Terms and Conditions
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Terms and Conditions
Status and Objective
Status of Waters: Lake Chad and the watercourses, aquifers, and aquatic ecosystems within its hydrographic basin are declared international waters and the common heritage belonging to the LCBC Member States.
Goal: To achieve the sustainable development of the Lake Chad Basin through the integrated, equitable, and coordinated management of its shared water resources and environment.
Guiding Principles
The Charter is governed by eighteen core principles, including:
Equitable and Reasonable Utilization: State Parties shall utilize the Basin’s surface and groundwater resources to obtain optimal, sustainable benefits compatible with the legitimate interests of all Basin countries.
Sustainable Development: Management must meet the demands of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.
Prevention: States must prevent and/or alleviate the adverse effects of any planned project on the environment and on the water resources.
Polluter Pays Principle: The cost of pollution prevention, control, and abatement measures shall be entirely or partially covered by the polluter.
Cost and Benefit Sharing: All State Parties shall contribute to and benefit equitably from transboundary initiatives in the Basin.
Cooperation and Solidarity: States must cooperate on the basis of mutual benefit and good faith for the optimal use and protection of water resources.
Key Obligations of Member States
The Charter details specific obligations for the State Parties:
- Prevention of Pollution: Parties shall closely cooperate to prevent, control, and mitigate pollution at the source, taking measures to preserve groundwater quality.
- Data and Information Sharing: States are obliged to collect and exchange data and information regularly regarding the Basin’s water resources, water use, and the environment.
- Conservation of Ecosystems: States must take all appropriate conservation measures for the aquatic ecosystems, biological diversity, and particularly for endangered species.
- Notification of Planned Measures: States must notify the Commission before adopting any measure likely to have a significant adverse quantitative or qualitative impact on the water resources of the Basin.
- Dispute Prevention: States undertake to prevent and effectively resolve conflicts and disputes related to the management of shared water resources, cooperating within the framework of the Commission.
Rights of the Basin Populations
The Charter includes provisions recognizing the rights of the populations living in the Basin:
- Right to Water and Sanitation: The State Parties recognize the right of every citizen to have access to water and sanitation in acceptable quantity and quality.
- Public Participation: The States must ensure the participation of the public in the Basin’s water management decisions.
The Water Charter serves as a strong supranational conventional instrument and is the foundation for all planning and projects undertaken by the LCBC for the sustainable future of the Lake Chad Basin.
