NBI launches 19 webinars ahead of 8th Development Forum, spotlighting people, energy and innovation for shared prosperity
ENTEBBE, UGANDA — 2 October 2026 — The Nile Basin Initiative (NBI) today opened the road to the 8th Nile Basin Development Forum (NBDF8), launching a series of 19 thematic webinars exploring how research, innovation, policy and people's experiences can shape the future of the Nile Basin — from water security and hydroelectricity to climate resilience and shared development.
Compared with previous fora, Executive Director Dr Eng. Nestor Niyonzima said, this series brings people more prominently into the conversation, alongside the technical and scientific knowledge shaping the future of the Nile Basin.
Running from 2 to 16 October, the webinars will bring together researchers, academics, water professionals, policymakers, development practitioners, civil society, journalists, young people and the wider public.
The technical programme will be equally strong, with more than 90 presentations and applied case studies covering subjects ranging from remote sensing, machine learning and digital twins to hydrological modelling, hydropower operations and electricity trade. Other topics are innovative financing, wetlands and nature-based solutions, hydrometric networks, water-resource planning and community governance.
“There is a lot happening across the Nile Basin, and enormous potential across our region. Until you hear the perspectives coming from different parts of the Basin, you may not fully appreciate the breadth of the knowledge, innovation and experience that exists,” said Dr Niyonzima. “We received more than 80 abstracts from 10 Nile Basin countries and contributors elsewhere in Africa and Europe, and this series gives us an opportunity to bring that knowledge into a much wider discourse.”
NBDF8 traditionally provides a platform to bring such contributions together, encourage exchange among researchers, practitioners and policymakers, and explore how evidence and experience can inform cooperation and practical solutions for the Basin.
The series reflects the changing needs of Nile cooperation, where skills, transparent data exchange and strong institutions are increasingly important for managing shared water resources, including wetlands. It will explore how new ideas and cooperation can deliver practical results – from turning early warnings into early action and using forecasts to improve reservoir operations, to examining how shared water resources can support hydropower, electricity access and regional power trade
To support broad regional and international participation, the webinars are organised in two daily blocks: 09:00–11:00 and 14:00–16:00 East Africa Time.
From webinars to Dar es Salaam Forum
The webinar series will lead into NBDF8, which will take place in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, from 25–27 November 2026 under the theme: “Building a resilient and inclusive Nile future: investing in people, innovation and cooperation for shared prosperity.”
NBI invites participants from the Basin and beyond to register for the webinars and follow the exchange through to NBDF8 in November.
Register at www.nbdf.nilebasin.org and see the full programme and session details.
About the Nile Basin Initiative
The Nile Basin Initiative (NBI) is an intergovernmental partnership of 10 Nile Basin countries established to provide a forum for consultation and coordination among the Basin states. NBI seeks to develop the Nile Basin water resources in a cooperative manner, share substantial socioeconomic benefits and promote regional peace and security.
Media contact
Lydia Wamala
Nile Basin Initiative Secretariat
Email: lwamala@nilebasin.org
Phone: +256 758 778 037