The two day workshop organized last May, 2013, by the Nile Basin Initiative (NBI) and GWP Eastern Africa was held at NBI secretariat in Entebbe, Uganda. It aimed at discussing ‘the role of the private sector in addressing the climate change and its Impacts on key socio-economic sectors in the Nile Basin.”
GWP Eastern Africa’s Regional Coordinator, Patrick Safari briefed participants about the relevancy and rationale for changing behavior by Private Sector actors. He urged participants to use ‘no regret investment approach’ to doing businesses.
He added, such behavior will drive towards water security and climate resilience in climate vulnerable regions of the Basin Nile. Recent findings have noted that the Nile Basin has the most rapidly growing population in the world, projected to increase within one generation by over 60% from 201 million in 2005 to 336 million by 2030.
“There is no more denying that climate change is real. We are therefore left with no option but develop appropriate climate change adaptation measures such as change behaviors, and take the no regret actions,” GWP Eastern Africa Regional Coordinator noted.
Opening the workshop, the Executive Director of the NB, Engeneer Teferra Beyene, emphasized the need for “devising effective basin-wide adaptation and mitigation strategies” to ensure sustainable livelihoods ranging from small farm-holders to big factory owners and city developers.
Noting the importance of collective understanding of what climate change is, its impact, NBI Executive Secretary added that the workshop is expected to deliberate how Private Sector can partner with Nile Basin Initiative and GWP Eastern Africa to effectively “adapt to anticipate adverse climate change impacts and the way forward.”
The workshop is facilitated by the SIDA-UNEDP funded project termed “Adapting to Climate Change induced Water Stress in the Nile River Basin.”
Climate change: key challenges
Climate change is a serious threat with potential for negatively impacting businesses of the private sector and the socio-economic development in the Nile Basin Region.
The Nile Basin Region countries continually face persistent rising temperatures, rainfall variations and consequently increasing foreseeable life-threats such as water, food insecurity, oceanic and marine system disruptions and increased hydro-based conflicts in drier regions of the basin.
“Climate change poses serious business risks and opportunities; private sector needs to acknowledge that there is a climate change risk, then move towards turning the risks into opportunities—the routine business of private sector is managing the risks […]” Dr. AbdulKarim Seid, Head of Water Resources Management at Nile Basin Initiative emphasized.
Private sector participation
To galvanize effective participation of the private sector in climate change adaptation mechanisms, the private sector operators called for increased incentives for investments in climate-resilient and water secure projects, targeted financing and harmonization of instruments such as policies and standards amongst River Nile riparian countries.
“More needs to be done in areas of incentivizing investments in climate friendly and water secure areas,” Wanjiku Manyara, General Manager from Petroleum Institute of East Africa recommended.
Commendable way forward
Using documentary video, presentations, Focus-Group Discussions, participants from Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Sudan, South Sudan, Egypt among others were challenged to creatively think and work towards: sustainable management of water resources and behavior change through no regret investments and continually advocate for eco-friendly policies and regulations.