Seifu , Henok2018-11-142024-10-112018-11-142024-10-112016-06https://etd.aau.edu.et/handle/123456789/14209The Eastern Nile Basin is known for its power asymmetry and the existence of Egypt‟s hydro-hegemony in the Basin, Ethiopia has been contesting this hydro-hegemony, through various counter hydro-hegemonic mechanisms and strategies. This research takes the commencement of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) as one of Ethiopia‟s counter-hydro hegemonic strategy. The thesis examined the change in the power relation among Eastern Nile Riparian states and the counter hydro-hegemonic mechanisms applied before and after the commencement of the GERD. The research applied qualitative research methods, using both primary and secondary sources. Interviews were conducted with experts, officials from relevant institutions and offices in Ethiopia; an attempt to interview officials of Sudan and Egypt Embassies in Addis Ababa has failed. The study reveals the power relation in the Eastern Nile Basin has started to change as Ethiopia started to show a relative increase of power that makes it capable of narrowing the power asymmetry in the Basin. Ethiopia has applied various counter hydro-hegemonic mechanisms before and after the commencement of the GERD against the hydro-hegemony of Egypt in order to bring about equitable and reasonable utilization of Nile waters in the Basin. Ethiopia‟s counter hydro-hegemony started to become more significant mostly after Ethiopia commenced a unilateral national hydroelectric dam projects, particularly the GERD with domestic funding. As a result, Ethiopia applied both leveraging and liberating counter hydro-hegemonic mechanisms simultaneously in the Basin. Ethiopia was successful in setting an agenda for the creation of the International Panel of Expert to build the confidence of the downstream states by urged them to accept the GERD as a fact on the ground. Ethiopia has also managed to draw Sudan‟s support concerning the construction of the GERD, and able to win their support apart from its (Sudan‟s) former stance as an ally of Egypt concerning any matters related to the Nile. And, Ethiopia was also able to sign the Declaration of Principles on the use of the GERD with Egypt and Sudan, where the downstream states had compromised from their former position of „acquired‟ and „historic right‟ concerning the usage of Nile waters. The thesis concludes by highlighting that the GERD is one component of Ethiopia‟s counter hydro-hegemony, with the potential to physically control water and assert greater power in the Basin when completed.en-USNile Basin,Grand Ethiopian Renaissance DamThesis