Abuja, 30 September 2026
The Regional Conference on Hydro-diplomacy, Gender, and Strategic Investments for Peace, Stability, and Shared Prosperity in Transboundary Basins concluded on September 30, 2026, in Abuja, Nigeria. Following three days of high-level consultations, participants reached a shared understanding on leveraging regional cooperation for inclusive development and the sustainable management of shared water resources.

The proceedings highlighted three key levers: hydro-diplomacy as a tool for dialogue and conflict prevention, the integration of gender into natural resources governance, and the promotion of strategic investments across the water, agriculture, energy, and infrastructure sectors.

The main outcomes achieved include:
- Strengthening regional cooperation: Recognizing transboundary basin organizations as key platforms for dialogue, consultation, and trust-building among member countries;
- Promoting benefit-sharing: Advancing equitable sharing of benefits from water resources and transboundary investments to foster balanced economic, social, and environmental development;
- Adopting the NBA-LCBC Joint Declaration: Reaffirming the shared commitment to strengthening regional dialogue, joint cooperation mechanisms, and synergies in action;
- Issuing the Final Communiqué: Enshrining the commitments of member countries, regional organizations, and Technical and Financial Partners toward hydro-diplomacy, inclusive investments, and gender integration;
- Mobilizing resources: Reaffirming the commitment to secure funding and consolidate the strategic partnerships necessary to implement priority actions.

Through this landmark gathering, the Niger Basin Authority (NBA) and the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC) established a dynamic of strengthened cooperation and shared commitment to advance lasting peace, regional stability, and shared prosperity across the Niger and Lake Chad basins.