The Nile riparian states have launched an ambitious two-year water resources management and development project worth $15 million (Sh1.3 billion) to fight climate change within the Nile basin.

The project, dubbed 'Nile Cooperation for Results (NCORE)' will be funded by the Nile Basin Trust Fund for $13.8 million (Sh1.2 billion)and the Cooperation in International Waters in Africa (CIWA) trust fund for $1.5 million (Sh126.3 million) both administered by the World Bank, the NBI secretariat said.

NBI is an intergovernmental organisation comprising of Burundi, DR Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda, all whom share in the resources of the River Nile.

Nile Basin Trust Fund is a basket fund administered by the World Bank on behalf of multiple donors that comprise of Canada, Denmark, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, European Union, AfDB and various UN agencies such as UNDP and the FAO.

Meanwhile, the German government, through GIZ has pledged to NBI a Sh440.4 million €4 million) for the next three years, NBI executive director Teferra Beyene disclosed.

The GIZ funds Beyene explained was part of the continued resource mobilization efforts with potential development partners, to enable implementation of the five-year Strategic Plan of the NBI.