Project Showcase

The VICMED initiative proposes an integrated navigation and multimodal transport corridor from Lake Victoria to the Mediterranean Sea. It is intended to connect Nile Basin countries through river, lake and supporting land-transport infrastructure and to improve access for landlocked countries to international ports and markets. The project's expected benefits include lower-cost movement of goods, improved regional trade and tourism, employment creation and stronger economic integration. It also requires careful assessment of water-resource, environmental, social, navigational and institutional implications across a large transboundary basin. The prefeasibility study, which involved consultation with the footprint countries, was completed in 2015 and approved in 2017 by the 3rd Steering Committee for VICMED. The feasibility study Phase 1 was completed in July 2019 and was funded through a US$650,000 grant from AfDB. It involved the development of an institutional and legal framework for VICMED and conducting a training needs assessment. It also involved preparing the terms of reference for Feasibility Study Phase 2 and carrying out training for countries on inland water transport, which took place in February.

The first stage will connect Egypt and Sudan along the Cairo-Cape Town road corridor through two high-voltage circuits. The PP2 concept considers 1,000 kV HVDC or a combination of 800 kV alternating-current and direct-current solutions, subject to technical and economic feasibility studies. The preparation programme is intended to bring the project to international financial-institution standards and establish the technical, environmental, social, economic, procurement and financing basis for a future investment. The interconnector is expected initially to facilitate transfer of surplus Egyptian power to Sudan and, over time, support stronger links among the Eastern Africa Power Pool, Southern African Power Pool and wider continental market. The project must remain separate from the existing lower-capacity Egypt-Sudan connection. The MCDF grant is project-preparation finance and does not constitute financing of the main transmission works.

The project will develop a cross-border high-voltage alternating-current transmission line from Guba in Ethiopia to Khartoum in Sudan. It is one of the interconnections proposed under the Eastern Africa Green Power Transmission Network linking countries in the Horn of Africa and integrating them into the Eastern Africa Power Pool. The approved PAP II technical concept provides a transfer capacity of approximately 3,000 MW and will enable participating countries to exchange lower-cost renewable electricity through a larger regional market. Verified implementation and technical context: The EAPP assignment requires the updated ESIA to cover transmission lines, substations, ancillary facilities and all linked activities, and to comply with the legal requirements of Ethiopia and Sudan and the World Bank Environmental and Social Framework. The required outputs include updated baseline and impact analysis, an environmental and social management plan, cumulative-impact assessment, resettlement planning, stakeholder engagement, indigenous-peoples planning and gender measures. The proposed line is a second interconnection and must not be confused with the existing Ethiopia-Sudan link. The investment is also affected by the current institutional and security environment in Sudan.

Construction of a 500kV high voltage transmission line and associated Substation or Converter station that connects the power networks of Egypt and Sudan to facilitate trading in electricity and promote power systems stability. The project comprises the update of project studies.

This project concerns the Sudan section of a high-voltage Ethiopia-Sudan power interconnection designed to move power from Ethiopia into Sudan and strengthen the Eastern Africa Power Pool. The existing database record describes a 500 kV transmission line ending near Khartoum, with new or upgraded high-voltage substation facilities at Rabak and Jebel Aulia in Sudan and bay extensions linked to the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance area and Sudanese network nodes.The project has an important history. Ethiopia and Sudan already implemented an earlier interconnector, which the Nile Basin Initiative documents as commissioned around 2010-2013 and used to support regional power trade. That earlier success provides a technical and institutional basis for the larger 500 kV scheme, but it does not by itself validate the very high CAPEX currently stored against this record.Validation note: external sources confirm the strategic rationale and earlier Ethiopia-Sudan interconnection history, but I did not find a reliable external source confirming the current capex_cost value of 48,494 in USD million. The financial fields should therefore remain under owner validation before being used in investment material.Sources reviewed: World Bank, Regional Eastern Nile - Ethiopia-Sudan Power System Interconnector Project, https://documents.worldbank.org/en/publication/documents-reports/documentdetail/935901468201843498; Nile Basin Initiative, Ethiopia-Sudan interconnection success story, https://nilebasin.org/sites/default/files/2023-09/Ethiopia-Sudan%2520interconnection%2520success%2520story.pdf.

