Nile Dam: Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia are set to resume talks over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) after U.S.-sponsored talks failed to produce an agreement in February. Crisis Group expert William Davison says this is a highly welcome development. Some of the key issues the parties need to agree on are how to manage drought and resolve disputes. With Ethiopia set to start filling in the next few months, if the parties are unable to strike a comprehensive agreement, they could focus instead on closing an initial deal for the first two years of filling. That would institutionalise cooperation and provide a suitable foundation and more time to finalise an all-encompassing agreement on the filling and operation of the GERD.