Chad

Repeated droughts in recent years have substantially impacted Chad’s agricultural production, affecting about 2.4 million people. They have also contributed to rapidly increasing desertification in northern Chad, causing agro-pastoral areas to decline and shift further south.

sand storm day in chad, central africa

Fragility/Conflict status:	Institutional and Social Fragility
Programme type:	Country multi-year
Funding:	$3.15 million
Duration:	2019-2024
Status:	Ongoing

Key goals

Improving Early Warning Systems for floods, droughts, and extreme events
Development of Standard Operating Procedures for flood early warning and emergency response and their test in pilot areas.
Capacity building, community engagement, and gender inclusion of vulnerable populations in early warning value chain especially in areas prone to flash floods and agricultural drought.

Progress to date

6 hazards – floods, drought, sand and dust storms, heavy rain, strong winds, and thunderstorms – with stronger forecasting and warning ability.
13,670 people are covered by early warning systems or local preparedness through CREWS support.
6 hydrological stations were rehabilitated serving 4 pilot sites.

sand storm day in chad, central africa

Spotlight

Meeting farmers’ particular information needs

Until trained on using weather and climate forecasts and warnings through CREWS Chad, farmers at 4 pilot zones reliant on rain-fed agriculture used traditional knowledge to produce. The value of climate and weather services was little known. That has changed. Advisories and warnings now inform their farming decisions – crops to cultivate, and when to sow, irrigate, or harvest. But to yield more produce, localized and updated daily, weekly, 10-day, monthly, and seasonal information was needed for accuracy. And it was the farmers wanting it: When will rains come and go? How much rain will fall, or river levels rise? When are storms expected? Or dry spells begin and end? Also wanted: advice on crops to grow on different types of terrain and soil. The result – geo-specific daily bulletins tailored to individual communities’ needs for greater food security – and disseminated through local radio. Critical information for 3 million people, especially those most at-risk – farmers and herders.