| The PDRD was conceived
as a response to the decreasing availability of natural resources
in two regions of the Republic of Chad. In Eastern Chad, rural
subsistence economies are threatened by highly variable rainfall
together with recent civil war and mass flight. In the Southwestern
parts of the country, rising population pressure and extensive
agriculture exceed the ecosystem's bearing capacities. Deforestation,
overfishing, decreasing soil fertility and loss of biodiversity
are grave problems in the intervention areas.
In a tightly coordinated programme, GIZ (formerly GTZ and
DED) and the German KfW Development Bank have, until 2011,
supported the population’s capacities to cope with the
related social and economic transformation processes. To this
end, the programme had integrated several previous ODA interventions
in the region from 2006 – among others the projects
implemented by ECO Consult, PRODALKA and PRODABO.
To help people organise themselves and take an active role
in planning and financing their future social and economic
development ECO Consult together with our partners from AFC
and IRAM have cooperated with the Ministry for Economy and
Cooperation (Ministère de l'Economie, du Plan et de
la Coopération, MEPC) and the rural populations in
- local and regional land use planning
- establishing and administrating infrastructure financed
by a decentral fund that was furnished by German Financial
Cooperation
- setting up and controlling local management and conservation
guidelines
- testing new approaches to sustainable natural resources
management (crop fields, pastures, lakes, forests).
The programme, initially scheduled until 2016, was prematurely
terminated due to political deliberations. Nevertheless, several
results were achieved, with promising perspectives for the
population in the regions of Mayo-Kebbi and Ouaddai-Biltine:
• In an area of 1.5 million inhabitants functioning
local development plans and development committees are in
place.
• Social and economic infrastructure has increased by
328 buildings – such as schools, public health centers,
communal savings banks, storage buldings, water retention
dams etc. They are administrated by specially trained managements
committees.
|
|
 |
| Joint planning
was the basis for co-ordinated spacial development. |
• A total of 84 managament guidelines have been
elaborated for the management and conservation of natural
resources. They cover an area of 700,000 hectares. Local
organisations were capacitated to oversee their implementation
and to prevent e.g. bush fires.
• Over 3,000 farmers were trained in sustainable
crop and cattle production, in the processing of harvests
and in a more rational utilization of household energy.
• 90% of the farmers involved in the programme have
increased thier incomes with the help of trainings and
improved resources management.
• Close to all children can now get enrolled in
a 9-month-year of school. Rates of school attendance have
significantly risen, especially for girls.
• From a previous 14,000 inhabitants per health
service center, the figure has decreased to 9,000 capita
per health service center.
• Degradation has slowed down. 23% of the Mayo Kebbi
area is effectively protected through local organisations.
In 2010, after 15 years of support, Sena Oura National
Park has been established with an area of 73,520 hectares.
• Fish harvests more than doubled in the lakes of
Mayo Kebbi by way of a better management; the repoductive
capacities have been protected at the same time.
Impressions from the project area
and project work: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1AKRmMpTiw
|
