Abstract
The adoption in 1997 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Non-navigational Uses of International Watercourses (UN Watercourses Convention or UNWC) marked a milestone in the codification and progressive development of international water law. Similarly, the signature in 2010 by the majority of the Nile Basin states of the Nile River Basin Cooperative Framework Agreement (CFA) was a major step towards a permanent legal and institutional framework as well as a significant shift from the currently applicable legal regime in the basin. The research concludes that the principles enshrined in the UNWC can assist future regional treaty negotiations, thereby enhancing its universal status in the development of transboundary watercourse agreements.
The investigation includes an analysis of the UNWC impact on the case of GERD dispute, emphasizing the role of the UNWC in mitigating conflicts and promoting cooperation, the thesis delves briefly into case studies, to illustrate real-world applications. The findings demonstrate the compatibility and efficacy of UNWC principles in facilitating equitable transboundary water management. However, the challenges in implementation, including fact-finding, conflicts of interest, and political considerations, underscore the need for a ‘neutral’ third-party intervention.
Within a policy design perspective, the thesis explores how the identified principles of international law have been employed in prolonged negotiations, offering insights that could inform the resolution of the Egypt-Ethiopia conflict. While acknowledging that international law principles alone may not completely resolve the conflict. Emphasizing both the principle of equitable and reasonable use and a human needs approach, the thesis suggests that these frameworks have the potential to shift the narrative away from a security-focused approach and a zero-sum game perspective. Instead, they encourage an approach grounded in the importance of cooperation between the involved parties, offering a pathway for a more constructive resolution to the conflict.
School
School of Sciences and Engineering
Department
Center for Applied Research on the Environment & Sustainability
Degree Name
MS in Sustainable Development
Graduation Date
Winter 1-16-2025
Submission Date
1-27-2025
First Advisor
Dr. Shahjahan Bhuiyan
Committee Member 1
Dr. Hamid E. Ali
Committee Member 2
Dr. Noura Wahby
Committee Member 3
Moderator: Dr. Ghada Barsoum
Extent
135 p.
Document Type
Master's Thesis
Institutional Review Board (IRB) Approval
Approval has been obtained for this item
Recommended Citation
APA Citation
Abdelhady, Z. A.
(2025).The Influence of the UN Watercourses Convention on the Development of a Policy Design in the Nile River Basin [Master's Thesis, the American University in Cairo]. AUC Knowledge Fountain.
https://fount.aucegypt.edu/etds/2466
MLA Citation
Abdelhady, Zienab Ali. The Influence of the UN Watercourses Convention on the Development of a Policy Design in the Nile River Basin. 2025. American University in Cairo, Master's Thesis. AUC Knowledge Fountain.
https://fount.aucegypt.edu/etds/2466
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Zienab_Ali_Abdelhady_Turnitin.pdf (122 kB)
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Environmental Engineering Commons, Environmental Policy Commons, Environmental Studies Commons, Other International and Area Studies Commons, Policy Design, Analysis, and Evaluation Commons, Public Policy Commons, Sustainability Commons, Water Resource Management Commons