Alassan Tsahirou was a leader who connected the dots (community, government, technical partners) to create a functional system.
Published on: 18/11/2025
As a professional committed to strengthening WASH systems (water, sanitation, and hygiene) in Niger, I've always believed that sustainable impact relies on a holistic approach that goes beyond mere infrastructure. It was a specific experience that made me realise the crucial importance of systems leadership in this equation.
The IRC team in Niger, of which I am part, was forced to relocate its activities due to the deteriorating security situation. We had to choose a new municipality to maximise our impact.
Initially, we conducted an analysis based on purely objective criteria: compliance by the communes with the WASH public service management criteria set by the overseeing ministry and a number of partners. This numbers-based approach resulted in a preliminary selection of three communes.
However, at the time of the final choice, an essential aspect had been overlooked: the leadership of the mayors. We then decided not to rely solely on the figures, but also to assess the leadership qualities of the mayors in the three communes. This is how Mr. Alassan Tsahirou, the mayor of Kornaka, came to the fore. He showed a vision and commitment that went beyond the technical criteria. Although Kornaka was not our first "numbers-based" choice, we selected it based on this qualitative assessment.
This choice, initially based on refined intuition, completely reassured me. Under Mr. Tsahirou’s guidance, the commune experienced a spectacular improvement in WASH sector governance. I witnessed his unwavering commitment to materialising SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) in his commune. What particularly struck me was his ability to draw inspiration from international best practices and adapt them locally. This is evidenced by this article on what he was able to achieve just by observing what was being done elsewhere.
It wasn't just his title as mayor; it was his work as an active member of the local NGO GSC TAIMAKON MANOMA which is a local NGO whose main objective is to contribute to the improvement of living conditions for the general population, and for farmers' organisations in particular, that demonstrated a deep conviction. He was a leader who connected the dots (community, government, technical partners) to create a functional system.
Today, even though he is no longer the mayor of Kornaka, stakeholders continue to praise the commitment he demonstrated during his tenure, which is the sign of a leader whose influence outlives his mandate and sustains the system. See this Facebook page.
This experience was a true aha moment for me. It helped me understand that my system-strengthening work is inherently dependent on the degree of leadership of the key actors. I realised that for true systemic change, human commitment and a leader's vision are impact multipliers that sometimes outweigh the mere accumulation of resources.
My favorite systems leader is therefore Mr. Alassan Tsahirou, because he proved to me that systems leadership is the most powerful attribute for transforming an ambition (the SDGs) into a sustainable reality.
As John C. Maxwell wisely said: “Leadership is not about titles, positions or flowcharts. It is about one life influencing another.” It is precisely this lasting influence that defines a true systems leader.
At IRC we think that global challenges require a new kind of leadership: systems leadership. On 3 December, 2025, IRC organised an online event that explores systems leadership — leadership that embraces complexity, collaboration and courage. The event marked the launch of IRC's Systems Leadership suite, featuring a thought leadership essay on systems leadership in WASH, a technical paper on applying systems thinking and a free online course for emerging and established systems leaders.
Explore the essay Read the technical paper Sign up for the online course
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