Project Showcase

The Semliki River is part of the Nile River Basin with two thirds of its course being in the DRC and the lower third forming the boundary between the DRC and Uganda. Great Lakes Region is characterized by a shortage of indigenous energy sources and highly skewed relationships of dependency regarding energy imports Less than 10% of the population has access to electricity. The region is thus heavily dependent on oil imports Currently, majority of the population of Eastern DRC, Rwanda, Burundi and Uganda relies on bio-fuels such as wood The power demand for the cities of Beni, Butembo and surroundings will be supplied from a hydropower station on the Semliki River with a capacity of 72 MW. It will need a step-up transformer MV/HV or MV; including the construction of the distribution network. The Semliki hydropower station would serve mainly the towns of Béni and Butembo as well as the rural areas located around these towns. The available reserve could be exported to the Great Lakes Region with an interconnection grid. The Semliki is one of four (the others are Mogomba, Muyama and Kiyimbi) proposed hydropower projects, packaged to have potential capacity of 150MW, generating annual energy production of 800 GWh. A hydropower station on the Semuliki River of 72 MW; - power distribution network low and high voltage in the towns of Beni and Butembo and surroundings. The distribution network is envisaged to be a Medium Voltage network. Béni and Butembo will be served by 30 kV lines from the substation at the Semliki plant. Butembo has already a network LV and MV linked to its own hydropower station. However its network will be adapted to the parameters of the Semliki project (distribution voltage 30 kV, distribution 6.6 kV) and will in some cases be extended. A high voltage transmission line (220kV) from Goma - Butembo - Béni whose feasibility is complete will also be constructed to evacuate the generation from Semuliki.Dated studies suggested the project would cost USD 900m. Several areas that require particular attention have been noted in previous studies including: Improvement of hydrological data and modelling, economic modelling to determine viability, comprehensive ESIA to address potentially large environmental challenges, the actual geological conditions, layouts and designs. A budget of USD 6m has been included in the phase of the NEL-IP for the required studies to define the project better.

This Project is located in Western Kenya. The dam is intended to provide flood controls, irrigation development and hydropower generation. The project includes a 155 Mm3 dam, 20MW electricity, 30,000ha of irrigation, up to 86,400m3 /d water supply, benefitting 1.152m people. Detailed feasibility and design studies have been done for this project and it now requires implementation, estimated at USD 393.7m over 3 years, which has been included in NEL-IP.

The Mara River Basin Project contributes to improved living conditions of the basin communities by creating an enabling environment for sustainable development-oriented investments and building capacity of riparian staff and communities in integrated water resources management and development. The project is preparing several investment proposals in the fields of water infrastructure, watershed management and irrigation infrastructure for subsequent funding within a consistent basin development strategy. This primarily irrigation project includes the Borenga Dam, will benefit 100,000 people, irrigate 8,340Ha in 13 villages of Serengeti and Butiama Districts, 2.85MW hydropower, water supply to 18 villages in Serengeti, Butiama and Tarime Districts in Tanzania.

The Ruvyironza Multipurpose Water Resources Development Project (PIDA Code: BIP_NELSAP_017) is a major infrastructure initiative in Burundi. The project's core component is the construction of a multipurpose dam on the Ruvyironza River, a tributary of the Kagera River. The primary purposes are irrigation, hydropower generation, and water supply. The dam is expected to create a reservoir with a surface area of approximately 11 square kilometers, inundating about 11 km of the Gitega-Ngozi highway, the Kibaya Bridge, and the Kibaya river gauge. The project scope includes: 1) Development of 14,674 hectares of irrigated agriculture across five provinces (Cankuzo, Gitega, Karuzi, Muyinga, Ruyigi); 2) Installation of a 22 MW hydropower plant; 3) Provision of water for municipal and livestock supply, and aquaculture; 4) Catchment restoration activities upstream of the dam (covering a 1,999 km2 area) to address land degradation. The project preparation phase, managed by the Nile Equatorial Lakes Subsidiary Action Program (NELSAP), includes comprehensive feasibility studies, detailed design, Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA), Resettlement Action Plan (RAP), and tender document preparation.

The Ngono Valley project (located in the western shores of Lake Victoria and shared by the Districts of Bukoba Rural and Missenyi) will develop a multipurpose reservoir, net irrigated agriculture of approximately 5,825 ha, generation of hydropower, as well as contribute towards sustainable land management of endangered sub-catchments in the Ngono River Basin. The proposed projects are part of the investment projects advanced by Tanzania to the NELSAP for projects preparation and which were prioritized through the NEL Multi-Sector Investment Opportunity Analysis. The project has been phased into two stages as follows: The project includes command areas and a canal for small scale farmers (stage 1), followed by stage 2 which includes a 17m high, 268 MCM Dam, Hydropower plant with installed capacity 1.65MW, mean annual energy production 8.7GWh, irrigation command areas for small- and large-scale farming and will have 100,000 beneficiaries including water supply to 23 villages in Missenyi and Bukoba Districts on the western shores of Lake Victoria, Tanzania. Feasibility studies, detailed design, ESIA have been done, and the project is now seeking implementation funding of USD 243m.

