With support from the International Union for Conservation of Nature through the BRIDGE programme, the Association of Young People for Active Citizenship, Integrated Development and Training (AJECADIF) continues its project in Chad to strengthen women’s leadership and community participation in the sustainable management of water resources. Through a series of activities carried out in N’Djamena and Moundou, the project aims to promote more inclusive, participatory and resilient local governance in the face of water and climate-related challenges.
All pictures are courtesy of AJECADIF
From 10 to 15 February 2026, field researchers were deployed as part of a participatory assessment designed to work with local communities to identify the main challenges, needs and solutions relating to the sustainable management of water resources. This initiative enabled direct dialogue with women, young people and communities to gain a better understanding of local realities and to strengthen community ownership of the project.
Building on this grassroots work, AJECADIF organised a training session on 16 February 2026 in N’Djamena on the theme “Women’s leadership and local governance in sustainable water resource management”. The event brought together 15 women and 10 young people actively involved in their communities. Participants explored the principles of inclusive leadership, analysed local challenges related to water management, and developed concrete actions to be implemented in their communities. The training also strengthened participants’ capacities in community participation and local governance of natural resources.
“This training has helped us better understand the causes of water-related conflicts and, above all, how to manage them. We have learnt to engage in dialogue and find solutions together. The participation of women has been very important and has brought new ideas for improving water management in our village.” Community leader, aged 33, Moundou
In Moundou, three complementary activities were subsequently organised in April to build the capacity of local communities and promote gender inclusion in water governance.
An initial training session focused on women’s leadership, local governance, climate resilience and the sustainable management of natural resources. Participatory discussions and group work helped to boost the participants’ self-confidence and their involvement in community processes, whilst improving their understanding of issues related to water and climate resilience.
A community workshop on “Community Dialogue and Gender Inclusion in Water Management” also enabled participants to discuss conflicts over access to water, local dialogue mechanisms and appropriate community-based solutions. This workshop led to the development of community action plans and recommendations aimed at strengthening women’s participation in decision-making.
“At the start of the workshop, I didn’t dare speak in front of the others. But thanks to the discussions and exercises, I gained confidence. Now I understand that women have an important role to play in water management in our community, and I’m ready to get more involved.” Female participant, aged 23, Moundou
Finally, an awareness-raising radio programme entitled “Women and Water: Pillars of Life” helped raise awareness among a wide audience of issues relating to water resources, the role of women in water management, and local solutions to climate change. Through live discussions with listeners, the programme fostered strong community engagement and reached over 1,000 people.
These activities demonstrate the growing commitment of local communities to sustainable, inclusive and participatory water resource management, whilst strengthening the role of women and young people in local decision-making processes.
