African Development Bank Initiates $10 Million Lake Chad Restoration

Known as PARFEBALT, the project focuses on gathering the technical data necessary to secure future large-scale investments. Researchers will prioritize studies on the Chari-Logone and Komadougou-Yobé river systems, which provide the bulk of the lake's water supply. By integrating modern modeling tools and establishing a regional early warning system for floods and droughts, the commission intends to improve cross-border water governance and climate resilience.

Chad's Minister for Water and Energy, Passalet Kanabé Marcelin, emphasized that the basin serves as a critical lifeline for agriculture, fishing, and livestock. The region faces severe pressure from climate change and ongoing insecurity, with the lake's surface area having plummeted from 25,000 square kilometers in 1960 to a fraction of that size during peak drought cycles. African Development Bank Country Manager Francis Dogo noted that stabilizing these resources is essential to reducing conflicts between farmers and herders while fostering regional stability.