Promoting food security in Ouaddai province

Project description

Title: Food Security and Resilience Building for Refugees and Local Population in Ouaddai, Eastern Chad
Commissioned by: German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)
Country: Chad
Lead executing agency: Ministry of Economy, Development Planning and International Cooperation (Ministère de l'Economie, de la Planification du Développement et de la Coopération Internationale)
Overall term: 2017 to 2022

Context

The Ouaddaï region has inadequate basic infrastructure in nearly all vital areas, such as water, health and education. This regularly leads to conflicts within and between communities, such as arable farmers and livestock breeders. The issue at stake is the control of water points and cultivated land.

Moreover, the region is suffering the negative effects of climate change. For several years, the region has been accepting refugees from the neighbouring countries, especially Sudan. This is putting even greater pressure on scarce resources and exacerbating the existing conflicts.

The consequence is severe food insecurity in the region, affecting a large part of the population.

Objective

Food security in Ouaddaï province has improved both for the local population and the refugees.

Approach

The project is operating in eight towns in Ouaddaï province, and in three fields of activity:

In field of activity 1, the project is supporting the partner communities in their efforts to develop and update local development plans. To date, seven municipalities have development plans that identify and prioritise local needs. Some 20 per cent of the identified needs are currently being addressed.

In field of activity 2, farm production is being supported with innovative techniques and income-generating measures. Thanks to the reconstruction and rehabilitation of weirs, some 180 hectares of arable land have been restored and fertilised. This has enabled 2,516 arable and livestock farmers to farm using innovative techniques. As a result, they are now able to provide their own food.

Field of activity 3 concentrates on building and restoring infrastructure for food and nutritional security. This refers to, for example, health centres, which are providing easier access for the population of the eight communities to high-quality healthcare.

Last update: December 2021