The meeting of the Technical Committee of Experts (TCE), held in preparation for the 44th Ordinary Session of the Niger Basin Authority (NBA) Council of Ministers, opened this Monday, December 1, 2025, at the Prestige Hotel in Ouagadougou. The opening ceremony was attended by delegations from all nine member countries, as well as representatives of basin users, and Technical and Financial partners.

The current statutory meetings reflect the ongoing commitment to institutional strengthening and enhanced operational performance in NBA, mandated by the highest authorities of the member countries.

Resolute and Dedicated Opening Address

The opening ceremony featured high-level speeches.
Ms. Flora BATIONO DUBARRY, Coordinator of the National Focal Structure (NFS) of Burkina Faso, welcomed participants, commended the Experts’ commitment, and reiterated the NFS’ ongoing dedication to supporting the NBA in implementing its activities. She concluded by emphasizing the importance of the technical work expected during this session.

The Representative of German Cooperation, Mr. Jan Henrik Meise, provided a welcome address, emphasizing Germany’s role as a strategic, long-standing partner. He pledged continued support to the NBA through key areas like water governance, institutional strengthening, and climate resilience, urging the Experts to be rigorous and innovative.

In his address, H.E. Mr. Kocou Armand HOUANYE, NBA Executive Secretary, highlighted the significant progress achieved recently in the NBA’s ongoing revitalization process. He acknowledged the strong commitment and sustained mobilization demonstrated by the member countries and their representatives.

The Executive Secretary pledged to continue working closely with the National Focal Structures and Basin User Coordinating Units on structuring initiatives. The goal is to ensure the NBA is a high-performing, credible, and fully beneficial institution for the 180 million people in the Niger Basin.
Commitment to Rigour, Solidarity, and Innovation

Mr. Roger BARO, Minister of Environment, Water, and Sanitation of Burkina Faso and Chairman of the NBA Council of Ministers, opened the session by outlining the high expectations for the TCE. He mandated the Experts to produce (i) impeccable technical work, (ii) robust and well-structured analyses, and (iii) strong, realistic recommendations, stressing that these outcomes must reflect sovereignty, enhanced cooperation, and innovation to ensure a more effective NBA for member countries.

Over the next three days, the Experts are tasked with reviewing the preparatory documents for the 44th Ordinary Session of the NBA Council of Ministers (Ouagadougou, December 5, 2025).

The decisions of the 44th Ordinary Session of the Council of Ministers will be directly informed by the TCE’s conclusions and recommendations. These findings are crucial for strengthening institutional governance and enhancing NBA’s operational performance.

Following the official opening ceremony, the first day of the Technical Committee of Experts (TCE) meeting commenced with the presentation and discussion of three key reports: (i) The Executive Secretary’s 2025 Activity Report, highlighting achievements and operational challenges; (ii) The External Auditors’ Report for FY 2024, aimed at ensuring transparency and sound financial governance; and (iii) The Financial Controller’s Report on the 2024 budget implementation and the mid-term progress report of the NBA 2025 budget implementation.

Key takeaways from the presentations include:

- Executive Secretary’s 2025 Activity Report
The Executive Secretary highlighted progress made in 2025 regarding project implementation, institutional strengthening, and regional coordination. The report also detailed challenges, specifically those related to resource mobilization, programme implementation, and adapting the institutional framework to the growing complexities of the Niger Basin. Overall, this presentation provided a comprehensive overview of the Niger Basin Authority’s operational performance from January through September 2025.

- External Auditors’ Report – FY 2024
The External Auditors’ 2024 financial audit confirmed the compliance of the NBA’s financial operations and validated the effectiveness of its transparency and accountability, in line with international standards. The report also identified areas requiring improvement.

- Financial Controller’s Report - 2024 implementation and 2025 Budget Progress

The Financial Controller’s report covered both 2024 budget implementation and 2025 mid-term progress. The analysis detailed expenditures, budget line changes, and discrepancies, proposing corrective measures. This comprehensive assessment is intended to guide decision-making for more efficient future budget implementation.

The Technical Committee of Experts meeting is a critical juncture in NBA’s transformation. By reviewing key technical, financial, and strategic reports, the nine member countries’ experts collectively affirm their commitment to enhancing the governance, transparency, and operational efficiency of the regional cooperation body in the Niger Basin.