EU, AFD unveil N70.3bn initiative to combat Lake Chad insecurity
The European Union and Agence Française de Développement have officially launched a N70.37bn (€40 million) initiative to tackle poverty, climate change, agriculture and insecurity among vulnerable populations in Borno State and across Lake Chad Basin host communities.
The Lake Chad Inclusive Economic and Social Recovery project, implemented by Action Against Hunger, CARE International, and other partners, is designed to strengthen resilience in the Lake Chad region, particularly in Nigeria, while empowering local authorities, non-governmental organisations, and civil society organisations in the four benefiting countries.
The newly launched 5-year second phase will be implemented in three countries (Cameroon, Nigeria, and Chad) within the Lake Chad area, in collaboration with the Lake Chad Basin Commission.
In Nigeria, the project will focus on 36,000 direct beneficiaries, prioritising vulnerable groups such as women, children, and Internally Displaced Persons within three local government areas in Borno State.
Speaking at the project unveiling in Abuja on Thursday, the European Union Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautie Mignot, emphasised that the RESILAC 2 project seeks to improve access to basic services, stimulate economic recovery, and foster social cohesion among displaced populations, refugees, and host communities in the Lake Chad Basin.
“This is a very important project. It’s the second phase of a long-term initiative we’ve been developing in the Lake Chad area.
“This phase comes with €40 million in funding from the EU and AFD, our French partners, and spans four countries in the Lake Chad region. We are also working closely with the Lake Chad Basin Commission.
“This five-year project will benefit three local government areas in Borno State, as well as communities in northern Cameroon and the Lake Province of Chad,” Mignot stated.
He further noted that the RESILAC 2 project is part of a broader portfolio of new initiatives being launched by the European Union and its member states under the “Team Europe” banner for Nigeria’s Northeast and Northwest regions.
“This is just one component of a larger €300 million package of new projects launching this year. These include other initiatives, such as a transboundary water management project, all aimed at addressing security and socio-economic development in Nigeria’s most challenged regions,” he added.
On his part, the Executive Secretary of the Lake Chad Basin Commission, Mamman Nuhu, stated that the RESILAC 2 project aligns directly with the Commission’s Regional Stabilization Strategy, which has been in place for the past six years.
“This strategy is focused on restoring livelihoods in areas affected by the Boko Haram insurgency. The entire activity of RESILAC supports the implementation of key pillars of that strategy,” he said.
Nuhu also provided historical context on the region’s challenges, highlighting the dramatic reduction of Lake Chad’s water volume between 1972 and 1985 due to drought, noting that, however, the lake has since been recovering, with recent measurements showing 16,000 square kilometers of water.
“This crisis of the lake drying up is no longer the main issue. The focus now is on how we can support the communities. This project addresses not only agricultural and fisheries activities but also the impact of climate change and supports livestock farming.
“The resilience of the people who have long suffered due to insurgency is being rebuilt through RESILAC and similar projects. The World Bank has its PROLAC initiative, and the African Development Bank also has projects focused on this region, all aiming to boost resilience and spur development in the Lake Chad area.
“At the end of the five-year implementation, we will assess the impact. By then, we expect significant progress in building resilience. If gaps remain, we will work to address them.” he added.