The Ethiopia-Sudan Power System Interconnection Project (Grand Renaissance-New Rabak, New Jabel Awelya) connects power generated by Ethiopia's Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), via Assosa, to new substations at Rabak and Jebel Aulia near Khartoum in Sudan. The Ethiopia-Sudan Power System Interconnection Project involves constructing a 590 km, 500 kV high-voltage transmission line linking Ethiopia's Grand Renaissance Dam (GERD) with Sudan's power grid, terminating at new substations in Rabak and Jebel Aulia near Khartoum. This interconnector is designed to facilitate the export of clean hydropower from Ethiopia's GERD, with a generation capacity of 5,150 MW, to Sudan, enabling Sudan to reduce reliance on thermal power and lower greenhouse gas emissions. The project includes upgrading substations at GERD, Rabak, and Jebel Aulia, and aims to improve power supply reliability and meet peak demand variability between the two countries. It is a key component of the Eastern Nile Power System and the continental PIDA program, promoting.

The project is intended to provide a paved regional road from El Fasher through Kabkabiya and El Geneina to Adri at the Chad border. It covers about 328 km of new construction and 21 km of upgrading, giving an overall planned length of approximately 349 km. The road would improve access across Darfur, strengthen Sudan-Chad connectivity, reduce travel costs and isolation and support trade, humanitarian access and regional integration. The PAP II financial baseline is USD 262.4 million in CAPEX. The project remains active in the PAP II portfolio, but the current conflict and institutional environment in Darfur mean that anticipated schedules or general road activity cannot be treated as progress on this specific corridor. No construction-stage claim is made.

The South Sudan (Renk) - South Sudan (Malakal) 220 kV High Voltage Power Transmission Interconnector project is located in the Upper Nile region, connecting the town of Renk in South Sudan border with Sudan to Malakal in South Sudan. The South Sudan (Renk) - South Sudan (Malakal) 220 kV High Voltage Power Transmission Interconnector project involves the construction of a 220 kV transmission line approximately 320 km long, connecting the town of Renk in Sudan to Malakal in South Sudan. This interconnection aims to facilitate the import of up to 140 MW of electricity from Sudan to South Sudan, addressing the latter's critical power supply shortages and enhancing regional energy security. The project includes the development of associated substations and distribution infrastructure in South Sudan's Upper Nile State to improve electricity access and reliability for local communities. It forms part of the Nile Basin Initiative's efforts to promote regional power trade and integration within the Eastern Africa Power Pool framework, supporting socio-economic development and stability in the border regions.

Construction of a 500kV high voltage transmission line and associated Substation or Converter station that connects the power networks of Egypt and Sudan to facilitate trading in electricity and promote power systems stability. The project comprises the update of project studies.

The project proposes construction of approximately 128.3 km of paved road from Rihaid El Birdi in Sudan to Om Dafug at the Central African Republic border. It would improve a remote cross-border connection and facilitate movement of people, goods and services. The road is intended to reduce transport costs and isolation, improve regional trade and access and strengthen Sudan–Central African Republic connectivity. The PAP II financial baseline is USD 102.64 million in CAPEX. The previously stored total of 200,000,000 was incompatible with the database’s USD-million convention and also differed materially from the approved baseline. Preparation and operation costs remain NULL. The existing length value of 128 metres is corrected to 128,300 metres, equivalent to 128.3 km. Achieved length remains NULL because no completed works are verified. The project retains S2B as the last verified milestone; current conflict and limited owner reporting do not support a later stage.

Wad Meskin barrage across Rahad River has been planned to regulate the flood flows during rainy season, for Dinder and Rahad rivers so as to satisfy the needs of Rahad Project Phase I, through Abu Rakham barrage as a downstream regulator, and to divert water to Rahad Project Phase II for summer crops through a main canal. This same barrage would regulate water transported from the Roseires Dam, after the heightening project completion, with the link canal through Dinder River barrage to the project. It lies between Hawata town and Wad Meskin on the eastern side of the seasonal Rahad river. The defunct railway line from Khartoum to Gadarif then Port Sudan crosses the Rahad river at Hawata which lies on the northern end of the project. The Wad Meskin Project site is close to the Rahad Project Phase II.The project area is located on the eastern bank of Rahad River and its land is shared between Gezira and Gadarif States. The 53.8 km long open earth canal linking the two barrages at Salsal and Wad Meskin on Dinder and Rahad Rivers respectively. Its function is to convey part of Dinder waters to Rahad.

