Amersfoort (the Netherlands), 22 October 2026: The high-level delegation led by the Executive Secretary of the Niger Basin Authority (NBA) opened its working visit to the Netherlands with a strategic meeting with the experts and technical managers of eLEAF, implementing partner of the SATH-ABN Project, in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

At the strategic meeting, Mr. REMCO, SATH Project Manager at eLEAF, recalled the purpose of the meeting and thanked the Executive Secretary of the NBA and his delegation.

The Executive Secretary of the NBA, H.E. Mr. Kocou Armand HOUANYE, expressed:
- the NBA’s profound gratitude to the SATH-ABN implementing partners for the results achieved over fifteen years of cooperation;
- the wish to see the two institutions strengthen their cooperation, in view of their many shared issues and challenges and their internationally recognized achievements.

Next, in a welcome address, the Director of TERRAMIRA, Mr Thijs Perenboom:
- thanked the NBA delegation and welcomed the very good existing collaboration between our two institutions;
- recalled that TERRAMIRA is the new company established to replace eLEAF.

The discussions highlighted the progress made through more than fifteen years of collaboration, and both parties agreed on a change of approach. The aim will now be to establish a win-win partnership between the two institutions.

The outlook expressed by the NBA during the meeting relates in particular to: the diagnostic study on the modernization of the system for observing water resources (quantity and quality) and the environment of the Niger Basin; the establishment of a hydroclimatic monitoring room for early warning and decision support; the operationalization of the FRACC/BN; the financing and implementation of the 2026–2030 Strategic Plan, including project fact sheets per partner and financing agreements, notably for the continuation of SATH-ABN; the accelerated and effective rollout of structuring infrastructure to ensure water, energy and food security, climate resilience and ecosystem preservation, and to create economic and employment opportunities in the Niger Basin; and the updating of the Shared Vision.

At the close of the meeting, the Executive Secretary of the NBA conveyed to the management of eLEAF and its partners his deepest thanks on behalf of the 200 million people living in the Niger Basin, expressed his satisfaction with the progress made, and invited the partner to take part in the next Ordinary Session of the Council of Ministers, to be held in Abidjan in the coming days.

The meeting concluded with the handover of IT equipment to the Niger Basin Observatory Directorate (DOBN) and a symbolic gift from the NBA Executive Secretariat to the partner.