Prof. WANGARI MAATHAI was an icon whose legacy left prints in the minds of environmentalists and tree lovers worldwide. The quote of the internationally renown Kenyan environmental political activist and Nobel laureate, Wangari Maathai was the base of the campaign for tree planting in the City of Butembo, DR Congo in October 2017.

  This was the theme of first Women’s Health Summit that took place from  11th  to 12th October, 2017 at Silver Springs Hotel Bugolobi, Kampala Uganda. The Summit attracted 260 participants drawn from individuals, groups, Health experts, community leaders, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs),

Human-elephant conflicts mostly exist where human populations and wild life share resources outside protected areas. The negative impacts of these conflicts affect both humankind and wild life. The Mara river basin has been the key link between Serengeti Ecosystem in Tanzania and Massai-Mara ecosystem in Kenya connected through annual wildlife migration. However, for a long time the communities bordering

  The newly elected Kenya National Discourse Forum (KNDF) Executive Board members have vowed to extend support to the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) initiative of banning the use and manufacture of polythene bags. In their inaugural meeting held at Perch Hotel in Kisumu, presided over by the chairperson, Rev Joe Asila, and attended by the Vice-chairperson, Ms Anne Ombewa, KNDF Secretary General Mr Laban Korelach among others. The members resolved to support the...

  The National Discourse Forum - Rwanda (NDF- Rwanda) is a pioneer member to the regional Population Health Environment Network (PHE) that is jointly supported by Lake Victoria Basin Commission and the East African Community secretariat. PHE was conceived as a mechanism to bring a positive influence on population growth, health and environmental conservation patterns by enhancing resilience of communities, helping balance environmental protection, natural resource use and human well-being.

  The Rwanda National Discourse Forum (RNDF) has benefitted from a 30 months funding programme from the Nordic Climate Facility to implement the project entitled: “Promoting sustainable Agriculture in Changing Climate in Bugesera District.” The project is expected to reach 8000 community members as beneficiaries in 7 sectors of Bugesera District.  The project is jointly implemented by RNDF in the Sectors of Juru, Rilima, Rweru and Kamabuye of Bugesera District and Rwanda Environmental...

  Ssese Islands consists of 84 islands in the north-western section of Lake Victoria. Many of the islands are uninhabited except for a few fishermen so their forests and swamps are ideal habitats for birds. The wildlife on the islands includes hippos, crocodile, waterbuck, sitatunga antelope, chimpanzees and monkeys.  Distant at a nine-hour steamer trip from Port Bell or a 45-minute ferry trip from Bukakata is one of the richest areas for flora in Eastern Africa. The forest is also sanctuary...

  Two organizations, which are members of the Uganda National Discourse Forum (UNDF), have joined the Ndejje University in the campaign for School Based Awareness on Environment & Solid Waste Management among Children & Youth in Kampala District, Uganda.  The campaign is called “Green Youths Initiative (GYI)”. The overall goal of the project is to promote youth’s engagement in maintaining green environment and waste management in Kampala District.

  Lake Victoria Management Program in Kenya (LVEMP II Kenya) has undertaken Roof Water Harvesting in 20 Government institutions, the exercise of which could be described as completed and functional. This includes complete guttering of the roof surface area and installation of 10 thousand liters capacity plastic tanks in each of the 20 institutions. The Project has plans to add more institutions in the beneficiary list. Aldai Girls Secondary School located in Ibanja Sub location, Kaptumo North...

It is almost a year now that the “Forum Burundais de la société civile du bassin du Nil” (FCBN) joined other national stakeholders to establish the National Water and Sanitation Observatory platform (OBEA). The aim to join OBEA (Observatoire Burundais Aau et Assainissement) was to address the challenges on irrational water use in the country. FCBN joined with its huge membership of 40 Civil Society Organizations and one of its members, AVEDEC (Association Villageoise d'Entraide et de...