The Uganda (Nkenda) - DR Congo (Beni-Butembo-Bunia-Mabuki) Power Transmission Inter-Connection Project is a strategic regional infrastructure initiative aimed at constructing a 400 kV double-circuit high voltage transmission line spanning 352.2 km, linking Nkenda substation in Kasese, Western Uganda, to new substations at Beni, Butembo, Bunia and Mabuki in the North Eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The project includes upgrading the Nkenda substation and aims to integrate the isolated and eastern DRC power grid with Uganda's national grid, thereby enhancing electricity reliability, security, and access in the region. It supports optimal utilization of generation resources, promotes regional power trade, and facilitates least-cost power expansion projects, contributing to socio-economic development and environmental sustainability. Sponsored by the Nile Basin Initiative/Nile Equatorial Lakes Subsidiary Action Program (NBI/NELSAP), Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited (UETCL), and Société Nationale d'Électricité (SNEL), the project is aligned with the East African Power Pool (EAPP) Master Plan to create a regional power highway which aims to maximise the affordable availability of electricity around the region. Increasing power trade is key to this aspiration.

The project will construct a dam of about 30 metres on the Malaba River at the Kenya-Uganda border, creating a reservoir of roughly 31 million cubic metres. The scheme is designed to supply potable water to approximately 270,000 people, irrigate about 4,000 hectares, generate 1.3 MW of hydropower, support fisheries and livestock, regulate floods and droughts, and restore the associated upstream watershed. NELSAP-CU of the Nile Basin Initiative has coordinated the joint preparation process for Kenya and Uganda.

This project involved construction of water supply and sanitation systems, improving solid waste and storm water management, improving watershed management, improving urban planning and building capacity of urban authorities in 15 secondary towns in the Lake Victoria Basin. This project intends to meet the Millennium Development Goals and support secondary urban centers in the Lake Victoria Basins to contribute to the reversal of the pollution of the lake through improvements of sustainable water supply and sanitation infrastructure in 15 secondary towns within the Lake Victoria Basin. The selected towns were across East Africa countries with Burundi having 3 towns that included: Ngozi, Muyinga and Kayanza. In Kenya, Keroka, Kericho and Isebania were among the towns while in Rwanda, Kayonza, Nyagatare and Nyanza were identified. Tnazania had Geita, Sengerema and Nansio towns added while Uganda had Mayuge, Buwama-Kayabwe-Bukakata and Ntungamo. The implementation was launched in 2011 with approx. 110 MUSD grant funding from the African Water Facility. This component of LVWATSAN was called LVWATSAN Phase II. Africa Development Bank entered into a Contribution Agreement with UN-HABITAT to offer Technical Assistance and Capacity Building Programme. MWAUWASA was delegated to take the role of implementing authority for the 3 Tanzanian towns; Geita, Sengerema and Nansio, financed by AfDB.  The water supply has been improved for 784,470 residents of beneficiary towns across the Partner States.

The project area covers the Akanyaru marshland, the Lakes Cyohoha and Rweru and their watersheds shared by Rwanda and Burundi, and is located in the Akanyaru sub-basin and the downstream Nyabarongo sub-basin, both being part of the Kagera sub-basin shared by Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda and Tanzania. The project area has experienced a steady decline in the level of ecosystem services from being the food basket of Rwanda and Burundi in the 1960s with widespread forest area and plenty of rainfall to its current status of frequent drought, soil erosion and lack of grazing land. The objective of this project is to enhance: Co-ordination, sustainable development, management and utilization of the Lakes Cyohoha, Rweru, Akanyaru marshland environment, including water and fisheries resources production Contribute to poverty reduction and the reversal of environmental degradation in the Bugesera region shared by Rwanda and Burundi, especially in the Rweru and Cyohoha lakes basins and Akanyaru marshland. The project aims to develop 4,200ha irrigated land; 2.5 million agroforestry trees; 765ha riverbank & lake shores protected; restocking of 2 lakes; support to 9 fishermen cooperatives; 1 million beneficiaries including 4,500 fisher folks and improved capacity of more than 6,500 farmers. In more detail: Integrated Agriculture and Watershed Development and Management: Nearly 2,000 ha of irrigated land set up with hillside irrigation techniques and effective marshland management, more than 6,500 farmers with improved capacities on improved seeds, dairy cows and post-harvest infrastructures Watershed management: Mechanisms and capacities for joint water monitoring and management in place and operational, Protection of 765 ha of lakeshores and Akanyaru riverbanks with fodder grass, agroforestry, fruit, bamboo and indigenous tree species. Conservation of aquatic ecosystems and biodiversity through restoration of lakes shores, spawning sites and catchments and joint mechanisms for fishery and water resources monitoring and management Fisheries Resources Development and Management: Restock of the 2 lakes with 1,000,000 tilapia fingerlings, support construction of fishery infrastructures and strengthen capacities of 9 fishermen cooperatives and key stakeholders for sustainable fishery development. Regional Integration and peace building through harmonized policies frameworks Capacity building and development: Capacity building for alternative livelihood and by commodity chain of 4,500 beneficiaries from fishery, farmers and agriculture cooperatives, 50% being women. Leading to poverty reduction and improved food security. This component also specifically addresses knowledge generation and dissemination systems to monitor specific risks and threats, notable climate change and variability. The project is ready for implementation and requires funding of USD 95m over 4 years implementation to enable the project to become financially self-sufficient.

