Gathering and sharing information about the basin and its potential for supporting development in the region are central activities. Specifically, in a wave of the initiative launched in March 2005, the project will support basin-wide initiatives to integrate technical water resource and water use data with demographic, socio-economic, and environmental information to examine how specific policies and projected water use patterns will affect water resources in the Nile riparian countries. The project will develop surveys and case studies that are designed to shed light on the links between water management practices and rural livelihoods and food insecurity. Within this context, a basin-wide survey will be conducted to assess current and potential water use and water productivity in rain-fed and irrigated agriculture; a further case study concerns the analysis and improvement of water productivity through crop management. In implementing these activities, the project will make use of regional expertise and will provide training, where necessary, to ensure local involvement (toward future work in the region).

The initiative builds on the work of two previous related projects in the area, which focused on building common knowledge by bolstering technical, institutional, and human capacities - through (i) building common data sets; (ii) creating common scenario assessment tools; and (iii) supporting an equal level of technical expertise and institutional capacity. This work led to the establishment of a trans-boundary hydro-meteorological monitoring network and national geo-referenced databases containing hydro-meteorological and water use data, as well as information on land use, land cover, and soil type. A common water resources assessment tool has also been designed for use by all Nile basin states in assessing the trade-offs and consequences of various policy decisions, and training in legal and institutional aspects of water resources management has been conducted. Interpersonal contact has been central throughout this process; in each country, and for each new instrument, the project created a core group of trained operators who serve as trainers for their national colleagues aiming to broaden the user base and disseminate the expertise introduced. This structure is designed to facilitate seamless and rapid data exchange once the riparian countries have established mechanisms for data sharing.

Capacity building was again a theme when it came to strengthening database and geographical information system skills at the respective national departments. National and regional workshops were offered, as was dedicated training at qualified local information technology training centres. At an experimental level, the project used internet training facilities. One strategy has involved linking to the international geographical information community for new data acquisition, training, and solutions.

Technology - developed through participatory processes - was used as a tool in developing a Nile decision-support tool (Nile DST) that assesses the trade-offs and consequences of various development scenarios. Developed by the USA's Georgia Water Resources Institute, the system "is an important element of the common knowledge base and it is also essential for arriving at a univocal language for discussing water use issues." Organisers assert that participation was key to this process: "The projects organised several regional workshops in order to solicit input from decision-makers on the scope and detail of the system and to guide the future development of the Nile-DST." The Nile DST incorporates modules for river simulation and reservoir operation, agricultural planning, and watershed hydrology. The system also includes a data-querying and visualisation tool. To help residents of the basin countries learn to use it, 3 major regional training events lasting several weeks were organised. "Since returning to their home countries, the trainees have conducted national Nile DST workshops in order to broaden the user and knowledge bases."

Addressing potential conflicts spurred by the introduction of this new technology was thought to be crucial. A series of national and international workshops aimed to promote awareness of co-management issues, to discuss options for future cooperation in the Nile Basin, to strengthen national negotiation skills, and to create a common language for discussing the Nile negotiation framework. Workshop participants included lawyers and engineers, as well as other professionals and government officials involved in Nile issues.

Environment, Technology, Agriculture, Economic Development.

The 10 countries that share the Nile have an average per capita gross domestic product of US$400, far below the African average. "The Nile waters bear tremendous potential as a lever for social and economic development, but at the moment, the inability to jointly plan water development, reach agreement on equitable sharing of benefits and attract investment has delayed the use of this resource for the benefit of the people living in the Nile basin region," according to Pasquale Steduto, Chief of FAO's Water Resources, Development and Management Service.

From the FAO website: "All the basin states now have a relevant operational data unit, well equipped and well trained, that can provide essential information to decision-makers and policymakers at short notice....A comprehensive programme for data-quality control was designed and is in the process of being implemented....The ability to present data in a geographically referenced mode and to overlay them so that they become socio-economic and political information has enabled much-improved communication with stakeholders. Self-reliance was also fostered through extensive use of local institutions for training in the use of standard computer software."