The International Water Management Institute (IWMI) and the Nile Basin Initiative (NBI) have launched plans to develop a pioneering digital twin for the Nile Basin, marking a major step toward improving water management, forecasting, and regional cooperation across one of Africa’s most important river systems.
The initiative was advanced during a three-day consultative workshop held in Kampala, Uganda, where technical experts from both organizations and partner institutions outlined a roadmap for the project’s development. The proposed digital twin will serve as a unified digital platform that integrates water data, supports scenario analysis, and enhances decision-making for policymakers and stakeholders throughout the basin.
The Nile Basin faces ongoing challenges related to data integration, accessibility, and visualization, which can limit effective water resource planning. By creating a digital representation of the basin, the project aims to provide clearer insights into water availability, usage patterns, and future risks, helping countries make more informed management decisions.
A key focus of the collaboration will be strengthening the Strategic Water Resources Assessment, a program that has provided critical information on water supply and demand since 2015. The digital twin will help transform complex datasets into accessible and actionable information for governments, researchers, and water managers.
The project will also support the enhancement of the Regional Hydrological Monitoring and Forecasting System, which delivers flood warnings and water quality information to millions of people across the basin. Improved visualization and communication tools are expected to boost disaster preparedness and strengthen the capacity of national agencies to respond to water-related risks.
Building on years of cooperation between IWMI and NBI, the Nile Basin Digital Twin represents a significant investment in digital innovation for sustainable water governance. By combining advanced technology with regional expertise, the initiative seeks to improve collaboration, strengthen resilience, and support long-term water security for communities across the Nile Basin.
