Applied Water Resource Management in the Lake Chad Basin with GIZ (2023-2026 Project)
2023-01-01 08:00 - 2028-12-30 17:00 (Africa/Lagos)
Applied Water Resource Management in the Lake Chad Basin (GIZ-CBLT 2023 – 2026)

Project Overview
The Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC), in partnership with the German Development Cooperation (GIZ), is implementing the project*“Applied Water Resource Management in the Lake Chad Basin”* to strengthen sustainable, climate-resilient and conflict-sensitive management of shared water resources across the region.
Funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the project is being implemented from January 2023 to December 2026 across LCBC member countries, including Cameroon, Chad, Niger, Nigeria and the Central African Republic.
Context and Rationale
The Lake Chad Basin is a vital ecological and economic zone, supporting millions of people through agriculture, livestock, and fisheries. However, the basin faces increasing pressure from overuse of water resources, environmental degradation, and pollution. These challenges are further compounded by climate variability, resulting in heightened competition over resources and rising conflicts among communities.
In response, the LCBC seeks to promote equitable, climate-resilient and environmentally sustainable management of transboundary water resources to support regional stability and livelihoods.
Project Objective
The project aims to strengthen the capacity of the LCBC to effectively guide its member states in managing water resources in ways that are:

environmentally sustainable
climate-adapted
gender-responsive
conflict-sensitive.

Key Interventions
To achieve its objective, the project focuses on several strategic actions:

Strengthening Knowledge and Data Systems

The project supports the development and enhancement of the Lake Chad Basin Information System, facilitating improved collection, processing, and use of data for informed decision-making on water resource management.

Enhancing Advisory Capacity of LCBC

Efforts are underway to establish a structured advisory forum that enables the LCBC to provide targeted, evidence-based guidance to its member countries on water governance and management practices.

Promoting Multi-Stakeholder Engagement

The project supports a partner platform on the Logone River, bringing together stakeholders, local communities, and institutions to identify pressing water-related challenges and jointly develop solutions tailored to local realities.
Local communities, including farmers, fishermen, and livestock breeders, are trained as resource persons to promote sustainable practices such as:

use of drought-resistant crops
rainwater harvesting techniques
resource-efficient agricultural methods

These peer-to-peer learning approaches help disseminate knowledge widely and strengthen resilience at the grassroots level.
Cross-Cutting Themes
The project integrates several important cross-cutting priorities:

Gender equality and inclusion
Climate change adaptation
Peacebuilding and conflict mitigation
Participatory governance

Expected Impact
Through its interventions, the project is expected to:

improve regional cooperation in water resource management
strengthen LCBC’s institutional capacity
enhance livelihoods through sustainable practices
reduce tensions related to resource use
support long-term environmental sustainability in the basin

Conclusion
The Applied Water Resource Management Project represents a strategic contribution to the LCBC’s mandate of fostering sustainable and peaceful use of shared natural resources. By combining technical support, institutional strengthening, and community engagement, the initiative lays the foundation for a more resilient and stable Lake Chad Basin.

Regional Lake Chad Water Management Project (LACHAWAMA)
2026-01-01 08:00 - 2028-12-31 17:00
Regional Lake Chad Water Management Project (LACHAWAMA)
The Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC), in partnership with Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, the French Development Agency (AFD) and with financial support from the European Union (EU) and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), is implementing the Regional Lake Chad Water Management Project (LACHAWAMA).
Implemented within the framework of the Team Europe Initiative on Transboundary Water Management, the project reflects a shared commitment to strengthening cooperation, enhancing resilience, and promoting sustainable development across the Lake Chad Basin.

A Basin Under Pressure
The Lake Chad Basin covers approximately 2.4 million km² and is home to more than 50 million people, a population expected to double within the next 25 years. The basin spans six countries Chad, Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, and Libya and supports livelihoods largely dependent on water resources, including agriculture, livestock, and fisheries.
However, the region faces multiple and interconnected challenges:

Climate variability and environmental degradation
Shrinking water resources and changing rainfall patterns
Recurrent floods and droughts
Rapid population growth and increasing competition over natural resources
Insecurity and population displacement

These pressures significantly affect ecosystems, economic activities, and social cohesion, making sustainable water management a critical priority for regional stability and development.

LACHAWAMA: A Coordinated Regional Response
The LACHAWAMA project (2026–2028) builds on previous initiatives and aims to strengthen transboundary water management through an integrated and multi-level approach. With a budget of €11.25 million, the project supports institutional capacity development while promoting Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) across the basin.
The overall objective of the project is to strengthen the capacities of regional, national, and local institutions to implement water management approaches that are:

Climate-resilient
Gender-responsive
Conflict-sensitive

By addressing both governance and operational challenges, LACHAWAMA contributes to the implementation of the LCBC Strategic Action Plan (2023–2027) and supports long-term efforts to restore ecosystems and improve livelihoods in the basin.

An Integrated Multi-Level Approach
A defining feature of the LACHAWAMA project is its three-level implementation strategy, designed to ensure coordinated and effective action across governance levels.

Central Level: Strengthening Regional Governance

At the level of the LCBC Executive Secretariat, the project supports the development and operationalization of key governance and decision-making tools, including:

Inclusive platforms such as the Partners’ Forum
Strengthened technical bodies, including the Committee on Environment, Science and Planning (CESP)
The development of the Lake Chad Information System (LIS) to improve data collection, sharing, and use

These actions enhance coordination among stakeholders and support evidence-based decision-making for sustainable water management.

Regional Level: Promoting Transboundary Dialogue

At the level of transboundary sub-basins such as the Komadougou-Yobe, Chari-Logone, and Lake Chad systems the project establishes multi-stakeholder partner platforms.
These platforms:

Facilitate dialogue among countries and sectors
Enable joint identification of water, climate, and conflict-related challenges
Support the co-development of coordinated and locally adapted solutions

This approach strengthens transboundary cooperation, trust, and inclusive governance across the basin.

Local Level: Building Resilience and Preventing Conflict

At the community level, LACHAWAMA promotes practical and integrated solutions aimed at:

Strengthening climate resilience
Improving sustainable natural resource management
Preventing and mitigating conflicts related to access and use of water and land

Interventions include capacity building, pilot initiatives, dissemination of best practices, and scaling up successful approaches tailored to local contexts.

Key Areas of Intervention
Across these levels, the project focuses on several priority areas:

Institutional strengthening and governance improvement
Enhancement of water information systems and hydrological monitoring
Flood risk prevention and improved preparedness
Promotion of nature-based solutions and ecosystem restoration

These interventions contribute to improved planning, increased resilience to climate risks, and better protection of vulnerable populations.

Strong Partnerships for Greater Impact
LACHAWAMA is implemented through a collaborative framework involving:

The Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC)
The European Union (EU) under the Team Europe Initiative
GIZ as the implementing agency
Development partners such as the French Development Agency (AFD)
National institutions, local authorities, civil society organizations, and communities

This coordinated approach ensures complementarity with other regional initiatives, particularly in areas such as flood risk management, hydrological monitoring, infrastructure development, and ecosystem protection.

Towards a Resilient and Sustainable Lake Chad Basin
By combining strengthened governance, improved data systems, technical innovation, and community-based solutions, the LACHAWAMA project contributes to a shared vision of a:

Resilient
Peaceful
Environmentally sustainable

Lake Chad Basin.
Through enhanced cooperation among member states and partners, the project aims not only to improve water resource management but also to address the underlying drivers of fragility and support long-term regional stability and prosperity.
