Resilient Local Governance and Community Engagement in Chad: Lessons and Perspectives

About

This case study details UNICEF's strategic efforts to strengthen local governance and community resilience in Chad in contribution to the Sahel Resilience Partnership (SRP), with a particular focus on the Guéra province. Through the establishment of federated community structures and a Community-Based Management Information System (CBMS) for quarterly monitoring, the SRP is transforming communities from passive beneficiaries into active partners and agents of their own development.

The document review highlights the ongoing decentralization process in Chad, underscoring the importance of fostering inclusive social dialogue that incorporates the voices of women, youth, and marginalized groups. While current initiatives have successfully supported the development of community-led infrastructure and strengthened local budget planning, significant challenges persist, particularly in ensuring financial sustainability, addressing human resource constraints within public services, and enhancing the financial capacity of communities.
Ultimately, the evidence points to the need for a multisectoral approach that aligns community‑led initiatives with national governance frameworks and complementary economic resilience efforts, to protect children’s rights and ensure the long‑term sustainability of programme outcomes.