The 2026 session of the Regional Steering Committee (RSC) for Projects and Programmes of the Niger Basin Authority (NBA) officially opened on October 1, 2026, in Abuja, Nigeria, under the chairmanship of His Excellency, Kocou Armand HOUANYE, NBA Executive Secretary. The meeting brings together delegates from NBA’s nine member countries and key Technical and Financial Partners to accelerate the implementation of sustainable development initiatives and maximize their impact across the Niger Basin.
The proceedings of the 2026 NBA/RSC session focus on reviewing progress and charting forward-looking strategies across several initiatives. These include the Programme for the Integrated Development and Adaptation to Climate Change in the Niger Basin (PIDACC/NB), the Support to Water Resources Knowledge and Monitoring Project in Mali, the Natural Resources Management and Food Security Project in Guinea, the GIZ “Support to NBA” Project, as well as the activities of projects and dam management agencies across the Niger Basin.
PIDACC/NB Implementation: Strategic Milestones and Ongoing Challenges
The Executive Secretary commended the progress achieved through the coordinated implementation of the 2025 NBA/RSC session recommendations. He expressed sincere gratitude to the governing authorities of the nine NBA member countries for their steadfast oversight, while commending the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group and co-financiers for their continued financial backing.
From June 2025 to June 2026, the Programme achieved key implementation milestones. Physical implementation progressed from 37% to 48.23%, financial implementation rose from 27% to 37.60%. Over the same timeframe, commitments expanded from 49% to nearly 60%.
Despite this progress, decisive action remains essential to achieve the Programme’s objectives—specifically, the completion of the planned multipurpose hydraulic infrastructure before the Programme’s closing deadline of December 31, 2027, now less than 15 months away.
The Executive Secretary reiterated the need for all stakeholders to sustain this momentum, urging coordinated action to bring the performance indicators across all PIDACC/NB financing instruments into the “green” zone by the end of 2026.
Anticipating the post-PIDACC/NB Era: Consolidating partnerships
With both the PIDACC/NB and the GIZ “Support to NBA” Project nearing completion within the next year, the Executive Secretary called for forward planning to guarantee operational continuity. He urged Partners to maintain their backing in order to consolidate, scale up, and safeguard the long-term sustainability of achievements.
The Executive Secretary expressed profound appreciation for the continuous commitment of the NBA’s Technical and Financial Partners. He specifically acknowledged the significant contributions of the German Cooperation (BMZ) - implemented through KfW and GIZ - the AfDB Group (ADF, SCF/FIP, TSF, RWSSI), the European Union, the Green Climate Fund, the Global Environment Facility, the World Bank, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and WAEMU.
Recommendations to amplify and strengthen the impact of NBA’s actions
The Executive Secretary invited all delegates to participate actively in the proceedings and formulate actionable recommendations aimed at reinforcing the contribution of NBA and its Partners towards the sustainable development and climate resilience of the Niger Basin.
