Dr' Magdy A' Hefny

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Experience And Lessons Learnt from my
Participation in the NBRP At Bergen University,

• Dr. Magdy A. Hefny
• Director of Regional Center for Studies and
  Research of Water Uses Ethics

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Content

• I. My Experience with the Program
• II. Water Ethics Nature, Scope, and Mechanism
• III. The Need for A Nile Basin Network for Water
  Ethics

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I. My Experience with the Program

• First of all I would like to thank
• - Professor Terje Tvedt the initiator of the
  program,
• - Prof. Rune Nilsen, the director of the
  program and,
• - All other colleagues and organizers at UNIFOB
  who have given of their valuable time to bring
  us together and for their efforts to propagate
  research to serve better our Nile Region.

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I. My Experience with the Program (Continued)

• The program has given me space and time to meet
  with my dear friend and colleague Professor Jacob
  Arsano, of Ethiopia. So, over three months, we
  were able to have a candid exchange of views on
  all issues related to the Nile Basin and even
  sensitive ones in their complexities,
• The academic atmosphere in the beautiful city of
  Bergen, created a new spirit of listening to each
  other, appreciating each others views, generated
  ideas that is helpful to consolidate the ongoing
  progress in the Nile Basin Initiative
• Prof. Terje Tvedt an outstanding Nile historian
  and as a scholar has given us from his valuable
  time, joined us on many occasions to clarify
  lessons of history and the way ahead for more
  cooperation on the River Nile.
• The program has generated kinship among us that
  is staying with us with such great living
  memories we enjoy together.

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I. My Experience with the Program (Continued)

• It was automn 2000, when I started my research
  project on Assessing the Nile 2002 Conference
  Series Consensus Building and Lessons Learnt,
• It has proven that using Dialogue and its tools
  is useful to widen areas of consensus among
  riparian countries.
• One year after, AEWAG, a Swiss Federal Institute
  in Zurich launched a program of workshops on
  Sustainable Development and International
  Cooperation in the Eastern Nile Basin.
• The circle is widening to include scholars from
  The Sudan.
• As a result three papers have been published in
  the Aquatic Sciences Magazine", on Egypt and the
  Nile, Ethiopia and the Nile and Sudan and the
  Nile, with a summary of the workshop proceedings
  and conclusions.
• I consider that Bergen Research Program has put
  the seeds for such development and encouraged
  continued constructive Dialogue among us.

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II. Water Ethics Nature, Scope, and Mechanism

• Nature Two Basic Questions to Investigate, among
  others
• - How to balance the right to water as a
  prerequisite for life with the right of
  ownership?,
• How to agree on preventing contamination or
  selfish exploitation of a shared basic resource?

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Scope The Value System on Local, River Basin
and International Levels
Environmental Law (Polluter pays, Sustainable use
Development)
UN Convention of 1997 (established principles for
water rights obligations)
USERS Agriculture, Energy, Household, Tourism,
Health

• Efficiency,
• Transparency
• Accountability
• Stewardship
• Team work
• Equity
• Participation

Ownership, Right to Water Accessibility (local
laws regulations)
Socio, Economic and Cultural Development
Strategies, Policies, Action
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COMEST Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Kyoto (3rd WWF)
RENEW Nodes
2002-2005
2002-2003
Aswan Ethical Guidelines A call for a Code of
Conduct, RENEW Nodes established
Conferences
1999
Oslo First Meeting Freshwater Subcommittee
1999
1998
UNESCO-COMEST Established
UNESCO_COMEST Conferences
1998
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Networking is Essential. What kind of a Network?
Public / Private Domain
Water Sector Demand / Supply Side Management
Engineers, Experts / Consultants Domain
Research / Academia Domain

• We Need Networking? Through interacting
  triangular partnership for creating knowledge
  based 'ideas' that could be translated into
  projects'
• We Need to launch the establishment of A Nile
  Basin Network for exchange of experiences of best
  practices.

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Action Research

• Generating ideas and knowledge management based
  on Action Research.

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Action to actualize water Ethic in the Nile
Basin Five ideas

• (1) Deepen the Nile values and Cultural Heritage.
• (2) Learning from Each Other Experiences for
  Knowledge Transfer
• (3) Using Dialogue and its Tools
• (4) Eradicating poverty is the main challenge of
  the Millennium
• (5) The Need for a Nile Basin Network for Water
  Ethics

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How to deepen the Nile values?

• Investigation could be on regional and local
  level to bring about commonalities
• The common heritage, history,
• Cultural aspects indigenous traditions
  particular for each society, e.g., elders play a
  role, informality, relaxed time (negotiation
  under the tree), family strong attachment,
• Religion is at the centre of every day life,
• State laws and regulations
• Local law, and customary law
• Ethical guidelines (writen and not written),
  known from the popular sayings.
• Education, schools
• Investigation could be within the context of
  global values.

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The Question of Reason Why?

• On the general level
• River Nile is a common heritage of all riparians.
• Water is a human right issue of priority.
• Access to water is legitimate for every
  individual community and country, and especially
  for the poor.
• Collaborative action under the NBI is the only
  way to face to the challenges and complexities of
  future water demand.
• The case of the Nile is a case of enhancing
  confidence building.
• Through negotiation of international agreement it
  is possible to get a satisfactory win-win
  benefits.
• The water data availability principle should be
  respected by all riparian countries.
• There is no fresh water security without major
  shift in thinking (Malin Falkenmark).
• Changing behavior through changing structures
  cultures, education and model of thinking, will
  bring about better understandings and
  appreciation of each other problems.
• Creating a learning environment on the Nile is
  essential

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Water Ethics Monitor
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RCWE a mechanism for promoting water ethics.
Challenges
Output
Activities
Implementation Mechanisms

• Code of Conduct
• Best Practice
• Public Awareness
• Knowledge Transfer
• Information Technology
• Regional and International
• Cooperation

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RCWE RENEW Node, EGYPT
Structure Method of Work

• Regional RENEW Nodes
• Nordic Countries
• South East Asia

The Higher Committee
Unesco Cairo Office
The Steering Committee
Advisors

• Executive Office
• Technical Staff
• Secretariat
• Information Technology

Director
Method of Work
Output
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The Nile Basin
We are all in the same boat !

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If common interest will lead,
Nile basin countries will follow
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• THE END
• THANK YOU