Share your knowledge, evidence and experience at the Nile Basin's flagship science–policy dialogue. NBI invited 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). The call is now closed.
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 welcomed a deliberately wide range of work, and authors declared which type best describes their paper.
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.
— — the Call for Abstracts closed and no further abstracts are being accepted.
— — authors are told by email whether their abstract has been accepted.
— — accepted authors submit the complete paper.
Thematic webinars in —, then NBDF8 itself in —, —.
The Call for Abstracts closed on —. Thank you to everyone who submitted. New abstracts are no longer being accepted.
You should have received a confirmation email with your reference number (NBDF8-ABS-…). If you cannot find it, check your spam folder, then contact the Scientific Committee quoting the title of your abstract.
The Scientific Committee is reviewing all abstracts received. Authors will be told by email by — whether their abstract has been accepted. Accepted authors then submit a full paper by —.
Read Guidelines: Overview and PreparationContact the Scientific Committee with any query about the Call for Abstracts. We aim to respond within two working days.