Supporting women’s agriculture businesses in Kanem, Chad

The Kanem region in Western Chad (on the border with Niger) is one of the most vulnerable to climate change and the most impacted by the chronic food and nutrition crisis in the Sahel zone. Low investment in extraction of ground water and many other services, are aggravated by destabilising events such as the Lake Chad crisis.

Nonetheless, the Kanem region has significant potential, with a large area of fertile unused land. To strengthen local resilience and food security, the Africa Youth Climate Network (rejeca.com) based in N’Djamena, the capital of Chad, works closely with the Platform of Organizations of Women Producers and Transformers of Agri-Food Products in Kanem.

By processing fruits and vegetables from their garden and running a small shop the Platform has already created 10 jobs. During a workshop on 24 March 2024, its members identified a number of further business opportunities. These included the processing of other local products as well as manufacturing natural soap and ointments.

The main challenges, in this context, are access to modern equipment, energy and water. Climate change is contributing to desertification and the silting up of wadis.

Your support, will help to build a conservation store and cold room, buy basic packaging equipment and solar panels, as well as the development of a distribution network. Supporting women led agriculture entrepreneurship will strengthen sustainable development and the resilience of local communities to climate change.