NBI shifts Nile Development Forum to 2021

July 22, 2020 in Business, Policy by Editor

The sixth edition of the Nile Basin Development Forum (NBDF), has become the latest victim of Covid-19 pandemic disruptions after the organisers moved the event from October to a yet to be determined date in 2021. Also affected is the 3^rd Nile Media Awards, that were scheduled to run along the main event that was due between October 27 – 29, 2020 in the Ethiopian administrative capital Addis Ababa.

The NBDF seeks to foster cooperation a common understanding and appreciation of issues and challenges affecting the Nile Basin among a diverse range of stakeholders.

Writing in the June 2020 edition of Nile News, a monthly online publication by the Entebbe based Nile Basin Secretariat, Ms Jane Baitwa, the organisation’s Communication and stakeholder Engagement Specialist, the Nile Basin Initiative (NBI) and Ethiopia, the host country had agreed to postpone both events to 2021.

“The new date will be confirmed as soon as possible. The Organising Committee would like to sincerely thank all those who positively responded to the call for abstracts for the 6^th NBDF. On the other hand, the deadline for submission of entries for the Nile Media Awards has been extended to September 30, 2020,” Baitwa said.

She added that in the interim period, the NBI Secretariat, Ethiopia and their partners would continue to work on the detailed preparations to ensure that the events are successful when they are finally held.

Over the past six years, the Nile Basin Development Forum has grown into one of the largest science-policy dialogue gatherings in the Nile Basin region.

The forum also provides an opportunity for sharing of the latest information, knowledge and best practices as well as building partnerships among professionals in transboundary water resources management and development. The parallel Nile Media Awards aim to inspire factual and balanced reporting on Nile cooperation and Nile Basin issues.

The Covid-19 pandemic has disrupted a number of international cultural and professional events, including the Olympic games and the Farnborough International Air show that were due this month. The organisers of Farnborough have instead opted for FIA-Connect, a virtual event connecting key stakeholder universes in the show, that has been running since July20 and is due to conclude on July24.