The power system interconnection project involved the construction of a high voltage transmission line from Ethiopia to Sudan to utilise surplus hydropower from Ethiopia to replace oil-based thermal generation in Sudan. The interconnection was also intended to allow for pooling of reserves in emergency situations, which would allow electricity to be transferred from Sudan to Ethiopia during times of severe hydrological conditions in Ethiopia. The interconnection will also achieve considerable savings in the operation of power plants in the long run. The Ethiopia-Sudan Transmission Interconnection Project comprised of a new 194 km double circuit 230/220 KV transmission line linking Shehedi in Ethiopia to Gedaref in Sudan; reinforcement of Ethiopia’s existing 260 km single circuit line linking Bahir Dar to Gonder and Shehedi; and a new 36.5 km high voltage, double circuit, 230/220 kV, three phase alternating current transmission line linking Shehedi to Metema at the Ethiopia-Sudan border. The transmission capacity of the power lines is 100 MW. The construction phase of the project was nationally funded and implemented between 2009 and 2013.

High-quality ducted fiber corridor linking Port Sudan undersea cable landings to inland Central African states, supporting broadband connectivity to Chad, Central African Republic, Ethiopia, and South Sudan. The corridor positions Sudan as a digital gateway for landlocked Sahel countries, reducing satellite reliance particularly for humanitarian actors. Technical design specifies high-quality ducted fiber at 130-170 cm depth with multi-mode capacity and distributed open access points. Project implementation has been severely constrained by ongoing conflict in Sudan since 2023, though humanitarian telecommunications infrastructure has been activated at Port Sudan landing sites. The proposed project addresses enlargement of the regional ICT coverage by providing services for unconnected customers with satisfied and affordable quality and prices. Moreover crossing border cable will significantly contribute in injecting new communities and activities across its route as well as additive job opportunities.

To contribute to the improvement of the Eastern Nile Flood Risk Mitigation (EN-FRM) Project the following outputs are planned: An enhanced EN FFEWS, so that reliable flood forecasts and early warnings for the EN region become available to member countries. Flood maps with flood hazards and risks for key flood prone areas in the EN region, so that flood protection measures and flood response preparedness actions can be planned adequately and Enhanced forecasting capacity for better management of dam operation and water resources planning.

The Atbara Kerib Land Rehabilitation Project was one of 13 potential first-round investment projects identified in 2007 under the Cooperative Regional Assessment (CRA) of Watershed Management in the Eastern Nile Basin. The 13 projects identified under the CRA focused on watered degradation ‘hot spots’ characterized by increasing population pressure on a degrading natural resource base. The project area is located along the western banks of the Atbara River in El Fashaga Locality in Gederef State and stretches from the Kashm el Girba dam to the junction the Setit and Barr as Salem Rivers where a new dam is proposed to be constructed. The project area extends up to 16 km form the river edge. The objective of the Atbara Kerib Land Rehabilitation Project is to arrest land degradation along the Atbara River in Gedaref State, and rehabilitate degraded kerib lands along the river while diversifying community livelihood activities and contributing to poverty alleviation. Karib land is land along a river channel where deep gullies have formed as a result of erosion of soil from land adjacent to the river. Project interventions include construction of field bunds in land adjacent to kerib lands, check dams within kerib land, planting indigenous trees within community forests and general lands, training locals in community forest management, training households in off-farm income generating activities, including processing of farm produce; and establishment of micro-finance institutions The prefeasibility study for the project was carried out in the period 2010-2012 under the Watershed Delineation and Prioritization Project.

