We are alarmed at what can be termed as the "Bujagali Dam experience" that
demonstrates the needed intervention by active local NGOs as NAPE with
the support of international NGOs like International
Rivers Netwrok and regional NGOs like the Nile
Basin Society which is unfortunately met with rersistance in the
form of denying financial support to attend.
The Nile Basin Society supports the NBI, however we see the need to
ensure inclusive involvement of all civil society and the media in
the process as equal effective partners with full access to information
and the ability to investiagate the proposed projects as well as the
alternatives to ensure sustainability with its three pillars (social,
environmental and economic impacts).
In our believe, this needs:
guarantees from the Nile Basin countries,the NBI, and the international
organizations supporting/sponsoring NBI (World Bank, IUCN, CIDA,
UNDP and - to a lesser extent - FAO), not to interfere with/control
the NGO involvement,
constitutional changes in the Nile Basin countries regarding the
freedoms of expression, association and access to information in
addition to free media.
Papers:
The following papers were presented at the session. They are available
for download.
