During the Fourth Lake Chad Governor’s Forum meeting in N’Djamena, Chad, Mr. Rasit Pertesv, the Country Manager for Chad at the World Bank, announced that the institution has allocated a significant sum of one billion dollars to enhance resilience and improve the livelihoods of individuals residing in countries affected by the insurgency in Lake Chad. This funding comes at a critical time, as shifting conflict patterns and emerging challenges have led to extensive displacement, damage to social structures, disrupted public services, and weakened institutional capacities across Chad, Cameroon, Niger, and Nigeria.
Pertesv highlighted the positive impact of the disbursed funds on the crisis-affected countries, emphasizing their role in revitalizing economic development, generating employment opportunities, and ultimately enhancing the quality of life for those who have borne the brunt of the crises. With the support of interest-free financing from the International Development Association, two crucial regional development priorities have been addressed: the recovery of livelihoods to reduce vulnerability among the Lake Chad population and the promotion of cross-border economic activity in sectors such as agriculture, energy, transportation, and regional trade, thereby fostering greater integration and expanding opportunities.
Expressing appreciation for the regional stability program aimed at restoring and improving security in the Lake Chad area, Pertesv called for concerted efforts to ensure sustainable recovery in economically affected regions. Additionally, Amb. Mamman Nuhu, the Executive Secretary of the Lake Chad Basin Commission, emphasized the susceptibility of communities in the region to extremist ideologies due to prevailing poverty, unemployment, and illiteracy. The disruption of livelihoods, particularly among the region’s predominantly young population engaged in farming and cattle rearing, has made them vulnerable to the propaganda of groups like Boko Haram.
Since the development of the Regional Strategy for Stabilization, Recovery, and Resilience (RS-SRR) in 2018, this comprehensive approach has acted as a regional framework for addressing the multifaceted security, humanitarian, and developmental challenges plaguing the Lake Chad region.
The statement underscores the critical importance of implementing a comprehensive, multi-sectoral, and well-coordinated framework comprising sub-national, national, and cross-border initiatives to achieve long-term stability, recovery, and resilience in the region.
Consequently, numerous initiatives and programs have emerged to facilitate regional collaboration, address humanitarian needs, and promote peace and development in the area. One notable initiative is the Lake Chad Basin Governors’ Forum, which serves as a significant platform for fostering sustainable peace and security in the region.
Ambassador Adeoye Bankole, Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security at the African Union Commission, highlights the forum’s significance in promoting regional peace and security. He encourages member states and international partners to further collaborate and support the forum’s endeavors in consolidating peace and creating improved opportunities for the people of the Lake Chad Basin.
Njoya Tikum, Director of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Sub-Regional Hub for West and Central Africa, affirms UNDP’s commitment to assisting the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC) in building a brighter future for the region. The goal is to restore security, rebuild communities, and foster abundant opportunities for the region. Tikum acknowledges the instrumental role played by the Regional Stabilization Facility, which originated from the Lake Chad Basin Governors’ Forum. Through collaborative efforts, practical and sustainable solutions have been co-created, resulting in the return of nearly half a million internally displaced persons to their communities and a significant improvement in their quality of life.
The Lake Chad Governors’ Forum, with the theme “New Opportunities for Peace in a Shifting Security Context,” aims to enhance understanding of emerging security trends in the region and their implications for ongoing efforts to restore state authority. Furthermore, it seeks to explore the future of the Regional Stabilization Strategy for the Lake Chad Basin (RS-SRR), which is now in its final year of implementation, and to find ways to scale up efforts and forge partnerships to address the challenges faced by forcibly displaced individuals, including refugees and internally displaced persons.
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