SOS Civisme- Peace consolidation R The Lake Chad region, at the interface between 4 countries, has in the past been a relatively stable and prosperous area, due to its strategic location, important fisheries resources, agriculture and livestock. This potential has favored the development of fairlyprofitable irrigated crops, especially along the rivers nearby. In addition to these irrigated crops, there are other rural activities on the lake bed such as flood recession crops (sorghum and maize), livestock and fisheries on which most of the local communities depend. However, for several decades now, under the increasing effect of global warming with a decrease in rainfall and a high demography, Lake Chad and its tributaries undergo a continuous drying up, currently at 60% of its initial capacity. This drying up has a negative impact on fishing activities (and therefore decreases the availability of fish / nutrients for the populations), the possibilities of watering animals in transhumance and leads to an increase in insecurity related to the groups. rebels. On the other hand, it still makes it possible to clear arable and fertile arable land that can be highly valued for crop production, particularly market gardening and pasture.
It is in this context, combined with a lack of public investment, that this region has faced for many years the growing insecurity, and especially since 2014, the terrorist group Boko Haram, strongly impacting local populations and their activities. economic. For four years, this situation has led to the massivedisplacement of populations between Niger and Chad and a great insecurity in the region. On both sides of the Chad-Niger border, the security situation worsened particularly in February 2015 following an upsurge in terrorist attacks and the cutting of certain markets. This situation forced the respective governments to create a joint force and establish a state of emergency in the Lake region (Chad side) and to ban fishing, agriculture and livestock farming on Lake Chad (in the 2 country) and along the Komadougou River. Thousands of civilians have had to leave their homes (more than 250,000 civilians displaced in the Diffa region of Niger and 270,000 in the Lake Chad region since the beginning of the crisis), economic activities (fishing, agriculture, livestock, trade and transport) have been largely disrupted and the vulnerability of the populations increased. This crisis has exacerbated other social tensions such as armed banditry and inter and intra-community conflicts around issues of access and control over natural resources. As shown by an OXFAM livelihoods study in the Lake Chad Basin (annexed to this proposal) 1, this situation exacerbates the adoption of negative coping mechanisms by local populations, including the reduction of livelihoods. consumption of food followed by the reduction of care, education and indebtedness ... In addition, the region is characterized by a very young population (about 60% under 20 years) and mostly rural (4 young people on 5), for which support is largely insufficient. In fact, although this youth represents a considerable potential for labor and growth, particularly in the agricultural sector, it is also fertile ground for the recruitment of Boko Haram fighters.
Women are also particularly affected by this crisis, both economically and socially. In fact, beyond persistent social inequalities (education, civic life, decision-making power, etc.), they suffer from an upsurge in gender-based violence (early marriages, forced prostitution, kidnappings, murders, targeted violence during displacements, etc.) as well as increased financial difficulties due to the loss of their productive capital,the decline of their commercial activities and the impossibility of accessing credit. This is accompanied by an acute malnutrition rate of 13.9%, up from 2016 (11.4%, source OCHA). Yet the responsibility of women in household management is growing because men areoften targeted by violence and killings. In some areas of the Lake, between 20 and 50% of households are now fed andfully managed by women.
It is in this permanently fragile socio-economic situation that the action proposed by Oxfam is taking place. This will help to reduce the vulnerability of the groups most affected by this crisis and to address the structural causes of vulnerability. It will be a question of restoring access to resources to recreate livelihoods, orienting and supporting young farmers towards a more adapted and resilient agriculture to climate change and at the same time supporting collective actions in favor of agriculture. protection of the environment and fight against silting of Lake Chad and its tributaries. The actions of this project will also be guided by other contextual aspects including the social and economic needs of beneficiaries, including the employability and empowerment ofyoung women and men (15-35 years) through the creation of economic opportunities , risk prevention actions, conflict management andstrengthening social cohesion. Thus, this proposal for regional action, aligned with Oxfam's strategy and complementary to ongoing humanitarian actions, will focus on the following four areas of intervention:
1. Build capacity in semi-urban and rural entrepreneurship, in relation to local market opportunities;
2. Support the development of initiatives to improve food security and income for young people;
3. Support the establishment of local mechanisms for conflict prevention and peacebuilding;
4. Promote and support community risk and disaster reduction (DRR) initiatives.