25-03-2026 | di COOPI

Chad. Towards peaceful resource management in the Lake Province

In the Lake Province, where climate change and resource scarcity are severely testing the stability of communities, social cohesion becomes the cornerstone for ensuring food security. Between 18 and 27 February 2026 as part of the project “Food Emergency in the Lac: Protecting families from the food crisis and building lasting solutions in Lac”, supported by Italian Cooperation, COOPI – Cooperazione Internazionale facilitated a series of community dialogues and training sessions on conflict resolution in the Department of Mamdi, specifically in the sub-prefectures of Rural Bol and Kangalam.

Tensions between farmers and herders over access to land, water, and pastures have escalated dramatically due to the scarcity of natural resources and new migration schemes. These conflicts threaten not only livelihoods but the entire social fabric of the Lake Region. To address this challenge, COOPI, in collaboration with its local partner ALMP, brought together communities from nine villages—including Foulatarie, Kaya, Méléa, and Midi Boudoumari—to transform competition into collaboration.

A space for dialogue and negotiation

Through a participatory approach, the initiative provided a neutral space for discussion. Roundtable discussions allowed farmers, herders, and fishermen to freely express their difficulties and listen to one another. The participation of traditional local authorities and the most vulnerable groups—including women and youth—was essential, ensuring that the solutions adopted were truly inclusive.

From theory to practice: the management Committees

The initiative not only created a space for dialogue but also served as a training opportunity for the community, enabling the acquisition of practical skills. Experts and trainers led specific sessions on mediation techniques and the equitable use of resources. The most tangible result was the creation of local conflict management committees at each site involved. These bodies will be tasked with monitoring tensions and intervening promptly through non-violent resolution mechanisms.

An integrated strategy

The initiative is part of an integrated strategy that combines conflict prevention actions with the strengthening of local livelihoods. In this context, the project complements dialogue and mediation activities with economic development interventions, through the enhancement of technical skills among farmers and herders and the promotion of accessible and sustainable technologies for the preservation and processing of agricultural products.

This approach thus contributes to the shared and sustainable management of resources, fostering peaceful and lasting coexistence.

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COOPI has been present in Chad since 1976, where it has implemented 160 projects involving over 4.5 million people through a multi-sectoral approach. In the Lake Province, it improves food and nutritional security for vulnerable communities, promotes women’s empowerment and conflict prevention. In the provinces of Sila and N’Djamena, it provides emergency education to displaced children and local communities, offers psychosocial support to victims of trauma and promotes peacebuilding.