The African Development Bank Group and the Lake Chad Basin Commission have signed a $10.2 million grant agreement to restore the ecological and economic functions of the Lake Chad Basin. The deal, sealed in N’Djamena on March 20, 2025, will fund the Technical Support Project for the Restoration of the Ecological and Economic Functions of the Lake Chad Basin (PARFEBALT).
The funding, sourced from the African Development Fund and the Transition Support Facility for fragile states, with additional contributions from the commission, will focus on three key areas: preparatory studies for Lake Chad’s revitalization, improved water resource management, and strengthening institutional capacity in Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria.
The initiative aims to benefit local communities, particularly women and young people, by supporting income-generating activities and climate resilience training. The project aligns with the Lake Chad Basin Commission’s Strategic Programme of Action for 2023-2025, which seeks to address the region’s climate and security challenges, including droughts, floods, conflicts, and terrorism threats.
The African Development Bank has been actively supporting the region since 2022, with the project aligning with its 2024-2033 strategy, which prioritizes peace and security. The bank’s Country Strategy Paper for Chad also emphasizes infrastructure development and governance reforms to drive economic growth and efficiency.
