Chad continues to suffer from the effects of widespread conflict in the Lac region in the west. Meanwhile, the spill over of populations from neighbouring crises in Sudan, Nigeria, Libya and the Central African Republic creates increased competition for scarce resources. Land conflicts and issues surrounding water have exacerbated food insecurity for the very poorest. The lack of infrastructure, education and access to health care, as well as high levels of illiteracy in these already overstretched areas mean that the malnutrition crisis continues. To tackle this, Concern works with state actors and other organisations in these areas to reinforce existing structures, develop capacity and improve conditions.

Emergency response

The Lac region is home to around 118,000 Internally Displaced People (IDPs) as well as vulnerable host communities. Concern has constructed a health centre and provided it with maternity medical equipment. The centre delivers a high-impact nutrition response to 19,806 children and mothers across the Ngoubou sub-prefecture. Using a community based approach, we are working to prevent malnutrition through a network of 104 Community Health Volunteers (CHVs) that work in 39 villages and four IDP sites. 

In the Sila region in eastern Chad, an effective emergency response to a Cholera outbreak in 2017 helped prevent major loss of life and stemmed the epidemic within a three-month period.Working in 20 villages in partnership with UNICEF , we disinfected homes, chlorinated water in wells and boreholes and led community sessions on hygiene and sanitation reaching over 133,000 people to prevent further spread of the disease.

Building resilience

Continuing on from the Building Resilience and Adaptation to Climate Extremes and Disasters (BRACED) programme, Concern is working in 91 villages to enhance local communities’ resilience in the Sila region. In 2017, we reached 37,515 people directly. This multi-sectoral programme, now funded by Irish Aid, uses techniques such as climate smart agriculture, market gardening and agroforestry to improve yield and therefore family assets and livelihood security, whilst also preserving the local ecosystem.

Working in seven community nurseries last year with 60 lead farmers and 900 student farmers, we provided training in improved farming techniques and involved 21 villages in regenerating tree growth. Our support in regenerating forests aims for communities to better manage their own natural resources in the harsh conditions of the Sahel where environmental degradation is critical.

Latest updates

Improving health and tackling malnutrition

We are working with local health services in eastern Chad to improve diagnosis and treatment for malnourished children. We support healthcare workers and train community volunteers to improve hygiene practices and to prevent outbreaks of disease as well as looking out for danger signs of epidemics in communities. We work to improve pre-natal health and childbirth by collaborating with the state health care system and traditional birth attendants (marabouts). We are also improving access to safe and sustainable water sources.  We have targeted 23 schools serving 8600 children to begin providing water and sanitation facilities. The programme will reach 11,500 people in the targeted 17 villages of the Sila region.

Promoting gender equality

The programme will reach 11,500 people in the targeted 17 villages of the Sila region. By placing women at the heart of the community structures that we support, we are promoting female leadership and decision-making. We are engaging men through community dialogue to help foster relationships of mutual respect and ensure that women's voices are listened to. In 2017, we held training sessions on women’s life skills in 14 villages for adults and adolescents. These sessions aim to harness the power of community leaders and younger generations to serve as agents of change, to have a greater long-term impact on gender equality.

In depth

• Read our 2018 annual programme plan