Mr. Lacina KONE, Executive Secretary of the WAP Complex Management System, paid a courtesy visit to the NBA Executive Secretary, Mr. Kocou Armand HOUANYE, on November 19, 2025, in Niamey. The two partners, whose headquarters are both located in Niamey, Niger, explored avenues for formalizing operational cooperation in the near future. This partnership aim to enhance the management of shared natural resources in the sub-region.
For this occasion, the Executive Secretary of the W-Arly-Pendjari (WAP) Trans-boundary Protected Areas Complex Management System was accompanied by Mr. Moustapha HIYA MAIDAWA, Regional Project Manager for the West African Savannahs Foundation (WASF). Accompanying the Executive Secretary of the Niger Basin Authority (NBA) were the Ag. Technical Director, Mr. Ibro ADAMOU; the Director of the Niger Basin Observatory (NBO), Mr. Didier ZINSOU; the Director of Administration and Finance (DAF), Mr. Abass FOFANA; and the ES’ Chief of Cabinet, Mr. Gérard KABORE.
Productive discussions concerning the sustainable management of trans-boundary natural resources within the W-Arly-Pendjari Protected Areas Complex and the Niger Basin
Opening the discussions, Mr. KONE expressed deep gratitude to the NBA Executive Secretary for his availability and the warm welcome. He specified that his visit was part of a dynamic effort to strengthen regional cooperation for the preservation of natural resources, including national, trans-boundary, and globally significant resources. The Executive Secretary of the WAP Management System then outlined the visit’s main objectives, namely: (i) To present the WAP Management System’s mission, governance, and activities, focusing on the three (3) member countries (Benin, Burkina Faso, and Niger) that are also members of the nine-member NBA; (ii) To exchange information on NBA’s experience, recognized as a model institution for trans-boundary cooperation and integration. This exchange aims to inform ongoing efforts to operationalize and activate the governance bodies of the WAP Management System; and (iii) To jointly explore areas of common interest for collaboration, which will be consolidated by WAP Management System and NBA experts into a draft Framework Partnership Agreement. This agreement is expected to be finalized and signed imminently by the two Executive Secretaries.
The WAP Complex Management System, officially established in 2022, is the result of a long, participatory inter-state process initiated between 2013 and 2014 by its three member countries (Benin, Burkina Faso, and Niger). The tripartite agreement signed in 2019 by the three member countries defines the key governance bodies of the WAP Management System: (i) the Council of Ministers (CM/WAP); (ii) the Technical Monitoring Council (CTS/WAP); and (iii) the Executive Secretariat (SE/WAP). The appointment of Mr. Lacina KONE as Executive Secretary by Decision of the CM/WAP (August 2025 session), and his assumption of office on November 3, 2025, marks a critical new phase in the integrated management of this strategic trans-boundary ecosystem for West African and global biodiversity.
Mr. HOUANYE congratulated his counterpart on his appointment and reaffirmed the NBA’s willingness to share its expertise in effective governance and the collaborative management of shared natural resources with the WAP Executive Secretary, his Directors, and Experts. He further assured the WAP Executive Secretary of the commitment of his staff and himself to fostering productive cooperation between the two institutions.
Formalizing the Operational Partnership Framework Agreement between WAP and NBA
NBA presented several of its programmes, including the “Improving knowledge-based management and governance of IWRM in the Niger Basin and Iullemeden-Taoudeni/Tanezrouft aquifer system (NB-ITTAS)” project. This project focuses on improving integrated water resources management (IWRM), knowledge-based management and governance of the Niger Basin. The implementation of the NB-ITTAS project has resulted, notably, in the establishment of an active regional platform within the WAP Management System’s territorial area. The two Executive Secretaries agreed to work towards the imminent signing of a partnership framework agreement. This agreement will enable the institutions to develop joint initiatives benefiting both local populations and shared natural ecosystems in the sub-region, particularly the trans-boundary protected areas, including those of WAP Complex.
This courtesy visit marks an important step towards closer cooperation between the two institutions, supporting their countries’ efforts to ensure security, stability, resilience, and climate change adaptation within countries and across the Niger Basin and the West Africa Protected (WAP) complex.
The rich and constructive discussions underscored a convergence of shared visions for joint action toward the sustainable preservation of trans-boundary natural resources. The imminent signing of a Framework Partnership Agreement paves the way for successful operational cooperation between the two institutions. This partnership will leverage political and strategic support of member countries and Technical and Financial Partners, to advance the priorities of sustainable management for shared and trans-boundary natural resources in the sub-region.