Construction of a transmission line (580 km / 500 kV) that connects the power networks of Ethiopia and Sudan to facilitate trading in electricity and promote power systems stability. The interconnector will have a transmission capacity of 3000 MW. The Project also includes two new, 500kV capacitated substations at Rabak and Jebel Aulia (both in Sudan), and power line bay extensions at the following existing substations: Grand Renaissance (500kV Ethiopia), Rabak (220kV, Sudan) and Jebel Aulia (220kV, Sudan). Construction of a 500kV transmission line and the associated substations that connects the power networks of Ethiopia and Sudan to facilitate trading in electricity and promote power systems stability. The line will be 580 km in total, 564 km in Sudan, terminating in Khartoum, 16 km in Ethiopia, terminating at the Grand Renaissance Dam. The Project also includes two new, 500 kV capacitated substations at Rabak and Jebel Aulia (both in Sudan), and power line bay extensions at the following existing substations: Grand Renaissance (500kV Ethiopia), Rabak (220kV, Sudan) and Jebel Aulia (220kV, Sudan). It is expected that the project would assist the two partners to obtain the following specific benefits: to promote power system stability in the countries concerned; to promote energy connectivity among the countries by assisting them to integrate their respective networks and thereby develop ability for building larger power projects to meet larger regional markets; to develop ability to negotiate better terms for procurement of power equipment and technical assistance; to reduce the cost of power in both countries; in the long term, complete integration of the power systems in Egypt and Sudan; and to create productive employment and economic development across the borders. The main objectives of the project include provision of transmission capacity to cater for grid interconnection between Egypt and Sudan, provision of transmission infrastructure to cater for future grid interconnections to other countries, promotion of regional cooperation through sharing of power generation resources and facilitation of rural electrification and improve the standard of living for the population in project areas

The Alatish-Dinder Transboundary Park Project was one of 13 potential first-round investment projects identified in 2007 under the Cooperative Regional Assessment (CRA) of Watershed Management in the Eastern Nile Basin. The 13 projects identified under the CRA focused on watered degradation ‘hot spots’ characterized by increasing population pressure on a degrading natural resource base. The Alatish National Park (2,666 km2, Ethiopia), and Dinder National Park (8,960 km2, Sudan) are located along the Ethiopia-Sudan border and form a contiguous ecosystem with a high diversity of plant and animal species due to their location on the ecotone between the Sahel and Ethiopian Highlands eco-regions, and location along a major migratory bird flyway between Eurasia and Africa. The two parks are important for protecting the main sources of water for the Blue Nile, Dinder and Rahad Rivers. The biodiversity of the two parks is threatened by surrounding communities, among whom is a large number of internally displaced persons. Members of the surrounding communities in the two countries, who number over 150,000, encroach on the two parks to poach wildlife, graze and water livestock, cultivate crops, fish in the rivers in the park, collection of honey, cutting trees for firewood, and starting bush fires. The objective of the Alatish-Dinder Transboundary Park Project is to support the coordinated sustainable management of the two parks and protection of their biodiversity. Project interventions include supporting coordination and network between the two governments and conservation NGOs in the two states; coordinated development of management plans for the two parks; capacity building for park officials; capacity building for local communities to engage in co-management of the parks; construction of tourism and patrol roads in the two parks; construction of park administrative buildings; conducing joint research and monitoring programmes Prefeasibility studies were performed on the project in 2010-2012 under the Watershed Delineation and Prioritization Project and re-prioritized in 2015 under the Multi-Sectoral Investment Opportunities Assessment (MSIOA) conducted under the Nile Cooperation for Results (NCORE) Project.

Transboundary Hydro-Meteorological and Environmental Monitoring System and Environmental Flows Assessment Project is one of nine medium and long-term projecs identified and prioiritized under the Baro-Akobo-Sobat (BAS) Multipurpose Water Resources Study Project that was implementd from 2015 to 2017. The Baro-Akabo-Sobat sub-basin, which consists of the Baro, Akobo and the Pibor rivers, has a catchment area of about 260,000 km2. The Baro River originates in the highlands of Ethiopia (2,000 â€" 3,500 masl) and flows northwest wards through Gambella plains (450 masl) into South Sudan. The Pibor River originates in the Imatong Mountains close to the South Sudan-Uganda border and flows nothwards through grassy flat plains. The Pibor is joined on its journey by the Akobo, Gilo and Alwero Rivers originating from the Ethiopian highlands. The Pibor river eventiually joints with the Baro River to form the Sobat River.  The project identification was completed in 2015 with funding from the World Bank under the Nile Cooperation for Results Project (NCORE).

Telkuk Water Harvesting Project Telkuk Water Harvesting Project is to promote the sustainable management of rangeland in the Talkuk Locality, Kassala State. Proposed project interventions include: Increasing water harvesting through constructing traditional teras, libish, and small dams; delineating wild flooding areas; multiplying local grass varieties and forage trees with re-seeding and planting them to improve rangelands, construction of livestock watering points in rangelands and along stock migration routes, rehabilitation of existing hafirs, improvement of livestock market infrastructure; training of para-veterinary workers; supporting participatory landuse planning; promoting off-farm income generating activities, supporting formation of savings and credit cooperatives (SACCOs), improving processing of agricultural products. The prefeasibility study for the project was carried out in the period 2010-2012 under the Watershed Delineation and Prioritization Project.

