable success, achieving 100% completion.
Key milestones and accomplishments were achieved across various sectors. In Dam Safety and Cascade Dams, Basin-wide Dam Safety Reference Guidelines were completed and endorsed. Progress was also made on establishing a Dam Safety Training Center, which included developing its institutional framework and training modules, as well as conducting pilot training sessions. Additionally, the draft of the Eastern Nile Design Flood Guideline was completed. For Food Security and Irrigation, the Water-Smart Irrigation Study in the Nile Basin was successfully completed, followed by a validation workshop, and the final diagnostic assessment report and guidelines were also finalized.
Significant advancement was made in Flood and Drought Management, where the Flood Risk Mitigation project progressed with the enhancement of the EN-FFEWS system, now operational at 35 forecast locations. Flood hazard and vulnerability maps were finalized for 16 flood-prone areas, and the Nile DEWS dashboard was fully developed and completed. Regarding Regional Climate Resilience, the Regional Climate Resilience Project (RCRP) saw key steps taken for Flood Risk Mapping in select areas of the Baro-Akobo-Sobat (BAS) basin, including the finalization of Terms of Reference, selection of a qualified firm, and the conducting of stakeholder consultations and an inception workshop. Finally, Capacity Building and Stakeholder Engagement efforts were robust, with a total of 26 events, including workshops, trainings, and consultation meetings, engaging 755 participants (602 male, 183 female). Furthermore, three internship programs (the 9th, 10th, and 11th batches) were successfully implemented, focusing on critical areas such as flood forecasting, drought assessment, and land use change analysis.
In terms of financial performance, the total approved budget for the reporting year was USD 6,065,895. Of this amount, USD 4,338,914 was utilized, which corresponds to 72% of the annual budget. This financial utilization rate reflects a steady implementation of planned activities across most thematic areas. The Regional Climate Resilience Project (RCRP) was an exception, showing a lower expenditure of 24% due to its later start date.
The implementation of ENSAP activities faced several major challenges during the year. Security instability in Sudan, South Sudan, and parts of Ethiopia caused delays in some planned activities; however, in collaboration with national stakeholders, all planned activities were ultimately conducted. Additionally, lengthy procurement procedures and contract negotiations with consultants impacted project timelines. Another significant challenge is the risk posed to the long-term sustainability of completed interventions due to a shortage of ongoing budget support.
A key lesson learned from the reporting period is the high value of the studies and reports produced under ENSAP, which serve as crucial references for preparing future investment projects. Based on the year's experiences, several recommendations are put forward. It is recommended to enhance communication by increasing efforts in awareness creation to better disseminate ENTRO's products and their benefits. Furthermore, it is recommended to continue strengthening the capacity of the Knowledge Management unit to better support program activities and the effective dissemination of knowledge.
