Niamey, December 12, 2025
The Niamey workshop marked a key milestone for regional cooperation under the NB-ITTAS project, implemented in partnership with GEF, UNDP, UNEP, the Niger Basin Authority (NBA), OSS, UNESCO and UNIDO. Bringing together representatives from six (6) participating countries, the regional experience-sharing workshop highlighted collective efforts to strengthen water security and groundwater resilience in the Niger Basin and the Iullemeden–Taoudéni/Tanezrouft aquifer system.
Over three (3) days of sustained and positive exchanges, participants shared national practices and presented results from pilot projects, while jointly examining the major challenges affecting access to water in the context of climate change. Discussions helped build a consolidated regional overview of groundwater management experiences, showcasing significant progress in hydro-geological monitoring, mitigation of anthropogenic pressures and adaptation to climate extreme events. The workshop also resulted in practical and operational recommendations aimed at strengthening aquifer resilience and feeding into national intervention frameworks.
The closing session emphasized the importance of sustaining partnerships and regional collaboration. Mr. Kocou Armand HOUANYE, Executive Secretary of the Niger Basin Authority (NBA), and Mr. Ibro ADAMOU, Technical Director at the NBA, highlighted the need to translate cooperation into tangible solutions that respond to the growing water needs of local communities. On behalf of the OSS, Mrs. Soumaya MOUHLI, Water Expert, reaffirmed the Organization’s long-term commitment to supporting member countries in integrated and joint water resources management, in line with its mission and the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 6 and SDG 13. The workshop was officially closed by Mr. Issoufou MAIGARY, Director General of Hydraulics and representative of the Ministry of Environment, Hydraulics and Sanitation of Niger, who reiterated his country’s strong commitment to regional initiatives and partnerships.
The Niamey workshop therefore represents a decisive step in advancing regional dialogue and cooperation, contributing to the protection of ecosystems and to improved water security for millions of people across the region.