DEVELOPMENT OF THE COUNTRY DRIVEN MULTI-SECTOR BASIN-WIDE NEL INVESTMENT PROGRAM (NELIP) TAKING SHAPE

In order to ensure country driven multi-sector and basin-wide approach to multipurpose infrastructure projects in the Nile River basin, NELSAP/NBI is coordinating Nile basin member countries to design, structure and package in-country and trans-boundary priority investment projects under the Nile Equatorial Lakes Investment Program (NELIP). The projects cover sectors including hydropower, fisheries, irrigation, power interconnection and watershed management. NELIP will champion investments from studies already undertaken by NELSAP and also projects introduced by the member countries. The selected package of projects are those that will have the greatest benefit to the water, food, energy and environment sectors, improve rural livelihoods while having the least impact on the natural flow of the Nile River, including reducing sedimentation.

NELIP recognizes that all Nile Equatorial Lakes (NEL) riparian countries have investment plans which tap the potential of the River Nile to accelerate poverty alleviation and boost economic growth. Coordinated management of these investment will ensure countries reap the most from multi-country infrastructure, reduce political tensions, promote efficient use of common water resource and encourage regional cohesion. Key indicators of NELIP success will be number of households connected to electricity supply, amount of food produced annually, amount of sediment loading in kilograms in waterways and water bodies, percentage of economic growth and number of rural communities living above the poverty line.

NELIP Background: The NELIP process begun when NELSAP carried out a NEL Multi-sector Investment Opportunity Analysis (MSIOA) which developed a NEL regional water investment strategy. Based on that, a NELIP Concept Paper was developed and approved by the NEL Council of Ministers in 2017. In 2018 NELSAP brought together in Nairobi, high level multi sector stakeholders from nine NEL countries including Permanent Secretaries and Undersecretaries responsible for water, irrigation, energy, fisheries, finance and planning. The stakeholders came up with 124 priority projects that are being screened, together with the countries, in order to come up with shortlist of best investment options that will form the first five year phase of the NELIP. Implementation will be monitored through NEL regional program impact monitoring framework.

The NELIP Proposal Development Road-Map