📌 Ethiopia National Discourse Forum at a Glance
Introduction:
Ethiopia National Discourse Forum (Ethiopia NDF) is a network of civil society organizations (CSOs) and Non-governmental Organizations in Ethiopia committed to promoting civil society and basin community participation and active engagement in the development and sustainable utilization of the Nile water resources.
The NDF is convinced that the time has come to redress injustice through a collaborative effort between government, civil society and the international development community. In this regard, it recognizes the enormous opportunities created by the new vision of the Nile basin countries towards a shared and sustainable utilization of the Nile water resources, through the Nile Basin Initiative (NBI). Eth-NDF believes that the effective participation of the Ethiopian civil society and the grass root basin communities in the policy making and development process of this huge water resource is of crucial importance to the realization of the NBI vision and programs.
Objectives:
The main objective of the Forum is to promote dialogue on sustainable, equitable development, peace and mutual understanding on issues of the Nile Basin. The specific objectives:- To promote the process of dialogue on the developments of the Nile Basin.
- To provide and facilitate fora for exchange of information concerning developments and activities within the Nile Basin.
- To establish and maintain an information centre that will facilitate the sustainable utilization and management of the Nile Basin resources.
- To promote and support research on issues on the Nile Basin which are relevant to the Nile Basin Region.
- To support other initiatives in the Nile Basin that aim at the promotion of peace and conflict resolution.
- Promote the sustainable use and equitable distribution of the Nile Basin resources and which take into account, economic, environmental and gender issues.
Strategic Direction:
In relation to the NBD five-year strategy for the period 2023 - 2027 "Share and Shared, empowered and inclusive action across the Nile Basin river", the NDF will align its programs & projects within the scope of the NBD strategic objectives:- Inclusivity and Cooperation; The Strategy 2023-2027 is based on the universal SDGs and the Africa Agenda 2063, and therefore responds to the different targets of the agendas.
- Increased Linkage and Influence of Stakeholders to Government and Inter-Governmental Structures for Basin-wide Projects and Programs
- Influencing trans-boundary Dialogues and Actions for the sharing of the Nile Water resources.
- Influencing policy development, planning and Aqua Awareness for equitable utilization and sustainable incremental management of the Nile Basin resources.
- Expanding and strengthening a diverse NBD membership base.
- Pursuing Diversity of/for Institutional and Financial Sustainability.
NDF Contacts:
Contact Person:Ms. Aynalem Ashebir
NDF Board Chairperson
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Phone: Office +251114654609; Mob. +251911225682
Physical Address:
Debrezeit Road, Behind Global Hotel, Agri Service Ethiopia Compound.
P.O. Box 2460, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
📌 Ethiopia NDF Leadership
Ethiopia National Discourse Forum Board
Ms. Aynalem Asheber
NDF Board Chairperson
NBD Regional Board Chairperson
← →
Dr. Tesfanesh Belay
NDF Board Vice Chairperson
← →
Mr. Afework Hailu
NDF Board Member
← →
Mr. Tekelaregay Jirane
NDF Board Member
← →
Dr Moges Shiferaw
NDF Board Member
← →
Mr. Tamiru Sebsibie
NDF Board Member
← →
Temesgen Wondifraw
NDF Board Member
← →
NDF Staff
Mr. Michael John Hartley
NDF Coordinator
← →
Ms. Tsion Demisse
NDF Intern
← →
📌 Projects and Programes
Projects and Programes
The Ethiopian NDF has recently engaged in the following areas:- Public awareness raising on IWRM, impacts of climate change on water, and on the benefits of Nile cooperation to Ethiopia. Capacity building program benefit member CSOs, Community Based Organisations, Government, Youths, Women and other stakeholders.
- Assessment, Research and dissemination for policy informing and system development on the benefits of Nile cooperation, impacts of climate change, flash flood and Agriculture droughts.
- Establishment of Nile Women Network and capacity building.
- Information exchange and sharing on the management of shared water resources in general and the Nile water resources in particular.
- Partnership and networking with local, national and international actors in the Nile.
Most Recent Projects implemented:
- Nile Civil Society for Climate Resilience (NCSCR)
The project will run from April 2025 to March 2027. The purpose/development objective of this project is to promote civil society participation in advancing cooperation in the management and development of transboundary waters in the Nile Basin.- Community Awareness and Training on Approaches to Adapt to and Mitigate Climate Change, Including Through Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) was Organized for EthNDF member CSOs and NGOs, Community Based Organizations (CBOs) and selected CSOs, local communities (environmental champions)
- Implemented the Internship program through the recruitment of young graduates to get work experience on Nile Basin Discourse activities focusing on Cooperation, field work, Water resource development, environment protection, citizen science, data collection, assessment, community and stakeholder participation on watershed management.
- EthNDF successfully organised the 2025 Annual General Assembly Meeting that discussed and approved its 2025 annual report and 2026 Annual plan including the financial report and budget.
- EthNDF Board Members were trained to enhance their knowledge on governance, leadership, resource mobilisation, networking, stakeholder management and overall organisational development.
- Nile Day Celebration 2025
Ethiopia NDF in collaboration with Regional NBD and the Ministry Water and Energy mobilized its 20 CSO members to participate in the 19 Regional Nile Day Celebration with theme "Strengthening Nile Cooperation for Climate Resilience and Shared Prosperity". The celebration was held on February 22, 2025, at Ethiopian Science Museum Conference Hall Addis Ababa Ethiopia. The event was organized by the leadership of Ministry of Water and Energy in partnership with the Nile Basin Initiative. - The Nile Cooperation for Climate Resilience (NCCR) Project
The project was a 5 years’ project (March 2021 – November 2025) funded by Cooperation for International Waters in Africa (CIWA), a Trust Fund, Administered by the World Bank. The Project development objective was to improve mechanisms for cooperation on water resources management and development in the Nile Basin. Awareness raising and capacity building to establish, strengthen & sustain Ethiopia national Nile women’s networks in the Nile Basin Countries was implemented.- Training on Climate Resilient Social Entrepreneurial Pathways for overcoming poverty and sustaining functionality of the Networks was organised for Ethiopia Nile Women Network members.
- Support the data and assessment of flood situation and agriculture drought which is expected to enhance flood forecast models for the Nile Basin region, joint development of Basin-wide drought monitoring and forecasting models, information dissemination platforms, and capacity building for flood risk mitigation investment planning.
