AboutFRIENDSForum

Our History

FRIENDS (Forum for Research Initiatives, Exchange of kNowledge, and Development Support) was formed five years ago (July 2020) by professionals from Nile Basin countries. The forum was formed with a primary goal of building trust and hence collaboration and cooperation among the countries in the region and beyond through free discussions based on science, data, engineering, economics, and highlighting of cultural commonalities. Dr. Abate Tadesse (Ethiopia), educator and civil engineer, initiated the forum and subsequently launched it in collaboration with Dr. Khalid Siddig (Sudan), an agricultural economist and researcher.

FRIENDS organized various webinars throughout its existence promoting the advantage of working together for the greater common good, with the common people in mind. Among primary goals of this forum include impacting or influencing policy decision makers by directing them to aim for economic development for the greater common good of the common people they are accountable for. Presentation recordings were communicated to attendees and all who requested for it.

As the name of the forum implies, it is designed to trigger research initiatives through the exchange of knowledge as well as working together to birth joint research ideas that could translate to realistic projects to promote and support infrastructure development crucial for securing the water, food, and energy needs of the ever-growing population in the region.

Therefore, the main concentration of the forum’s effort is promoting and highlighting the common benefits through reaching an agreement for equitable and reasonable use of the Nile River water resources among the Nile Basin riparian countries. It also encourages multi-disciplinary interactions among technical experts, policy makers, and artists to bring people together through music, friendship, understanding, and trust. It is believed that creating such climate of free discussions based on science and data generates the necessary ingredients for healthy and peaceful relationships to realize the greater common good of the common people through cooperation and collaboration in the region, as well as the whole of Africa, and beyond. Through FRIENDS’ platforms, answers were provided to various questions, set forth whether genuinely or otherwise, regarding the GERD project. The answers provided were based on scientific, engineering, and economics-based presentations and discussions. The forums addressed these questions, put forward at various times and frequencies, on subjects of the structural integrity of the design of the dam, and hydrological, operational, as well as perceived earthquake and environmental risks. The answers were provided by inviting internationally well-known experts in their respective fields and through accompanying discussions.

In the political and diplomatic aspects, especially, the CFA (Cooperative Framework Agreement) and the subsequent establishment of the NRBC (Nile River Basin Commission), FRIENDS organized presentations that tackled head on these major hot topics through free discussions. Presenters included key players in the negotiation phase of the CFA. As the result, FRIENDS believes to have contributed in getting support for the GERD Project from different countries by addressing the international transboundary river issues, particularly the hydro-politics in the Nile River Basin, and encouragement for building infrastructure links that could contribute to the regional economic development.

Presenters at about forty-five (45) virtual meetings organized by FRIENDS included professionally renowned engineers, scientists, economists, agronomists, geophysicists, lawyers, musicians, artists, etc., from different countries (such as Sudan, Ethiopia, Egypt, Uganda, Tanzania, Canada, USA, etc.). Future meetings are planned to be held not only virtually but in person, at least once a year, preferably at the capital cities of the Nile Basin countries.