The Akobo-Gambella floodplains transboundary development programme is one of the three short term projects proposed as part of the Baro-Akobo-Sobat multipurpose water resources development study project. The three short term projects are based on the sustainable development of water resources. They aim at providing inter-sectoral benefits and improving people's livelihoods in the sub-basin. The Akobo-Gambella programme is designed around solar pumping and the provision of water for various uses. This programme is designed to reduce extreme poverty and improve livelihoods in an area of the BAS sub-basin which is highly vulnerable (conflicts over the resources, food insecurity, no access to a safe source of water, etc.). This area currently receives humanitarian aid and the programme focuses on the transition between aid and development. The programme includes generic components such as potable water supply, sanitation, livestock watering, capture fisheries, aquaculture, small scale irrigation and capacity building. The implementation of the programme will include field work to select pilot areas, identify specific needs and refine these generic components. Akobo-Gambella Floodplains Transboundary Development Programme covers parts of the Baro-Akobo-Sobat basin in Ethiopia and South Sudan. In Ethiopia, the programme focuses on the plains of Gambella region (Nuer Zone) and in South Sudan, it is located in Jonglei State (Akobo County) and Upper Nile State (Ulang County). The Programme is located in an area that is highly vulnerable and suffers from frequent conflicts over natural resources, food insecurity, no access to a safe water, etc., and is heavily dependent on humanitarian aid. The Akobo-Gambella Programme aims to facilitate a transition from aid dependency to self-sufficiency in food and other basin services. The objective of the programme is to reduce transboundary conflicts associated with water, improve food security and lead to improved livelihoods. The programme comprises of several generic components such as potable water supply, sanitation, livestock watering, capture fisheries, aquaculture, small scale irrigation and capacity building. The implementation of the programme will include field work to select pilot areas, identify specific needs and refine these generic components. The basic approach of the programme is to abstract water from the ground and rivers using solar-powered pumps, transfer it to storge tanks, and from there distribute it for multiple purpose including domestic water supply and sanitation, small scale irrigation, livestock watering and aquaculture. The water sources and pumping systems could be different for each of the uses. Hardware interventions will be complemented by software interventions such as hygiene education, training on fish farming, training on operation and maintenance of water infrastructure, and awareness on watershed management. The indicated costs below are for interventions in a single village. Â The Akobo-Gambella Floodplains Transboundary Development Programme is one of the three short term projects proposed as part of the Baro-Akobo-Sobat (BAS) Multipurpose Activities under the project commenced in 2008-20012 funded with a seed grant from the Netherlands and French governments. The feasibility study for the Akobo-Gambella Floodplains Transboundary Development Programme was funded by the African Water Facility and carried out in 2015-2017.

The Sudd wetland is one of the most unique and valuable ecosystems on Earth. It is the largest wetland in Africa, and a designated a Ramsar site. The Sudd wetlands are of critical importance to South Sudan and the wider region through two competing factors â€" the value of the oil deposits below them, and the important ecosystem services they currently provide. The Sudd is an important environmental resource that supports large populations of wildlife (including endangered and endemic species) rich and abundant fish populations, and around 1 million people whose engage in agriculture, fishing and livestock husbandry for livelihoods. The Suud is also pivotal in regulating the weather patterns in the Sahel, the Horn of Africa and the greater East Africa region and acts as a barrier to the southward encroachment of the Sahara desert, and in controlling the hydrology of the White and Main Niles. Due to decades of conflict in South Sudan, very little research has been undertaken on the Sudd, hence information to support its management is scanty. The region is suffering from impacts of climate change, which manifest as increasing frequency of extreme high inflows and rainfall, leading to cycles of expansion and contraction of the Sudd. An economic valuation study put the value of the Sudd at $3.3 billion based primarily to the climatic regulation, flood control and biodiversity services, but also through provisioning services including livestock grazing and watering, fishing, and papyrus crafts.

