Gender-transformative conservation of the Lake Chad Basin

The project seeks to improve the climate resilience of marginalized communities particularly women and youth and ecosystems that are structurally vulnerable to climate change through nature-based climate solutions in six Lake Chad Basin protected areas registered under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands in Cameroon Chad and Niger. The project directly supports 315 000 people (75% women) through improved resilient agriculture practices and communitarian conflict resolution processes. Two million people will benefit from new or improved ecosystem services by restoring 10 000 hectares of wetlands. Also 2.7 million people displaced due to conflict (60% children and 25% women) will indirectly benefit as the project contributes to regional stabilization strategies including peaceful conflict resolution and communitarian processes.

The expected outcomes of this project include: (1) improved conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity by marginalized communities vulnerable to climate change especially women and youth in protected areas of Lake Chad Basin; (2) improving crops that are vulnerable to climate change by adopting gender-responsive and climate-resilient agricultural livelihoods; and (3) increased leadership by women and youth in climate change-focused environmental peacebuilding within and near the project’s Ramsar sites.