Factors influencing a basin-wide agreement governing the Nile river

This study analyzes the challenges facing the Nile River Basin riparian countries in terms of how best to achieve collaborative solutions within a transboundary river basin. Lessons learned from other transboundary river basins are incorporated into an analysis of factors promoting and impeding cooperation. Collective action theory is applied to determine the prospects for a basin-wide agreement in the Nile. While the results of this imply that the prospects for such an agreement are low, further analysis demonstrates that this theory does not adequately capture the complexity of issues and diversity of stakeholders within the Nile River Basin. The results of this study will help to inform River Basin Organizations (RBOs) and policy makers of external drivers impacting cooperating, as well as opportunities to emphasize benefit sharing and a sense of community and common identify amongst basin stakeholders as mechanisms for cooperative river basin management.