The main objective of this thesis is analyzing the nexus between water sharing and benefitrnsharing approaches in the context of Eastern Nile Basin. While water sharing as an approachrnis associated with the volumetric allocation of water, benefit sharing is seen as an alternativernapproach which is based on the sharing of benefits from the uses and non-uses of water. Inrn(Eastern) Nile Basin both approaches has been go parallel. The water sharing approach hasrnto do with the Cooperative Framework Agreement (CFA); which is meant an agreement thatrnturndown the unfair status quo which bases itself in old bilateral or colonial agreements, andrninstalled a system based on the principle of equitable and reasonable utilization. The recentlyrnpopularized benefit sharing approach in Eastern Nile Basin has also adopted through therndifferent projects prepared by Eastern Nile Technical Regional Office (ENTRO), which is arntechnical wing of the Eastern Nile Subsidiary Action Program (ENSAP).rnThe different positions, policies and strategies adopted by the Eastern Nile Basin statesrn(Egypt, Ethiopia, Sudan), however, are at odds and contradicting. While Ethiopia needs tornchange the unfair status quo and then to manage the Nile water together on equal footing,rnEgypt and Sudan wants to continue with the status quo by keeping the water they dividedrnbetween themselves intact. Hence, it should be clear that the benefit sharing approach to bernfruitful necessitates some conditions such as peaceful hydropolitical relations betweenrnriparians, generally agreed agreement on the water itself, trust and confidence etc which isrnlacking in the Eastern Nile Basin. Therefore, without meeting such conditions, any attempt atrnjoint projects is short term solution and does not address the fundamental problems.rnTherefore, by analyzing the gap between the two approaches and their practicality on thernground with the existing situation, this study has come up with four scenarios in relation tornthe two approaches mentioned; water sharing and benefit sharing arrangements. These are,rnwater sharing agreement without benefit sharing arrangement, benefit sharing arrangementrnwithout water sharing agreement, benefit sharing arrangement pending water sharingrnagreement and two agreements of water sharing and benefit sharing arrangements. Amongrnthe above scenarios, coming up with two agreements of water sharing and benefit sharingrnarrangements between the riparian states is a solution in solving the dispute over the Nile.rnTherefore, the signing of the CFA by all riparian states that destroys the real impediment ofrncooperation is a precondition for further upstream-downstream cooperation. Nevertheless, the divergent position of the riparians and their contradictory Nile policies and strategiesrnhave proved that unilateralism will remain the rule of the game till the near future and breedsconflict in the Eastern Nile Basin.rnKey words: Eastern Nile, water shari