On June 12, 2025, the second session of the Steering Committee for the Lake Chad Basin Conservation Project was held in Yaoundé. Funded by Global Affairs Canada, the project is being implemented in Chad, Niger, and Cameroon.
The session was chaired by Mr. Patrice Nsegbe, Representative of the First Commissioner to the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC) in Cameroon, and brought together key stakeholders including Ms. Lorraine Anderson, High Commissioner of Canada to Cameroon; Ms. Diane Briand, Senior Program Officer for the Sahel Region at Global Affairs Canada; Ms. Suzane Louchard, Director of Francophone Programming at Alinea International; and Mr. Hycinth Banseka, LCBC Technical Director, representing the Executive Secretary.
Participants approved the Implementation Plan, the 2025–2026 Annual Work Plan, and the corresponding budget, based on recommendations from the technical committee. Discussions also focused on identifying practical ways to strengthen coordination with national institutions to better integrate project actions into decision-making processes at both local and national levels.
In his opening remarks, Mr. Nsegbe commended the commitment of all partners and thanked stakeholders for their contributions to climate resilience and ecosystem protection. He called on the project team to ensure rigorous monitoring of the planned activities.
Ms. Anderson underscored the importance of strong partnerships in supporting inclusive and sustainable development. She encouraged all stakeholders to continue their efforts despite challenges, to safeguard the gains made and further enhance the project’s impact.
At the conclusion of the session, several key recommendations were put forward:
- Highlight project achievements and connect them to national and regional commitments;
- Incorporate lessons learned and local realities into the selection criteria for micro-grant recipients;
- Strengthen the involvement of decentralized government services and civil society to ensure sustainability and the scaling-up of results;
- Document and share best practices, particularly in the area of remote irrigation.
The project is implemented by Alinea International in partnership with the Lake Chad Basin Commission, along with Canadian and African partners: CERFO, UNAC, CIER, CPHDA, ACEEN, AGIR+21, and OSLT.