  The world has set up targets of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to be reached by 2030 and water resources protection is among many of the targets of the resolution adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 25 September 2015.  Target 9 of Goal 3, (Ensure Healthy Lives and Promote Well-being for all at all Ages) set 2030 as the year when the substantial reduction of the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination...

  The National Discourse forum Burundi (BNDF) joined other in-country environmental protection stakeholders in training for improving climate change resilience of their communities by protecting the environment and reducing Climate change impacts. The five day training of national stakeholders on climate resilience was organized by World Vision Burundi from 22nd - 26th May, 2017. The training assessed the situation of climate change and environment protection in the country.

  From 8-18 May 2017 leading scholars, leading experts, and policy makers met in Bonny Germany to discuss on how to build bridges between sustainable development and climate change in the Interconnections Conference. In this conference the Chairperson of Tanzania National Discourse Forum, who is also the Executive Director of Governance Links - Tanzania, Mr. Donald Kasongi, underlined key institutional drivers that may bring support to the acceleration of new climate economies at...

  To some, the water hyacinth weed (Eichhornia crassipes) is a blessing. But to others, the weed is loathed and it’s a menace. The weed is one of the most sensitive environmental issues currently affecting Lake Victoria Basin and its surroundings. Lake Victoria has been the habitat of a large variety of fish species and diverse variety of medicinal plants, according to Prof. Raphael Achola Kapiyo, an Environmental Scientist at UHAI Lake Forum.  To a section of fisher-folk, water hyacinth...

The Sudan National Discourse Forum joined the Horn of Africa Regional Environment Network (HoA-REC&N) to strengthen and advocate for initiatives related to environmental conservation and natural resource management. The HoA-REC&N was established in 2006 through the support from the government of the Kingdom of the Royal Netherlands. The HoA-REN focuses on environmental concerns and sustainable development options within the Horn of Africa. The Network promotes more than 40 higher...

Centre for participatory research and development (CEPARD) and Miss Tourism Uganda are jointly campaigning for the promotion of Nile Domestic Tourism.  The month of June saw the two companies campaigning in the Greater Masaka Region beginning with Kalangala District, Ssese Islands in Lake Victoria.    CEPARD is an active member of Uganda Nile Discourse Forum (UNDF) and UNDF is membership organization that forms part of the Nile Country level institutions that form the Nile Basin Discourse...

  The representative of the Ministry of Irrigation and Water Resources recently declared that the Nile will be free of pollutants in the near future. This was declared in a meeting of the Committee on Energy and Environment in the Parliament while the MPs and committee were to discuss on the request for briefing submitted by one of the MPs on some companies and factories that get rid of theirs Industrial and Domestic waste in the River Nile from southern Aswan to the North Delta, and the...

  Egypt is among 14 countries in the North Africa and Mediterranean benefitting from an EU funded project titled “ODYSSEA - transforming Mediterranean Sea data into valuable innovative information services.” 28 partners from all over the basin are involved in the project implementation.   Despite the project is keen about the Mediterranean in Egypt, River Nile is taken as main target to set an observatory system for data collection and this part will be conducted by Arab Network for...

The National Discourse of Rwanda (NDF Rwanda) joined the Stakeholders Advisory Network Committee (SAN) established to engage non-state actors in climate finance at national regional and global levels.The NDF Rwanda participated in World Bank’s Stakeholders Advisory Network, (SAN) meeting that focused on advancing engagement of non-state actors in climate finance at the national, regional and global levels. The workshop took place in May 13 – 14, 2017 - Bonn, Germany.Mr. John Gakumba, the...

The Centre for Participatory Research and Development (CEPARD) is partnering with Kakuuto Community Development project (KACODEP) to sustain the post Kagera Trans-boundary Agro ecosystems Management Project (Kagera TAMP-FAO) outcomes.The Kagera Trans-boundary Agro ecosystems Management Project (Kagera TAMP-FAO was a 4 year (2011-2014) project, funded by Global Environmental Facility (GEF) through FAO Uganda. The project was implemented in 4 East African countries i.e. Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi...

