Stakeholders in southern Chad converged in Lai this week for a workshop aimed at strengthening environmental and social safeguards in the country’s development processes, reflecting heightened concern about the impacts of poorly managed projects on communities and ecosystems.
Local administrative officials, civil society representatives, traditional leaders and sectoral actors attended the two-day event, which focused on integrating environmental protection and social impact mitigation into planning and implementation of development interventions, particularly in rural and peri-urban areas.
Organisers said the workshop was intended to raise awareness of the risks posed by inadequate safeguards, including land degradation, resource-based conflicts and the exclusion of vulnerable groups from decision-making and benefit-sharing. Participants heard presentations and took part in discussions underscoring the need for early stakeholder engagement and transparent, inclusive processes to forestall environmental harm and promote equitable development.
“Integrating robust environmental and social safeguards from the outset is essential to sustainable development,” one facilitator said, urging greater collaboration among government agencies, community leaders and civil society.
Chad has faced increasing pressure from climate and environmental challenges that affect livelihoods and national development. These include extreme weather events and resource stress that have disrupted agriculture, a key sector employing more than 80 % of the workforce, and contributed to displacement in recent years.
The workshop aligns with broader efforts in the region to enhance climate resilience and governance, as development partners and national authorities work to address environmental risks that can undermine economic growth and social cohesion.
