The Nile Basin Discourse (NBD) is a unique network of civil society organizations established to transform the principles of participation from usual business to effective participation on the Nile Cooperation programmes and processes. NBD secretariat is based in Entebbe, Uganda. The national members are the National Discourse Forums in the ten riparian states (Burundi, DRC, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda) with different NBD Country Programmes. NBD also works regionally and internationally to change policy and practice and ensure that issues of Nile Cooperation and Development are brought to fore and play a vital role in reducing poverty in the Nile Basin.

Nile Basin Discourse’s (NBD) vision is of a Nile Basin where there is sustainable social and economic development for all peoples of the Nile Basin, free of conflict, leading to achievement of justice, human rights, good governance, poverty eradication and protection of the environment. NBD’s vision is to ensure that a fully informed and basin-wide civil society develops and plays a key role in achieving the vision, through pro-active and critical influencing of projects, programmes and policies of the Nile Basin Initiative and other development processes. The NBD is established to influence the policies, programmes and decision making processes within the Nile Basin.

The broad objectives of NBD include:

To bring together similar organizations which promote dialogue on sustainable, equitable and responsible development, peace, human rights, good governance and mutual understanding on issues of Nile Basin between all stakeholders;

To improve the information and knowledge environment in the basin in such a way that the civil society can become better informed about current and future developments;

To assist/support/facilitate civil society in building capacity to act on greater knowledge in order to influence development processes under the NBI and other initiatives;

To ensure that the NBD becomes a sustainable and dynamic network of civil society organization which continue to develop knowledge and capacity to influence the NBI and other development initiatives in a sustainable and equitable manner over time

To enhance partnership with other relevant stakeholders in the development of the Nile Basin;

Any other or further objective that will help in furthering the above

The NBD Core Values are:

Support initiatives for sustainable integrated river basin management at all levels for livelihood improvement & development in the basin.

Influence policy development for equitable utilization and sustainable management of the Nile basin resources.

Improve communication, knowledge and information management among civil society organizations in the Nile basin to strengthen civil society perspectives in development processes.

Develop organizational capacity for a functional, efficient, effective and dynamic NBD.

NBD Associate Application form and Membership Lists for all its registered members through their respective NDFs  can be accessed through this link Membership Lists

Membership Categories

The NBD membership categories are as follows;

Full Members these are national Nile Discourse Forums (NDFs) formed within the ten riparian countries. Only one NDF may be accredited for each country. Full members shall have all the benefits of being members of the Organization.

Associate Members are Non-governmental organizations or civil society organizations which are not NDFs and who shall apply based on their interest in NBD objectives and their work in the Nile Basin. An Associate member shall have speaking rights but shall not have voting rights or the right to be nominated to office. An associate member shall each authorize one individual to represent them at meetings and must notify the secretary of the NBD in writing the identity of its current representative. Such a representative member shall not be eligible to become a member of the NBD in his or her own right.

Honorary Member is such persons of high integrity and standing in society whom the Board considers may be of value to the Organization.

Membership Criteria for Associate Members

Non-governmental organizations or civil society organizations wishing to join the Network as Full Members must meet the following criteria.

Commitment to conform to the vision, mission, objectives and core values of the Organization

Potential to contribute to the activities of the Organization

Evidence of establishment of a legal entity / registration as a civil society organization

Proof of continued compliance with laws governing their operations

Proof of physical and postal addresses of the applicant

Compliance Requirements

Members must agree to comply with the following requirements of membership;

Member organizations must be prepared to work within NBD’s constitution and to abide by its policies and procedures

Member organizations must be prepared to comply with NBD’s 4 core values.
Member organizations must not have an intention to break any criminal or civil law or to commit any act that may bring the Network into disrepute

Once accepted into the Network, member organizations must ensure that they

Accept decisions of the NBD Board and the NBD General Assembly as binding;

Do not misrepresent the Network or bring the Network into disrepute.

Represent the views of their organization and/or their service users not their personal opinions (or declare the fact that they wish to express a personal point of view).

Only represent the Network’s opinion on issues once they have been agreed or determined.

What does being a Member mean?

As a registered NGO, the NBD Network is duty bound to promote a membership scheme and to encourage members to join the organization. Associate members would also be eligible for election onto the National Discourse Forum (NDF) Board in accordance to the NDF constitution and regulations.

Membership Benefits

Being part of an independent civil society Network and brand representing Nile Cooperation issues in the Nile Basin and recognized as such by the public sector.

Having access to infrastructure and capacity building support for smaller organizations.

Having access to timely policy and news briefings on Nile Cooperation issues

Having access to information and advice;

Having access to free publicity on the Network’s website;

Publication in a Directory of member organizations and free publicity on the website

Having access to peer group support and the opportunity to raise issues and express views.

The opportunity to consult with public sector organizations and statutory service providers

The opportunity to influence their policies, procedures and decision making and the opportunity to work in partnership on commissioning and tendering

Full members through their individual representatives shall;

Have the right to vote and be voted for as an office bearer.

Have the right to attend and participate fully in the activities and meetings of NBD

Have the right to access information in the possession of NBD and the right to have their activities posted on the NBD website.

Have the right to participate in the election of officers of the NBD, and the right to use the NBD logo.

Have access to NBD programme funds, benefit from the capacity building programmes of NBD, and have the right to attend and participate in all activities of NBD.

Application Procedure for Associate Membership

Application for Associate Membership shall be in writing using a format provided by the NBD Board.

Applications for Associate Members shall be sent through the NBD secretariat and must meet the requirements or qualifications for Associate Membership.

The NBD Board shall approve applications for associate membership and communicate its decisions to the General Assembly.

The NBD Board may only refuse an application for membership if, acting reasonably and properly, they consider it to be in the best interests of the NBD to refuse the application.

The NBD Board must inform the applicant in writing of the reasons for the refusal within twenty-one days of the decision

The NBD Board must consider any written representations the applicant may make about the decision; the Board’s decision following any written representations must be notified to the applicant in writing but shall be final.

Membership is not transferable and the General Assembly shall determine the fees payable by each category of members.

Membership Obligations

All members shall be obliged to:

Fully abide by the provisions of the NBD constitution.

Identify and promote activities and potential areas of co-operation with the various stakeholders within the Nile Basin region.

Monitor the implementation of the activities of NBD.

Disseminate information about the activities of their organizations amongst the members of NBD, and endeavor to participate in the activities of NBD.

Cessation of Membership

A members shall cease to be a member if;

The member resigns, in writing, from membership by producing a Resolution to that effect passed by a duly constituted General Assembly of the NDF approving such resignation

The NBD Board recommends, giving reasons for doing so, that the activities of the member contravene the objectives and principles of the NBD and that therefore the continued retention of the member is detrimental to the interests of NBD

The member fails to comply with the legal obligations that govern its operations and that of NBD, and a member organization ceases to exist.

A member whose membership has been terminated shall have a right to appeal to the General Assembly for reinstatement. The decision of the General Assembly as to whether to reinstate a member or the terms of such reinstatement shall be final.

Membership Application

Organizations and groups will need to complete an application form in order to join the NBD Network. The application is available in a range of formats to ensure that no-one is excluded from applying. Support to complete the form is also available on request at all the NDF Offices and the NBD secretariat office.

A register of members' names and address will be kept by NBD but may need to be made available to the National Board for Non-Governmental Organizations in Uganda or to NBD funders upon request. Otherwise, members' details will be treated as private and confidential and used for membership purposes only.