A three-day national workshop on groundwater governance opened today in N’Djamena, uniting representatives from public institutions, technical and financial partners, civil society, and user groups. The June 16 gathering aims to develop a shared, multi-stakeholder action plan to strengthen groundwater management amid growing concerns over quantity and quality.

Groundwater is the backbone of Chad’s water security, supplying drinking water, irrigation, pastoral systems, and urban needs—especially in regions facing climate pressures and surface water scarcity. The workshop seeks to address these challenges by fostering collaboration among stakeholders to design effective, inclusive strategies for sustainable groundwater use.

Building a shared vision for Chad’s groundwater future

At the opening session, Natascha Paddison of UNICEF underscored the collective responsibility to ensure equitable access to essential services like clean water, sanitation, and hygiene. She emphasized that every technical decision about groundwater impacts human health, education, and human dignity—calling on participants to combine expertise and experience to identify priorities and craft practical solutions.

“Groundwater must be a pillar of health and progress, not a source of risk or conflict,” she stated, adding that safeguarding these resources is crucial for future generations.

Technical collaboration for long-term resilience

Fatimé Hassan, Director General of Water Resources, outlined the workshop’s goal: to create a coordinated action plan for sustainable groundwater governance in Chad. She highlighted the need to assess the country’s groundwater situation, pinpoint key governance challenges, and define actionable steps for implementation.

The outcomes will be documented in a comprehensive report and a technical guidance note, incorporating findings from the 2026 national groundwater risk assessment.

Diverse voices, unified solutions

The workshop brings together nearly fifty participants, including national water authorities, sectoral ministries, regional bodies, technical and financial partners, UN agencies, NGOs, private sector representatives, user groups, and academic experts. Over three days, they will collaborate to produce actionable recommendations for more efficient, inclusive, and sustainable groundwater management in Chad.