The Lake Chad Governors’ Forum, held from January 29 to 31, 2025, in Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria, brought together representatives from the four Lake Chad Basin countries: Chad, Cameroon, Niger, and Nigeria. This event gathered key stakeholders, including the Lake Chad Basin Commission, regional economic organizations, traditional leaders, UN agencies, NGOs, and technical and financial partners. The Lake Chad Basin Conservation Project, funded by Global Affairs Canada, actively participated in these discussions alongside its implementation partners: ACCEN Cameroon, OSLT Chad, and AGIR+21 Niger. The exchanges addressed crucial topics such as food sovereignty, biodiversity conservation, peace, stability, and strategies to combat climate change.
Roundtable with Civil Society Organizations
Following the forum, a roundtable with civil society organizations (CSOs) was organized to further the discussions and identify concrete actions aimed at improving coordination among the various stakeholders involved. In the presence of Suzane Louchard, Senior Director at Alinea International, the meeting brought together experts and representatives from local organizations to discuss natural resource management, the inclusion of women and youth, and ways to improve collaboration among the different project stakeholders.
“The success of initiatives relies on close collaboration and a shared understanding of objectives among all stakeholders,” explained Aboukar Mahamat, Director General of ACCEN. To improve coordination, both on the ground and at the regional level, Yahouza Abdou, Project Officer for AGIR+21, emphasized the importance of “working with local authorities and technical resources. Within the villages, focal points (male and female) should be designated to facilitate communication with communities.” Hassane Tahirou Amadou, expert in remote sensing and geographic information systems at the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC), also highlighted that “strong collaboration between project teams, civil society organizations on the ground, and state services is essential to maximize results. Strengthening this cooperation by establishing effective communication mechanisms is crucial.”
Inclusion of Women and Youth
During the roundtable, the inclusion of women and youth was highlighted as a key factor for success. These groups are essential to the sustainable management of natural resources and the resilience of communities in the face of environmental challenges. Mariam Abdoulaye Malloum, a project officer at OSLT, explained: “Their inclusion in conservation projects ensures sustainable and adapted solutions, while strengthening environmental impact and driving socio-economic development in local communities.”
On his side, Mamadou Mahamat Elfi, Director General of OSLT, added: “Young people and women, who were once mere observers, are now key players in development. Through training, they have acquired essential skills to actively participate in transforming their communities.”
Environmental Protection
The discussions also addressed the urgency of protecting the environment to ensure a sustainable future in the region. Ecosystem degradation and climate change are major challenges for the communities in the Lake Chad Basin. “A study conducted by the project showed that the degradation of nature directly impacts the economy. It is essential to understand the importance of natural resources for communities and the impact of their loss on their daily lives,” explained Aboukar Mahamat. He added that natural resource management actions and income-generating activities must both allow for adaptation to climate change and strengthen the communities’ responsibility in managing their environment.
This roundtable illustrates the importance of strengthened cooperation to tackle common challenges and promote a sustainable and resilient future for the Lake Chad Basin. As such, it aligns perfectly with the objectives of International Development Week 2025 in Canada, which is centered around the theme “Building a Better World Together.”