Integrated BAS Hydropower, Irrigation and Multipurpose Development Programme - Phase 1: Baro/Sobat Component.’ is one of nine priority medium to long-term projects under the Integrated Water Resources Development and Management Plan for the Baro-Akobo-Sobat Sub-basin in the Eastern Nile region. The project will implement Phase 1 of the BAS IWRDM Plan whose objective is to sustainably develop water resources for hydropower, irrigation, water supply and sanitation, fisheries, navigation and other sectors with the dual aim of reducing poverty within the sub-basin and generating revenue. The proposed study shall also make recommendations on the sequencing, operating principles and management rules of priority large scale hydropower projects (TAMS and Geba dams) on the Baro and Sobat Rivers so that the development of the available water resources is optimised and supports transboundary and inter/intra sectoral cooperation and benefit sharing with a view to minimizing resource-based conflicts. The TAMS Dam has a proposed installed capacity of 1,700 MW while the Geba 1 and 2 projects will have installed capacity of 372 MW.  The project identification was completed in 2017 with funding from the African Development Bank (AfDB) under the Baro-Akobo-Sobat multipurpose water resources development study project.

The Dal project site is located on the Nile in Sudan some 280 km downstream of Dongola and immediately upstream of Lake Nubia / Lake Nasser. The project comprises of a 30 m high dam with 1400 m long crest and 400 MW installed generation capacity. The dam will create a reservoir of area 300 km2 and 2470 MCM storage volume. It also includes the construction of 240 km 220 KV AC double circuit power transmission line from Dal to Dongola. Prefeasibility studies were completed in 2007 with grant funding from the African Development Bank under the Easer Nile Power Trade Program.

Dinder and Rahad Rivers originate in the Ethiopian Highlands and flow northwestwards before joining with the Abbay River downstream of Sennar dam to form the Blue Nile River. The two are seasonal rivers of nearly equal length that cease to flow in the dry season. The catchment of the Dinder River is 16,000 km2 while that of the Rahad river is 8,200 km2. The Dinder and Rahad Rivers, together with the Abbay River, contribute about 70% of the sediment load from the Eastern Nile. The two rivers traverse, and sustain the biodiversity of the Alatish ad Dinder National Parks located in Ethiopia and Sudan respectively. The two rivers are also important for sustaining the the Rahad-Dinder wetlands, which comprise a large number of ox-bow lakes and cut-off meanders, and supporting social-economic activities in the countries. There has been considerable development of mechanized rain-fed irrigation systems west of Dinder national park in Sudan. Key environmental and development challenges in the two watersheds include poverty, population pressure, soil erosion, sediment transport, reservoir and irrigation canal siltation, conflicts between farmers and pastoralists. The project will be used to identify and prepare water resources management and development projects for the Baro-Akobo-Sobat Sub-basin focusing on expanding irrigation and improving food security, improving household incomes, improving water supply and sanitation access, improving access to energy and promoting sustainable management of the natural resources base in the sub-basin. Other interventions include the establishment and implementation of a transboundary water management programme, building capacity of national and state/provincial officials, and carrying out scientific research. The project was one of several priority projects identified by the Eastern Nile states under the Eastern Nile Multi-Sectoral Investment Opportunity Analysis (MSIOA). The project identification and prefeasibilitystudies were completed in 2015 with funding from the World Bank under the Nile Cooperation for Results Project (NCORE).

Its main aim is to promote transboundary cooperation among Ethiopia, Sudan and South Sudan, to tackle watershed degradation, reduce sedimentation, and foster sustainable livelihoods and food security. The Baro-Akobo-Sobat IWRDMPlan's proposed "Livelihoods-based Watershed management - taking to scale for a basinwide impact was planned to build on this initiative but has not as yet been implemented.

The Butana Plains Watershed Management Project was one of 13 potential first-round investment projects identified in 2007 under the Cooperative Regional Assessment (CRA) of Watershed Management in the Eastern Nile Basin. The 13 projects identified under the CRA focused on watered degradation ‘hot spots’ characterized by increasing population pressure on a degrading natural resource base. The project area is located in Gederef State in Eastern Sudan. Within the large expanse of the plans, an area measuring 4,990 km2 in El Faw Locality has been identified for water harvesting under this project. Among other things, the area suffers from rangeland degradation and conflicts for pasture and water resources by pastoral groups. The objective of the Atbara Kerib Land Rehabilitation Project is to arrest land degradation within the Butana Plains, and rehabilitate degraded rangelands within the plains. Project interventions include construction of water harvesting structures for crop and fodder production; establishment of grass and forage tree multiplication centres; rangeland re-seeding; constructing water supplies for livestock in the plains and along livestock migration routes; rehabilitation of hafirs; improving livestock marketing facilities; malaria control through mosquito spraying; training of local communities in off-farm income generating activities; establishment of micro-finance institutions; training of local communities in value chain services relate to agriculture and liestock. The prefeasibility study for the project was carried out in the period 2010-2012 under the Watershed Delineation and Prioritization Project.

