In this blog, Akomi Vic Innocent Legge reflects on how an internship opportunity with the Nile Basin Discourse sparked a powerful transformation in his understanding of climate resilience. Through close engagement with communities in South Sudan, he uncovers the realities they face and the strength of local solutions. He highlights how lived experiences, indigenous knowledge, and collective action are shaping more resilient futures of these vulnerable communities.

Tsion Demisse Zerga’s internship with the Nile Basin Discourse offers a grounded, personal journey from policy theory to frontline realities. Through field engagements, community dialogues, and regional exposure, she reflects on how working directly with communities reshaped her understanding of climate resilience, youth inclusion, and environmental justice, revealing an experience that is as transformative for her professional growth as it is impactful for the communities she serves.

Since November 2025, my journey with Nile Basin Discourse (NBD) under the Nile Civil Society for Climate Resilience (NCSCR) project has been more than just an internship it has been a master class in the intersection of grassroots reality and regional policy.
As I reflect on my activities over the past few months, three core themes emerge: the power of community voice, the necessity of youth inclusion, and the evolving landscape of climate justice.

Hazardous, steep paths that women must navigate daily, often in pre-dawn hours to reach the lower stream beds. Guje Wereda, 24 January 2026.

The heart of my experience has been centered on field activities. Engaging with local communities along the Nile Basin has shifted my perspective on climate resilience. I have learned that resilience isn’t a technical metric; it’s the ability of a farmer to adapt to shifting rains or a community’s capacity to manage shared water resources during a drought.

Facilitating these dialogues taught me that civil society serves as the vital connective tissue between high-level basin cooperation and local livelihoods. Seeing how NBD amplifies these often-unheard voices has been the most rewarding part of my tenure so far.

Parallel to my formal responsibilities, I’ve sought to deepen my understanding of the broader climate movement. Through my network, I had the opportunity to attend the Eco-Justice Ethiopia - The Great Debate 'The African Development Crossroads'. This experience was pivotal. It allowed me to bring fresh, intersectional perspectives on energy future and fossil fuel investments back to my work at NBD.

Integrating these external insights has helped me see that the Nile Basin’s challenges are not just environmental they are social and political. My personal growth at Eco-Justice Ethiopia served as a perfect "value-add" to my contributions within the NCSCR project, reinforcing the idea that a young professional’s personal initiative can directly benefit their institutional work.

NBD occupies a unique and necessary niche. It provides a platform for “discourse” a word that implies more than just talking; it implies the democratic exchange of ideas for a common goal. I have been deeply impressed by the organization’s commitment to making sure that Nile cooperation is not just a government-to-government affair, but a people-to-people movement.

While my experience has been overwhelmingly positive, I believe there is an opportunity to push the boundaries further. My "wish" for NBD is to see an even more robust framework for Youth-Led Research and Advocacy.

The next generation of water professionals needs to move from being observers in the field to being active architects of policy. I hope NBD continues to pioneer mentorship structures that allow interns and young civil society leaders to present their findings directly to regional decision-makers.

As I continue my work, I am grateful to NBD for the space to learn and lead. The Nile Basin is a landscape of immense challenge but even greater opportunity. By continuing to bridge the gap between community needs and regional strategies, we can ensure a resilient future for all who call this basin home.

The writer holds a conversation with a mother and young learners at a water collection point, documenting the direct impact of water scarcity on school attendance and academic performance. Guje Wereda, 24 January 2026.

In Juba, where only 30% of residents have reliable access to clean water, Achiro Concy’s daily struggle to secure water for her family reflects a deepening crisis intensified by extreme heat and rising costs. Her life took a positive turn when community-led initiatives, supported by Nile Basin Discourse Forum, JICA, and the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation, introduced sustainable water solutions. Today, her story stands as a powerful example of how community-driven approaches can transform lives, improve health outcomes, and build resilience in water-stressed regions.

In the scorching heat of Juba, where reliable access to clean water remains out of reach for many, daily life can become a relentless struggle. For Achiro Concy, a 28-year-old mother of three living in Luri, securing water for her family once meant long, exhausting journeys under the sun and difficult choices between cost, safety, and survival.

With only about 30% of residents able to access safe and reliable water, most households depend on private water vendors who deliver untreated or poorly treated water by truck. For Achiro, this water was not only expensive but often unsafe posing constant health risks to her children. Each day, she stored the little she could afford in 100 to 150-liter drums, carefully rationing it for cooking, cleaning, and drinking, knowing it would rarely be enough.

Water supplier truck drawing unsafe water from the River Nile. ©Dreamstime (http://www.dreamstime.com)

Before change came, Achiro’s routine was defined by uncertainty. Water sources were inconsistent, streams had dried up due to prolonged heat, and the cost of water fluctuated unpredictably. Time spent searching for water meant less time caring for her children or pursuing income-generating activities. Like many women in her community, the burden of water collection fell squarely on her shoulders; physically draining and emotionally taxing, with direct consequences for her family’s well-being.

Achiro’s life began to shift when she attended a community meeting organized by the Nile Basin Discourse Forum – South Sudan (NBDF-SS), focused on sustainable water solutions. The meeting brought together local leaders, government representatives from the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation, and development partners including JICA, Action for Children, and Women Organization (ACWO). What started as a discussion quickly became a catalyst for action. Motivated by the possibilities, Achiro joined a community committee dedicated to improving water access through locally driven solutions. Together, they implemented rainwater harvesting systems, installing rooftop collection structures and developing community water storage points. These efforts significantly reduced the time and effort required to access water.

The transformation in Achiro’s life was made possible through a collaborative approach. NBDF-SS played a central role in mobilizing the community and ensuring local voices shaped the solutions. JICA provided technical expertise and resources, while the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation ensured alignment with national priorities and sustainability frameworks. A key outcome of this collaboration was the establishment of a community-managed water tap point, an affordable and safer alternative to water sold by private truck vendors. This initiative directly benefited more than 300 families in Juba, improving both access and affordability of clean water. Local organizations like ACWO further strengthened the effort through community awareness and engagement, particularly around sanitation and safe water practices.

With improved access to clean water, Achiro’s daily reality changed dramatically. No longer spending hours searching for water, she could dedicate more time to her children and invest in a small craft business to support her household. The health of her family also improved, reflecting a broader community trend - waterborne illnesses dropped by an estimated 40%, easing both emotional and financial strain. Beyond the practical benefits, something less visible but equally powerful emerged: confidence. Achiro found her voice within the community. She became an advocate for sustainable water practices, encouraging other women to participate in local decision-making and income-generating activities. What began as a personal struggle evolved into a shared movement of empowerment.

Water bowser trucks line up at a distribution point to fill treated water for supply

Achiro’s story highlights a critical truth: sustainable solutions to water scarcity are most effective when they are community-led. By involving residents in the design, implementation, and management of water systems, these initiatives foster ownership, accountability, and long-term viability. Small contributions from community members toward maintenance further strengthen sustainability, ensuring that solutions endure beyond initial project support. In the face of increasing climate pressures, including prolonged heat waves and water shortages, such approaches offer a practical and scalable pathway toward resilience.

While challenges remain, Achiro’s story demonstrates possibilities when communities are not just beneficiaries, but active partners in shaping solutions. Strengthening community ownership, expanding rainwater harvesting, investing in inclusive water infrastructure, and deepening collaboration between local actors and development partners will be essential to sustaining progress. For Achiro and many others in Juba, access to clean water is no longer just about survival, it is about dignity, opportunity, and hope for a better future.