The Nile Basin Discourse Forum—Rwanda (NBDF) has launched a non-governmental forum on water, sanitation and environment that will promote proper water access and sanitation.

The forum that amalgamates different water, sanitation and environmental stakeholders in an all inclusive way was launched at the Kigali Serena Hotel on Thursday.

According to the National NBDF Coordinator, Frank Habineza, the forum will act as a single voice representing the civil society (private and public) and government in improving access to safe and clean water in Rwanda.

"It will be easy to enhance resource mobilisation and capacity building as well as information sharing and advocacy amongst players in water, sanitation and environment,” he underscored. 

The forum was launched in collaboration with the African Civil Society Network (ANEW) on Water and Sanitation, a continental body recognised by the African Ministerial Council on Water (AMCOW). 

NBDF is the office that facilitates the involvement of civil society in planning and development processes under the Nile Basin Initiative (NBI).

During the launch, Habineza revealed that efforts to initiate this forum with the proposal from the Ministry of Lands have been in place for sometime but had failed to take off.

Habineza, also the Chairman of the Rwanda Environmental Conservation Organisation (RECO) and board member of ANEW, disclosed that all players were eligible to join the forum.

Clement Kirenga, the Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategy (EDPRS) Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist from the ministry of Finance, said the forum is very necessary in improving the lives of Rwandans through further access to safe drinking water.

He explained that it will seek to achieve sustainable economic growth and social development.

"It is an EDPRS oriented initiative to bring about an increase in water access from 64 percent, to about 86 percent by 2010,” Kirenga explained.

Jean Marie Vianney Mushinzimana, the Officer in Charge of Water and Environment in the ministry of Natural Resources, commended the efforts of NBDF in preserving the environment while ensuring sustainable natural resources and growth.

He also acknowledged the need for a forum where different players would amicably discuss how to manage and conserve water, sanitation and the entire environment.

Mushinzimana urged for collective efforts against environmental dilapidation that has greatly roused world concern due to climatic changes.

At the launch, a constitution was drafted and office bearers elected.

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