The Nyimur/Limur multipurpose water resources project is a transboundary project located in the Aswa Basin covering parts of Lamwo District, Uganda and Magwi Country, Eastern Equatorial State, South Sudan. The location coordinates are 3.560042°N, 32.361010°E. The project comprises of several components, including a community-based irrigation scheme, a dam and water reservoir, a water and soil conservation component and flood control component. The core scheme of the project consists of a 26 m head dam on the Nyimur River, a mini hydropower plant with a 350 kW capacity; and development of 5,105 ha for paddy rice irrigation. The project is expected to benefit 12,000 people from the two countries. The preparatory studies (2015-2019) included feasibility studies for community-based irrigation, hydropower generation, and watershed management; an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA); and preparation of a Resettlement Action Plan (RAP). At the project end in 2019, a roundtable donors meeting was held to mobilize resources for the implementation phase. Project preparation activities were funded through a EUR 1.975 million grant from the AfDB, with EUR 0.587 million co-funding from NELSAP-CU and EUR 34,608 in in-kind support from the countries.

 The Project is located in Eastern Equatorial state of South Sudan. It is in the southern part of Magwi County, approximately 39 kilometres south of Magwi, near the border with Uganda - South Sudan Uganda Border. This MPP Water resources development project will result in a 520 Mm3 dam, 10MW electricity, 21,800ha of irrigation, and up to 36,000m3 /d water. A pre-feasibility study has been done and now requires a feasibility, ESIA & RAP, detailed design and project implementation. USD 3m has been included in NEL-IP for studies. A preliminary estimate for implementation is USD 41.6m

The Lau Watershed Management project is one of the four fast track projects prepared in 2007 under the Eastern Nile Watershed Management (ENWM) Project. The Lau Watershed project area is administratively located within Maiwut County, Upper Nile State in Southern Sudan. Maiwut County has six Payams, four of which (Maiwut, Kigille, Jotome and Turuw) fall within the Lau Watershed Project area. The watershed (the part in South Sudan) has an area of 700 km2 that is characterized by rugged densely vegetated mountainous highland terrain at its head and plain lowland in the downstream parts. The altitude ranges from 415 to 1904 m amsl, with about 90 percent of the watershed falling below 500 m asl. During dry seasons, many people move long distances with their livestock in search of forage and water. The people that remain behind in the watershed have great difficulty finding adequate water (for domestic use and for the livestock that has not been driven away. Conflicts over water resources and grazing grounds are common in the watershed. Other issues identified in the watershed include deforestation, overgrazing, land degradation and soil loss, water pollution, and loss of wildlife from hunting and habitat destruction, impacts of climate change manifesting as changes in rainfall patterns, and weak institutions. The project objective was to restore community capacity to sustain and develop livelihoods in an environmentally responsible manner. The project had four components namely: (a) capacity building and institutional strengthening; (b) provision of basic services; (c) support to livelihoods, and; (d) project management. Specific interventions under the project included building capacity of Maiwut County and supporting NGOs; supporting the formation of, and building capacity of Community-Based Organisations; engaging and promoting community participation; constructing water supplies for domestic water use, livestock watering and agricultural irrigation based on sand dams or surface water reservoirs; constructing demonstration pit latrines and carrying out hygiene education; supporting school feeding programmes; introducing adult literacy programs; upgrading rural feeder roads to improve market access; demonstrating improved farming methods (e.g. use of improved seeds and fertilizers, mechanical ploughing; soil and water conservation; pest and disease control, etc); introducing small-scale irrigation; training fishermen in improved capture fisheries; introducing fish farming; supporting establishment of dairy processing cottage industries; establishing fruit tree nurseries, and promoting agro-forestry; diversification of income-generating activities (beekeeping, wood craft and furniture marking, vegetable processing, fruit processing, edible oil processing, grain milling, producing improved stoves, etc.); promoting use of renewable energy sources (biogas, solar); and introducing compressed bricks to replace traditional soil construction techniques.

