Lake Chad Water Management (LACHAWAMA) supports the stabilisation and development of the Lake Chad Basin through integrated, sustainable, and cooperative management of transboundary water resources. The action strengthens the implementation capacity of regional, national, and local institutions to manage shared water resources in an environmentally friendly, climate change-adapted, gender-sensitive, and conflict-minimising manner. It contributes to the Team Europe Initiative on Transboundary Water Management in Africa and aligns with Global Gateway priorities.
OVERVIEW
IMPLEMENTING AGENCY
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)
TOTAL BUDGET
€11,250,000
(EU contribution: €7,000,000; BMZ contribution: €4,250,000)
IMPLEMENTATION PERIOD
2026 – 2028
GEOGRAPHICAL REGION
- Niger
- Cameroon
- Nigeria
- Central African Republic
- Chad
Co-financed by the European Union and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)
KEY ACTIVITIES
- Strengthening the Lake Chad Basin Commission governance and coordination structures, including a basin-wide Forum of Partners and technical advisory committees.
- Establishment of the Committee on Environment, Science, and Planning (CESP) and the Water Resources Advisory Committee.
- Disseminating the LCBC’s strategic documents.
- Providing training on the Lake Chad Information System (LIS) to the LCBC and member countries.
- Enhancing the LIS for reliable, shared hydrological, climate, environmental, and socio-economic data.
- Establishing inclusive partner platforms in transboundary sub-basins with gender-equitable representation to identify priority climate, biodiversity, and conflict hotspots.
- Developing participatory, conflict-sensitive Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) action plans at sub-basin level.
- Supporting local implementation of mitigation measures, including small-scale water infrastructure, nature-based solutions, and sustainable agricultural practices.
- Delivering training-of-trainers and capacity building for water users, farmers, pastoralists, and fisherfolk.
- Strengthening local water user associations and institutional frameworks for climate-resilient water governance.
- Facilitating knowledge exchange, peer learning, and upscaling of best practices across the basin.
EXPECTED RESULTS
- Strengthened transboundary governance at central level: The LCBC and its Member States have functioning management and steering instruments for sustainable water resource management.
- Inclusive partner platforms at sub-basin level: The LCBC establishes and operationalises platforms with gender-equitable representation in key sub-basins.
- Improved local implementation capacity: Local actors in the Komadougou-Yobé, Chari, Logone, and Lake Chad sub-basins enhance their technical and institutional capacity to implement mitigation measures under IWRM action plans.
- Improved transboundary water governance and coordination across the Lake Chad Basin.
- Increased availability and use of reliable data for decision making and crisis prevention.
- Enhanced participation of women, youth, and civil society in water governance.
- Strengthened local resilience to climate change and water-related conflicts.
- More sustainable and equitable use of shared water and natural resources.
ACTIVITIES (DETAILED)
- Strengthening Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC) governance and coordination structures, including a basin-wide Forum of Partners and technical advisory committees.
- Establishment of the Committee on Environment, Science, and Planning (CESP) and the Water Resources Advisory Committee.
- Disseminating the LCBC’s strategic documents.
- Providing training on the Lake Chad Information System (LIS) to the LCBC and member countries.
- Enhancing the LIS for reliable, shared hydrological, climate, environmental, and socio-economic data.
- Establishing inclusive partner platforms in transboundary sub-basins with gender equitable representation to identify priority climate, biodiversity, and conflict hotspots.
- Developing participatory, conflict-sensitive Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) action plans at sub-basin level.
- Supporting local implementation of mitigation measures, including small-scale water infrastructure, nature-based solutions, and sustainable agricultural practices.
- Delivering training-of-trainers and capacity building for water users, farmers, pastoralists, and fisherfolk.
- Strengthening local water user associations and institutional frameworks for climate-resilient water governance.
- Facilitating knowledge exchange, peer learning, and upscaling of best practices across the basin.
