This Strategy for the management of environmental flows in the Nile basin is a multilateral document aiming to implement the environmental flows management approach in the basin developed by the Nile Basin Initiative (NBI). Environmental flows (quantity, quality, and timing of water flow required to sustain freshwater and estuarine ecosystems and the human livelihoods and wellbeing that depend on these ecosystems) are essential for the maintenance of biodiversity and ecosystem services provided by the river. Flow alterations can result in habitat changes that may lead to changes in the diversity of aquatic ecosystems and the ecosystem services they provide. Consequently, the overarching goal of this Strategy is (i) to facilitate and develop a culture of incorporation of collaborative, best practice e-flow management into the water resource planning, management, and policies of the countries who share the Nile Basin (short term) to ultimately result in the establishment of an integrated, basin-scale E-flows management system (long term); (ii) to develop capacity in member states and build a body of knowledge on environmental flow processes through gradual piloting on specific cases in the Nile Basin; (iii) to support NBI member countries in responding to international conventions and agreements through which they have committed to addressing the health of their freshwater systems and specifically environmental flows. NBI has developed an environmental flows management framework to suit the Nile Basin context by incorporating current global best practices and principles into an adaptable but scientifically valid Nile environmental flows management framework consisting of seven phases. To achieve the overall goal of the Strategy, the document identifies the following 5 Strategic Objectives (1) develop an e-flows management framework appropriate for the Nile Basin; (2) build capacity and awareness amongst national technical staff and policymakers; (3) support establishment of enabling national policy environments for e-flow management; (4) increase the number of environmental flow assessments carried out in the Nile Basin; (5) develop a regional e-flow knowledge management, quality assurance and support function at NBI. The principle implementation mechanism of this Strategy is the mainstreaming of identified strategic actions into the relevant work programs and action plans at national, sub-regional, and basin-wide levels.
2016-07-01