On 27 October 2026 in The Hague, a delegation from the Niger Basin Authority (NBA), led by its Executive Secretary, held a series of strategic meetings with Dutch institutions—WPS, Clingendael, RVO and Partners for Water—facilitated by the Netherlands Commission for Environmental Assessment (NCEA/CNEE).
The other members of the NBA delegation were the Director General of Hydraulics, who coordinates the NBA National Focal Structure in Niger; the Director of the Basin Observatory; and the Hydrology Expert and Coordinator of the SATH Project.
Discussions focused on turning shared intentions into concrete, innovative cooperation to benefit the people of the Basin and the NBA’s nine member states.
1. Message from the Niger Basin Authority
The NBA Executive Secretary, H.E. Mr Kocou Armand HOUANYE, conveyed a message to the Authority’s partners centred on two key points:
- expressing the NBA’s renewed and profound gratitude to its partners in the Kingdom of the Netherlands for their engagement and support;
- strengthening cooperation between the NBA and the Kingdom of the Netherlands by making the most of the internationally recognised expertise and experience within the Dutch partner ecosystem.
2. Dutch partners met
Water, Peace and Security (WPS): Presented by Ms Svenja Wolter and Mr Lörinc Mészoros of Deltares, the international Water, Peace and Security initiative was launched in 2018. It brings together a consortium of six leading institutions: IHE Delft, WRI, Deltares, HCSS, Wetlands International and International Alert.
WPS’s ultimate aim is to break the vicious cycle of water crises and instability, and replace it with sustainable and peaceful water management in support of Sustainable Development Goal 6. It works through four pillars:
- Understand: Use artificial intelligence and hydrological data to anticipate tensions.
- Mobilize: Alert decision-makers and communities so they can take preventive action.
- Learn: Strengthen the technical skills of local stakeholders.
- Dialogue: Support water diplomacy and negotiations to defuse rivalries.
The discussions also focused on tools developed through the Frexus Project—in Niger, Mali and Chad—to support local peace planning.
Clingendael Institute: As a leading Dutch think tank, Clingendael provides specialised expertise on the political economy of conflict, natural resource governance and cross-border security. Its work analyses state fragility and community tensions, placing the institute at the intersection of water diplomacy and climate adaptation.
Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO): In line with its broader mandate and its Integrated Landscape Management (ILM) approach, RVO supports innovation, sustainability and the green transition. ILM brings together stakeholders from across a given territory—including agriculture, forestry, water and urban planning—to make coordinated decisions that balance the needs of people and nature.
Partners for Water: Managed by RVO for the 2022–2027 period, the Partners for Water programme funds and supports international projects focused on water innovation and resilience. It aims to help transform river management in response to climate change by combining Dutch technical expertise with the NBA’s cross-border political mandate.
3. Prospects for cooperation between the NBA and the partners met
Water, Peace and Security: The initiative could contribute actively to:
- implementing the NBA Strategic Plan (2026–2030), including the accelerated and effective development of major water, energy and food security infrastructure; and
- updating the shared vision for the sustainable development of the Niger Basin, together with the preparation of strategic documents to guide its implementation.
Clingendael Institute: Cooperation could strengthen the NBA’s capacity in research-based decision support, including anticipating climate shocks; water diplomacy, including negotiation training for NBA staff; and preparing credible proposals for international donors.
RVO: Potential areas of cooperation include developing holistic cross-border planning, mobilising climate finance for bankable projects, pooling hydrographic and mapping data, and conducting strategic environmental assessments.
Partners for Water: Cooperation could be developed around four pillars: (i) digitalisation and early-warning systems; (ii) ecological resilience; (iii) food security through the Water–Biodiversity–Food (WBF) Nexus; and (iv) financial support and mobilisation.
These fruitful consultations in The Hague outline the basis for a comprehensive, multidimensional and mutually reinforcing partnership between the NBA and the Dutch institutional ecosystem. By combining geopolitical research, technical innovation, integrated landscape management and water diplomacy, the NBA aims to turn the Niger Basin’s many challenges into concrete opportunities for peace, sustainable development and shared prosperity for its people.
