Water-Energy-Food Security Nexus in the Eastern Nile Basin: Assessing the Potential of Transboundary Regional Cooperation

With increasing demands and pressures on energy, food, and water resources in the region of the Eastern Nile basin, development projects and also potential for conflict along the Nile waters have increased. This study presents data on resource use patterns and reviews literature on the cooperation potential between Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia in the sectors of water, energy, and food. It introduces the resource use profiles of the countries in the three sectors and summarizes common challenges to resource security and in regard to cross-cutting issues, such as climate risks and land degradation. The study also highlights the issues for transboundary cooperation using resources within and beyond the Nile. It emphasizes the importance of regional integration, using current country-specific potentials for easing river-sharing conflicts and fostering human development of riparian countries.