The Face of Truth | Dr. Ibrahim Shaqlawi The Nile Basin: The Water Security Equation
Yesterday, the Supreme Council for Environment, Urban and Rural Development in Khartoum State concluded a youth training forum aimed at building capacities and achieving sustainable development in the Nile Basin, with the participation of officials and initiatives concerned with the environment and local governance. The forum discussed the challenges of water management and adaptation to climate change, strengthening cooperation among Basin countries, and expanding the participation of youth and women in decision-making.
In my view, this event assumes considerable importance amid the circumstances and transformations our country and the region as a whole are undergoing. It goes beyond training and awareness-raising to pose a strategic question about the ability of the Basin countries to transform shared water resources from an area of divergent interests into a driver of development and stability.
Water security in the Nile Basin is no longer merely a technical issue related to water management; rather, it is a political and developmental equation in which considerations of sovereignty, economic needs, population pressures, and climate risks intersect.
Given the differing priorities of the Basin countries, new approaches are needed to strengthen the concept of sustainable development, based on dialogue, the exchange of information and expertise, and the development of practical cooperation mechanisms that balance national interests with the requirements of regional sustainability. The challenge lies not in the differences in needs, but in the ability to manage them within a framework that limits tensions and expands opportunities for shared interests.
The importance of this equation grows with climate change and the pressures it places on natural resources, agriculture, and livelihoods. This makes environmental awareness a necessity that goes beyond awareness-raising rhetoric towards developing policies grounded in scientific knowledge and the expertise available to countries, rationalizing water use, harvesting water, restoring vegetation cover, and strengthening communities’ capacity to adapt. Climate risks recognize no political borders, making their management a shared responsibility that requires regional coordination beyond isolated responses.
For our country, this issue is directly linked to the priorities of recovery and reconstruction after the war. The Secretary-General of the Council, Ghada Hussein Al-Awad, highlighted the environmental challenges facing Khartoum State, particularly the decline in vegetation cover, emphasizing the role of youth in leading environmental initiatives and tree-planting projects.
These priorities reveal the need to broaden the concept of reconstruction to include environmental restoration and strengthening cities’ capacity to confront climate risks, rather than limiting efforts to repairing infrastructure and services. Sustainable development is not measured solely by how quickly facilities are restored, but also by society’s ability to protect its resources and ensure their sustainability.
The real challenge, however, lies in the importance of translating the outcomes of this forum into actionable programmes that enable young people to participate effectively in designing and monitoring environmental projects, while supporting the role of the National Nile Youth Network in exchanging expertise and expanding regional cooperation. Women’s participation, reflected in the Nile Valley Forum workshop, also strengthens the connection between initiatives and the needs of local communities, particularly in rural areas, where water, food, and natural resource issues intersect with the requirements of economic empowerment and peacebuilding.
Politically, Sudan needs to link its national priorities in water management and environmental recovery with more effective engagement in cooperation among the Basin countries. This requires strengthening institutional capacities, including restoring the governing role of water resources in decision-making, alongside exchanging data and developing joint initiatives. Water security cannot be achieved in isolation from development, just as regional cooperation cannot function effectively without institutions capable of translating understandings into projects and tangible benefits for communities.
Water security is not limited to rationalizing consumption and reducing losses; it requires a strategic vision that goes beyond managing available resources to developing new ones. The government is required to plan new water-harvesting projects, continue the Zero Thirst Programme, develop irrigation infrastructure, and make use of groundwater and rainfall, alongside maintaining networks and improving their efficiency. Citizens have a role to play in rationalizing water use, while the media must raise awareness and hold institutions accountable for their policies and achievements.
Water security cannot be achieved merely by managing scarcity; it depends on the state’s ability to increase resources, invest in them effectively, and ensure their sustainability for future generations.
The strategic value of the forum, according to The Face of Truth, lies not merely in addressing water and climate challenges, but also in opening the way for an approach that makes youth and women partners in shaping solutions. The real test remains the transition from awareness to implementation, and from seasonal initiatives to sustainable policies. The Nile, as a shared resource and a space for interaction among its peoples, can become a bridge for development and stability when political will is accompanied by scientific planning, institutional and developmental action, and when human security becomes the central focus of its water equation.
Wishing you continued health and well-being.
Monday, 12 October 2026
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