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 Kitoba-Lubango focal area (5,664 ha) is situated in is located between the villages of Kitoba and Lubango, in the territory of Lubero, in the district of Goma, in the province of North Kivu, in eastern DR Congo. The Project is to develop 3,000 ha irrigation and watershed management and is part of the investment programs prioritized by DR Congo for preparation and implementation whose identification was undertaken in 2012. Benefits will accrue to 15,000 beneficiaries (including 4,286 farmers) either directly or indirectly through creation of employment opportunities, water for domestic consumption, agricultural production, and livestock production. The outcomes of these benefits will be enhanced household incomes and livelihoods, environmental protection, watershed management, boosted agricultural production to match the ever increasing population and market demand at regional level thereby improving both national and regional food security, social economic development and ultimately poverty reduction. The Project"’s expected outputs include: Kitoba-Lubango irrigation infrastructure to enable 5,664 ha of land to be under irrigated agricultureWatershed management program for catchments upstream of the proposed irrigation infrastructureEnvironmental and Social Management PlanImproved market infrastructure and outlets; greater participation in rural economy by small-holder farmersImproved water resources monitoring along three tributaries through establishment of 2 new river gauging stations. A pre-feasibility study has been done and it is expected that this national priority project will cost USD 21.1m. Feasibility, ESIA, and detailed design is required and has been allocated USD 3m in NEL-IP.

The Dinder, Atbara and Bau Watershed Management Project is one of the four fast track projects prepared in 2007 under the Eastern Nile Watershed Management (ENWM) Project. Three watersheds were selected for the Sudan Project based on a number of factors including community interest and prior experience, impact on poverty, chances for demonstrating early results of improved land and water management, and government support. The three watersheds were (i) Dinder National Park and surroundings; (ii) Lower Atbara, and (iii) the Bau locality. The project objective was to stimulate, support and demonstrate alternative livelihood practices and local governance systems that contribute to poverty reduction and environmental sustainability. The three selected watersheds have different characteristics and needs and are located within different ecological zones. Area specific characteristics and objectives for the three watersheds were as follows:            (DNP) Area â€" Features: remote and poorly connected area; degraded natural resources in the lands surrounding the Park; encroachment by surrounding communities on the Park natural resources (grazing of large herd sof livestock) leading to conflicts with park management; conflicts between different communities over natural resources; area prone to droughts and floods; previous experience with community participatory planning and development. Objective: To safeguard the natural resources and the biodiversity of the Dinder National Park by improving the Park management and enhance participatory planning and offering alternative livelihoods to target groups who at present depend on the park's natural resources          â€" Features: desert area with low rainfall and scare natural resources; pronounced urban-rural interaction, limited mechanized farming, low environmental carrying capacity; substantial previous experience with community participatory planning and development. Objective: to combat desertification, improve environmental resilience and reduce people’s vulnerability by promoting more reliable and environmentally sound livelihoods to the people dependent on the scanty natural resources in the Lower Atbara.          â€" Features: remote, poorly connected, war-stricken area; facing influx of people from IDPs; favourable precipitation and natural resources base; area prone to droughts and floods; land tenure distribution/management still ongoing; very limited experience with community participatory planning. Objective: to reduce the pressure on and conflicts over the natural resources, to capture the long-term development potential of the area, and to build a foundation for sustained peace by promoting alternative, more reliable and environmentally friendly livelihood practices. The project had three components namely: (a) institutional strengthening; (b) project management; and (c) integrated watershed management and development (IWM&D) interventions. Specific interventions under the Project included strengthening capacity of supporting government institutions and stakeholder institutions; building capacity of Community-Based Organisations; construction of weirs with intake structures, construction of shallow wells, deep boreholes; construction of micro-and small dams for irrigation with diversion structures and distribution canals; construction of sand dams; construction of rainwater harvesting structures; improving farm production and farming systems through diversification and intensification of farming and farm infrastructure; improving grazing lands in wadis through water harvesting and reseeding with local legumes and seeds; reviving and improving animal migration routes; planting trees along animal migration routes for shade and browse; constructing livestock watering points and veterinary service centres, control of livestock pests and diseases; rehabilitating degraded parts of existing forests; controlling illegal logging, fires and grazing in protected areas; training local communities in forest management; introducing appropriate technology for small-scale miners to reduce their pollution impact; an diversification of income generating activities (fodder harvesting and packing; gum Arabic packing and marketing; dates grading and packing; vegetable and fruit processing; dairy processing; fish processing; wood handcraft making; mat making with camel wool; small scale metal fabrication; hand woven cotton fabric.

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.

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)