Share your knowledge, evidence and experience at the Nile Basin's flagship science–policy dialogue. NBI invites researchers, practitioners, policy-makers, development partners, private sector actors, civil society organisations and youth from across the Nile Basin and beyond to submit abstracts for the 8th Nile Basin Development Forum (NBDF8).
Every three years, NBI convenes the Nile Basin Development Forum in collaboration with its Member States and in partnership with development and international cooperation partners. The Forum is the Basin's premier science–policy dialogue: a space where evidence meets decision-making, where professionals from eleven riparian countries exchange knowledge and best practice in transboundary water resources management, and where new partnerships are formed.
NBDF8 arrives at a consequential moment. The Basin's population continues to grow rapidly, climate variability is intensifying, and the investments made this decade will shape the livelihoods of hundreds of millions of people for generations. The 2026 Forum therefore convenes under the theme:
The theme names three areas in which investment must be made — people, innovation, and cooperation for shared prosperity — and these give the Forum its three sub-themes, set out below. Accepted abstracts form the basis of a series of thematic webinars held in the months leading up to the Forum, giving authors an extended platform to present findings, receive feedback, and refine contributions ahead of the Forum itself in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
The Forum welcomes a deliberately wide range of work. Declare which type best describes your paper when you submit.
The Guide to Authors is split into two guidelines documents. Technical Details and Examples sets out all 18 topics in full — the Key Question and example paper topics for each. Overview and Preparation covers the required abstract structure, word limits and review criteria.
Each sub-theme carries six topics. Submissions are strongest when they engage one topic in depth. Full Key Questions and example paper topics are in Annex 2: Technical Details and Examples.
Treating human capability, voice, welfare, resilience and trust as essential infrastructure for cooperation — no less consequential than dams, canals and gauging stations.
Building a basin-wide capability to identify, develop, test, adapt, transfer, finance and sustain better ways of managing shared Nile waters.
Committing sustained political, institutional, technical and financial resources so Nile countries can manage their interdependence and share the river's benefits fairly.
Submit under the one it addresses most directly, and make the linkage explicit in the abstract. If your paper combines two contribution types — for example a status assessment concluding with scenario analysis — name the primary type and note the secondary one in the form.
— — last day to submit your structured abstract via this page.
— — authors are informed whether their abstract has been accepted.
— — accepted authors submit the complete paper.
Thematic webinars in —, then NBDF8 itself in —, —.
Consult Annex 1 for the submission process and abstract-writing guidance, and Annex 2 for the Key Question and example topics for your chosen topic.
Select the single topic your paper speaks to most directly.
Write the five required elements — Background, Objective, Methods, Results, Conclusions — in 250–300 words total.
Send your abstract before —. You will receive a confirmation email.
Fields marked * are required. The abstract body must total 250–300 words — this limit is strictly applied.
Contact the Scientific Committee with any query about the Call for Abstracts. We aim to respond within two working days.