The project supports operationalisation of the Single African Air Transport Market by addressing the infrastructure and airspace-management constraints that limit safe, efficient and competitive air transport. It covers both physical aviation infrastructure, including airports and air-navigation systems, and the institutional and technical architecture required for a seamless African airspace. The master plan is expected to consolidate national and regional plans, forecast traffic and capacity needs, identify infrastructure gaps, prioritise investments and develop an implementation roadmap. The seamless airspace component is intended to promote harmonised procedures, performance-based navigation, flexible routes, common surveillance-code arrangements and interoperable CNS/ATM systems. The African Union Commission and AFCAC are the principal continental institutions, working with ICAO, regional economic communities, air-navigation service providers, civil-aviation authorities and industry stakeholders. All African Union member states are beneficiaries. A continent-wide aviation infrastructure gap analysis was completed and validated in 2023. Official ICAO and AFCAC reporting in 2024-2026 indicates that its results are being used to refine the air-navigation master strategy and identify bankable national and regional projects. The 2026 AU Assembly still called for mobilisation of financing for development of the Continental Aviation Infrastructure Master Plan.

Rapid population increase coupled with expanding agriculture, urbanisation, industrialisation, aging waste water treatment infrastructure and expansion of irrigation schemes in the Eastern Nile pose a serious threat to water quality in the EN Basin. The conflicts associated with access to water is expected be heightened by deterioration in water quality. The Eastern Nile Transboundary Water Quality Monitoring Programme is one of several priority projects identified by the Eastern Nile states under the Eastern Nile Multi-Sectoral Investment Opportunity Analysis (MSIOA). This project will be used to develop a water quality monitoring programme within the whole of the Eastern Nile. Propose dproject components include the review of water quality standards and guidelines (and development of a standard set of water quality guidelines and standards for the EN Basin; review of baseline data on water quality and filling of gaps; identification of physical, chemical and biological water quality parameters to be monitored, developing and implementing a monitoring programme; review of legal, institutional and capacity related requirements; identification of existing and future pollution sources and pollutants and analysis of associated environmental, socioeconomic and health risks. Â The project identification was completed in 2015 with funding from the World Bank under the Nile Cooperation for Results Project (NCORE).

The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD ) formerly known as the Millennium Dam and sometimes referred to as Hidase Dam, is a gravity dam on the Blue Nile River in Ethiopia currently under construction. It is in the Benishangul-Gumuz Region of Ethiopia, about 40 km east of the border with Sudan. At 6,000 MW, the dam will be the largest hydroelectric power plant in Africa when completed, as well as the 8th largest in the world. The reservoir at 72 billion cubic meters will be one of the continent's largest. According to the Ethiopian government, as of June  2017, the Dam is 60% complete.

The Nubian Sandstone Aquifer System (NSAS) underlies the countries of Chad, Egypt, Libya and Sudan, the total population of which is over 136 million. It is the world’s largest ‘fossil’ water aquifer system. The project scope involves: Developing a standard mechanism for monitoring the development of the aquifer Capacity building/ training for field investigations/monitoring of groundwater in four countries Creating a legislative framework for attaining principles of cooperation and equitable utilization Developing framework for the implementation of the regional strategy for utilization of the NSAS  The Nubian Sandstone Aquifer System (NSAS) underlies the countries of Chad, Egypt, Libya and Sudan, the total population of which is over 136 million. It is the world's largest ‘fossil' water aquifer system stretching over approximately 2.6 million square km in Northeast Africa. Fresh groundwater reserves in the aquifer system is estimated at 372,950 billion cubic metre (BCM), out of which only 3.9% is recoverable with present?day technology. The riparian countries sharing the aquifer system face similar problems of arid climate, scarce surface water resources, persistent droughts and fragile ecosystems. The aquifer is a critically important source of water in this arid desert region and will be increasingly in demand in the future. Hence, all four countries have given priority to linking the NSAS groundwater exploitation to national development strategies and plans. Growing pressures on the aquifer system pose threats to both the quantity and quality of the resource and could, if not appropriately managed, lead to transboundary/shared problems and tension.

