Networks, Experiences and
Sustainability The Nile Basin Capacity
Building Network (NBCBN): A Transboundary knowledge
Network for water professionals
By Amel Azab
NBCBN-SEC, Cairo Egypt
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Contents • Knowledge and Capacity
Development Framework • What is a network? • Why Establishing a network for
Capacity Building? • Knowledge Management Challenges? • The Nile Basin Capacity Building
Network (As an example)
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Knowledge and Capacity Development Framework
• Main building blocks
• Individual • Organisational • Institutional and Enabling Environment • Communities and Civil Society
Sector Performance
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What is a network?
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Networks Principles Networks are purpose driven Networks are functional to
their members. The network mission, vision, and activities reflect members’ interests and these need to be bottom-up to be genuine
Networks are tools for collaboration and sharing to maximise benefits
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• Issue are complex – can’t manage alone • Synergy during implementation • Open and inclusive networks making maximum use of local expertise • Sharing information and communication
• Stops re-inventing the wheel and gives room for innovation • Accelerates implementation through good case studies
• Developing information flows + feedback • Bringing out the value of the tacit knowldge
Why Establishing a network for Capacity Building?
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Capacity & Knowledge Management Challenges “Reflecting on the Nile Basin”
• The structural lack of research-capacity in the
water sector
• Limited trust and partnership
• Little or no R&D by local experts
• The absence of an effective technical operational
co-operative framework
• No contextual on-the-job training
• The need for practical and creative solutions
• No regional water knowledge base in the Basin
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10 Focal persons from the nodes of NBCBN-RE who
contributed to Cairo Declaration, 2002
NBCBN: How Did we start ?
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Burundi University of Burundi
D.R.Congo Centre de Recherches Géologiques et Minières (CRGM)
Egypt Hydraulics Research Institute
Ethiopia Addis Ababa University
Kenya University of Nairobi
Rwanda Institute of Scientific and Technological Research (IRST)
Sudan UNESCO Chair in Water Resources
Tanzania Dar Es Salaam University
Uganda Makerere University
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Our Partners
• UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water
Education
• Cap-Net , Network of Networks
• ITC, Faculty of Geoinformation
Sceince and Earth Observation
• NBI, Nile Basin Initiative
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Networking Tools
KN
Connectivity
Collaboration
Knowledge Sharing
ICT
Cop’s
Communication
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• 6 Regional research clusters • 13 Regional research groups
Regional Cluster Research
• 9 In-country local actions Local Action Research
• 2 Integrated research groups Integrated Research
• Impact of climate change on the water resources of the Nile Basin
• Water Scarcity
Multi-Disciplinary Research
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Integrating capacity building tools and introducing regional
collaborative research in the Nile basin
Creating regional research groups and COP’s around different
research themes on both regional and local levels
More than 500 members from Nile basin with different expertise
9 established Nodes and in-country networks
6 Regional research clusters, 13 cop’s
Highly qualified core group in coordinating collaborative
regional research projects
230 active researchers in NBCBN different research themes
Organising more than 60 regional workshops and specialised
training courses linked to Research Activities
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WWW.NBCBN.COM//DOCUMENTS-CENTER/KNOWLEDGE-OUTPUTS
36 Accomplished Research Projects
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“Web-based Collaborative Platform” www.nbcbn.com
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http://nilebasin-knowledgemap.com
Nile Basin Knowledge Map
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Nile Water Science and Engineering Journal
Published since 2008
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The Way Forward… (2013-2017)
Closing the Knowledge Cycle
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In Research • Climate change impacts, adaptation and
resilience
• Ecosystems and wetlands Management
• Hydropower developement (large and mini
hydropower)
• Water scarcity
• Water supply & sanitation
• Water Quality
• Ground water development
Our focus Areas....
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In Training and Education
• Link all Nile Basin participating universities in an Edu-network
(Sub network of the NBCBN).
• Create partnerships towards Regional Water program (s) (with
connections to research clusters and local universities in the
Nile basin countries).
• Program modules (offered as short courses for network
members).
• Regular (demand driven) short courses for network members
• Linking applied research and developed case studies with
training activities.
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NBCBN Contributions to Wetlands Research & Training
• Research Project on: Hydrological and Environmental
Aspects of Wetlands in the Nile Basin phase I, 2010.
• Research Project on: Hydrological and Environmental
Aspects of Wetlands (Analytical Tools for Wetlands
Management) phase II in collaboration with TIGER CB II
Facility (ESA), 2011.
• GIS Based Decision Support Tool for Sustainable
Development of SUDD Marshes Region, 2010.
• Ecosystems in IWRM ToT programme, incollaboration with
CapNet, UNESCO-IHE and Makerere University, 2012.
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NBCBN Initiatives and follow up actions after Kigali Forum 2013 • Launch a regional cluster on ecosystem management with focus on wetlands in the Nile Basin for knowledge sharing and dissimination.
• Launch the regional research project on implementing ecosystems management tools in the Nile basin: Case studies and success stories on wetlands wise use, where the network is providing seed funds to start this activity during 2nd half of 2013 in collaboration with UNESCO-IHE and CapNet. Supporting pilot case studies from the Nile Basin on implementation of Guidelines for Sustainable Use of Inland Wetlands in collaboration with RAMSAR.
• NBCBN as a research and capcity building network in the Nile basin is willing to join and to support the activities of the WUESNA network (Wetlands Wise Use Enhanced Support Network for Africa initiated by RAMSAR)
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Thank You!
For further information Contacts (NBCBN-SEC Office, Cairo-Egypt) Dr. Amel M. Azab, Manager, NBCBN [email protected]
Auke Herrema; http://aukeherrema.nl