By Faridat Salifu
The African Development Bank Group and the Lake Chad Basin Commission have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to rehabilitate, finance and restore the shrinking Lake Chad Basin.
This was part of the outcome of the 37th African Union Summit held recently in Ethiopia. The MoU, it was gathered, aims to mobilize financial and technical resources to enhance water resource development and management, support livelihoods, and foster peace in the region.
Lake Chad, once the sixth-largest inland water body in the world, has significantly decreased in size by about 92% in recent years, impacting the livelihoods of millions of people who rely on its resources. The Chad Basin is crucial for food security for approximately 50 million individuals.
Speaking on the challenges faced by the population living in the Lake Chad Basin ecosystem, Passalet Kanade Marssela, the Minister of Water from the Republic of Chad, highlighted the socio-economic difficulties the people faced, especially in the face of insecurity, including loss of livelihood, destruction of homes, internal displacement, and cross-border issues caused by terrorist groups.
Also speaking, Vice President for Regional Development, Integration, and Business Delivery at the African Development Bank, Marie-Laure Akin-Olugbade, emphasized the transformative potential of the MoU, which he said is aimed to enhance the quality of life for millions across the Chad Basin Commission member countries – Chad, Nigeria, Cameroon, Niger, the Central African Republic, and Libya.
He said, the bank, serving as the primary financial partner for the Commission, is committed to initiating sustainable solutions that address the challenges faced by the region and improve the well-being of its population.
Recognizing the crucial role of the African Development Bank, the Lake Chad Basin Commission designated them as the “Champion Lead Partner” for mobilizing resources to revive Lake Chad.
On his part, Executive Secretary of the Commission, Ambassador Mamman Nuhu, reiterated the shared vision of ensuring the sustainability of the Lake Chad Basin by addressing climate change impacts and meeting the growing demands of a rapidly changing environment.
The African Development Bank has a history of impactful support for the Lake Chad Basin Commission, having financed numerous multinational projects in various sectors since 2005.
The recent approval of $17.8 million for the UNDP initiative “Breaking the cycle of fragility through stabilization in Lake Chad” underscores the commitment to fostering stability and resilience in the region.
Moreover, ongoing efforts include a capacity-building program to strengthen the Commission’s ability to conduct comprehensive studies to inform decision-making and financing strategies for restoring the Basin.
The African Water Facility is also actively involved in financing projects to sustainably manage water resources in the basin.