There are more than 5.3 million ha of land currently under irrigation in the Eastern Nile, most with a poorThe project identification was completed in 2015 with funding from the World Bank under the Nile Cooperation for Results Project (NCORE).

Construction of the One-Stop Border Post between South Sudan and Sudan, which lies on the Northern Corridor.

Construction of Sudan section of the fibre optic link between Khartoum (Sudan) and Asmara (Eritrea). 3

This project will be located in the Blue Nile Sub-basin covering among others the ecological significant watersheds of the Dinder and Rahad Rivers. The two rivers originate in the Ethiopian Highlands and flow west before entering the Blue Nile, traversing the Dinder National Park (DNP) and Alatish Regional Park located in Sudan and Ethiopia respectively. The Rahad-Dinder wetlands, which are rich in biodiversity, are part of thi ecosystem. The project will be used to identify and prepare watershed and wetlands management projects for important conservation areas along the Ethiopia-Sudan border.Project study outputs are:Technical feasibility study, Detailed Designs, and economic viability of the project including implementation arrangements and schedules, and Tender documentsDetailed Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA)Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP)Resettlement and Compensation Action Plan (RCAP)

The Regional Transport and Navigation Development Project is one of several priority projects under the Integrated Water Resources Development and Management Plan for the Baro-Akobo-Sobat Sub-basin in the Eastern Nile region. This project will investigate and evaluate the feasibility of investments to improve the role of navigation in the Baro-Akobo-Sobat sub-basin within the context of regional transport and access to markets as a whole. It will also to carry out the necessary planning and design work to get the project ready for implementation and support its implementation. The project identification was completed in 2017 with funding from the African Development Bank (AfDB) under the Baro-Akobo-Sobat multipurpose water resources development study project.

The project was identified and prepared under the Eastern Nile Watershed Management Project in 2007, and implemented nationally. The project objective was to support the development of a Lake Nasser/Nubia Management (LNNM) Framework that would guide the long-term sustainable and integrated management and development of the lake and ensure the protection of its ecosystem. Due to the growing population of the two countries, there is pressure from key stakeholders in Egypt and Sudan to develop and intensify economic activities around the Lake Nasser/Nubia in order to support economic growth and the poverty alleviation. The main issues identified in the Lake basin include water quality degradation, sedimentation caused by bank erosion and up-stream activities, wind-born erosion and drifting sand-dunes, low fertility of land on the Egyptian side, aridity, water scarcity, over fishing, loss of biodiversity, high ground water table, population increase and near shore economic development including increase in agricultural, industrial, mining and tourism activities. These pressures make it imperative to put in place measures to ensure the integrated and sustainable management and development of the lake and protection of its ecosystem.  The Lake Nasser/Nubia Watershed Management Project’s main input was to design a Regional LNNM Monitoring Program to support the sustainable management of the lake and its ecosystem. The building blocks of the monitoring system were the development of survey and measurement procedures and techniques for water quality and sedimentation; development of mathematical modelling tools and procedures; development of a database; and sand encroachment analyses and identification of mitigation measures. The project also identified measures to improve weaknesses in the policy and institutional setting in the two countries such as poor coordination, overlapping responsibilities, sectoral approaches to natural resource management and development, and inadequate enforcement of laws. Finally, a number of priority intervention measures were implemented to demonstrate immediate local benefits to key stakeholders, raise awareness about lake issues, and build confidence for future measures on lake management. The measures included the following: training of farmers on efficient irrigation and improved agricultural practices that increase agricultural productivity; promoting fruit gardens; promoting integration of livestock in faming systems; training farmers in fish farming; creating shelterbelts to reduce sand encroachment on the lake and settlements; promoting non-farm income generating activities; promoting use of renewable energy sources; establishing micro-finance institutions to improve access to credit; and improving water supply and sanitation systems.

Construction of Eritrea section of the fibre optic link between Khartoum (Sudan) and Asmara (Eritrea).