The European Union and Germany have launched a new Lake Chad Water Management initiative aimed at strengthening regional cooperation, improving climate resilience and enhancing stability across the Lake Chad Basin, which spans Nigeria and several neighbouring countries.
The programme, known as LACHAWAMA, was officially launched in Bangui, Central African Republic, in partnership with the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC) and the Government of the Central African Republic.
It is designed to promote sustainable management of shared water resources while supporting long-term development and security across one of Africa’s most environmentally and security-sensitive regions.
Speaking at the launch, President of the Central African Republic, Professor Faustin-Archange Touadéra, described the initiative as a critical response to growing environmental and socio-economic pressures facing the Lake Chad Basin.
“The Central African Republic is a source of the Lake Chad Basin’s hydrological system, which comes with a particular socio-environmental responsibility,” Touadéra said.
He called for stronger cooperation among governments, development partners, civil society and the private sector to ensure effective implementation of the programme.
“Let us save the Lake Chad Basin for the well-being of humanity,” he added.
Representing the European Union, Chargé d’Affaires at the EU Delegation to the Central African Republic, Mr. Serge Panaget, said the initiative aligns with the EU’s Global Gateway strategy, which supports African-led solutions to regional challenges.
He noted that climate change and environmental degradation do not respect national borders, stressing the importance of cooperation among Lake Chad Basin countries, including Nigeria.
“Climate change and environmental pressures do not stop at borders. Nigeria’s partnership with its neighbours through the Lake Chad Basin Commission is essential for long-term stability and development,” he said.
Panaget added that the initiative is not limited to infrastructure and policy coordination but also focuses on improving livelihoods and expanding opportunities for young people across the region.
“For young people in northern Nigeria and across the Lake Chad region, strengthening resilience around water and natural resources is also about expanding opportunity and supporting long-term stability,” he said.
The LACHAWAMA programme is jointly funded by the European Union and Germany through the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), with an initial €11.25 million package comprising €7 million from the EU and €4.25 million from Germany.
The Lake Chad Basin, which supports over 50 million people across Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, Niger and the Central African Republic, remains a critical ecosystem for agriculture, fishing and livestock, particularly in Nigeria’s North-East.
Officials say the initiative will strengthen water governance, improve hydrological monitoring systems, support climate adaptation and enhance regional coordination to reduce resource-based tensions.
The Executive Secretary of the Lake Chad Basin Commission, Ambassador Ibrahim Babani, described the programme as a demonstration of shared commitment by member states to tackle common environmental and security challenges through cooperation.