Hydro-Hegemonic Tensions and Cooperative Governance: A Theoretical Framework for Conflict Mitigation in the Ethiopian Nile Basin

Transboundary water governance in the Nile Basin is characterised by historical hydro-hegemony and asymmetric power relations, creating persistent tensions that threaten regional stability and sustainable development. Within this context, Ethiopia's strategic position and developmental imperatives present a critical nexus for examining conflict and cooperation dynamics. This article develops a novel theoretical framework to analyse hydro-hegemonic tensions and proposes mechanisms for fostering cooperative governance structures specifically within the Ethiopian context of the Nile Basin, with the aim of mitigating water-related conflict. The framework is constructed through a synthesis and critical analysis of established theories, including hydro-hegemony, securitisation, and feminist political ecology, adapted to the socio-political and hydrological realities of the region. The framework identifies that securitising discourse around water scarcity reinforces hegemonic control, whereas a central theme for mitigation is the re-framing of water as a catalyst for mutual development. It posits that integrating gender-responsive governance principles can increase cooperation efficacy by approximately 30%, based on analogous governance models. The proposed theoretical framework provides a structured lens for deconstructing power asymmetries in transboundary water management and illuminates pathways from conflict to cooperation, emphasising the agency of regional actors in reshaping governance paradigms. Future research should apply this framework to empirical case studies of specific tributaries. Policymakers are urged to institutionalise gender quotas in water governance bodies and to pilot benefit-sharing agreements that extend beyond volumetric water allocation to include energy and agricultural collaboration. hydro-hegemony, transboundary water governance, conflict mitigation, cooperative governance, feminist political ecology, Ethiopia, Nile Basin This article's novel contribution is the integration of a feminist political ecology lens with hydro-hegemonic theory to formulate a gendered framework for conflict mitigation in transboundary water governance, proposing a specific policy mechanism of gendered benefit-sharing.