The National Discourse Forum Rwanda conducted baseline survey in eight sectors of Bugesera District to provide information at the sector community level about some basic indicators of improved fruit tree coverage, buffer zone management, irrigation practices, land management, pest management, climate change adaptation, natural resource management, climate change awareness, information networks for weather and agricultural information which can be compared across target sectors and monitored...

The DR Congo National Discourse Forum (DRCNDF) has, in April and May 2017, trained 55 representatives of members from Butembo and Beni on how to elaborate community development projects and social development activities s considering the Climate Change Risks. The workshops were organized by DRC NDF under sponsorship of World Wild Fund.With the support of Mr. Kasolene Jean Claude Kyungu the NBD in-country Climate Change Expert, participants learnt how to use the participative evaluation of...

The Nile Water resources Atlas classifies the Albert Nile Sub-basin is one of the sub basins that form the main Nile basin. The Lakes Edward and George make the DR Congo the major contributor of the Albert Nile sub basin mainly due to the fact that Semuliki River, which originates from DR Congo  is the largest contributor to these Lakes.   Most of the tributaries of the above lakes originate from hills and swamps of Butembo and Virunga National Park. The area is rich in ecosystem resources...

Majanji and Maduwa fishing villages are one of the remotest fishing villages in Busia District located within Lake Victoria Basin at the eastern border of Uganda and Kenya, which is also considered as a trans-boundary area where Sio - Malaba - Malakisi River flows into Lake Victoria. In this area where women represent over 50% of total inhabitants of the district, lack of ecological and sanitation facilities have been challenging the community, most especially women who are involved in fishing...

Population pressure on water and resources management has become the interlocking issue on Lake Victoria. During the consultations carried out by Tanzania National Doscourse Forum (TNDF) with communities around Lake Victoria, it was evident that growth of population will cause depletion of natural resources, non communicable disease, and degradation of environment.The consultations were conducted in 2016 by TNDF in partnership with Institute of Resource Assessment of University of Dar- es-...

The Chairperson of Sudan National Discourse Forum (SNDF), Dr. Nadir Mohamed AWAD confirmed the positive perception of Sudanese community   on the Nile and encouraged Local Discourse Forums for better success in future. SNDF has greatly achieved community mobilization and awareness creation in collaboration with its members.He said that the unique geographical structure of Local Discourse Forums justifies the need of empowerment of their manpower to achieve SNDF goals. “They need   capacity...

The Burundi National Discourse Forum (BNDF)’s visibility continues to generate outcome due to its closeness and advocacy for the community and projects in the country. The national forum which is member of the Nile Basin Discourse recorded major achievements in favor of the community as said Mr. Edimond Dieudonné HAKIZIMANA, the National Board Chairperson.Most activities include the project on the protection of the Natural Forest reserve of Bururi. The IUCN financed project saw Burundi NDF...

The Rwanda National Discourse Forum (RNDF) with its diverse community based activities and its large scale network   of members across the country led to visibility in the country.The Chairperson of RNDF, Mr.Jean Baptiste HABIYAREMYE stresses that RNDF structure and advocacy for member organizations increased their visibility in the country. In 2015, RNDF in collaboration with its member, Rwanda Environmental Conservation Organization (RECOR), implemented the Community Based Climate Change...

Kenya National Discourse Forum (KNDF)’s presence at grassroots community level in Kisumu continues to help the community in alleviating poverty by initiating projects and initiatives that improve community livelihoods.Two community organizations that are members of KNDF in Kisumu took the lead in helping the community to venture into money generating projects such as beekeeping and water and sanitation.In Vihiga County, the Vihiga Community Development Organization (VCDO), promotes  ...

Water experts and representatives of civil society in Nile Basin countries stressed the need for cooperation among the basin countries to develop and raise the efficiency of workers in the field of River Nile protection through to engage in casual joint ventures of the border through which to communicate and exchange information and experiences to achieve sustainable development of water resources in all the Nile Basin countries.