Sharing a common vision of sustainable and equitable economic and social development in Southern Chad, stakeholders in Chad came together in June to sign the ‘Koskilna Landscape’ Compact, to work together towards climate resilience and sustainable development in Chad’s eight cotton-growing provinces.
The signing ceremony serves to formalise the intention of each stakeholder to achieve the Compact objectives, showcasing collective commitment to building a sustainable future for Chad.
As a landlocked Sahelian country, highly vulnerable to climate change, Chad is ill-equipped to adapt to the changing climate and bounce back from extreme weather events. The agriculture sector faces challenges such as environmental degradation, unsustainable farming practices, and limited access to inputs, credit and technology, resulting in insufficient yield and income for small-scale farmers.
The ‘Koskilna’ landscape is a multistakeholder and multi-sectoral initiative, convened by IDH and Cotontchad Société Nouvelle, supported in its implementation by Job Booster Chad Enterprise as the Executive Secretariat. The primary goal of the Koskilna Landscape Coalition is to promote socio-economic and environmental resilience of farming communities. Addressing such an ambitious and multi-faceted agenda requires a multi-stakeholder approach as well as locally embedded governance structures which can take forward the implementation of the Compact in the long term.
The Landscape aligns with IDH’s Landscape Production – Protection – Inclusion approach, a framework for inclusive and multi-sectoral land use management and territorial development. The aim of the Koskilna Landscape is therefore to create socio-economic and environmental resilience in smallholder farming communities. The IDH landscape methodology, aims for the sustainable production of agri-commodities, the protection and restoration of natural resources, and the inclusion and empowerment of vulnerable groups.
The coalition’s activities revolve around three core pillars:
- Sustainable Production: Enhancing farming practices to boost yields while preserving natural resources.
- Protection of Natural Resources: Restoring and conserving ecosystems to ensure their long-term viability.
- Inclusion and Empowerment: Supporting vulnerable groups, particularly women and youth, to actively participate in economic development.
Koskilna Partners
Convenors: IDH and Cotontchad
Chadian Government: Ministry of Livestock and Animal Production, National Rural Development Support Agency of Chad (ANADER), and Chadian Institute of Agricultural Research for Development (ITRAD).
Dutch Government: Represented by the Embassy Office in Chad.
Private Sector: Job Booster Chad Enterprise, CRIPT, CEDESI, ARISE, Coris Bank Chad International, and TCHADEX.
Civil Society: Solidaridad West Africa, Caritas Suisse, SWISSAID, CELIAF, World Vision Chad, Global Shea Alliance, African Cotton Foundation, Better Cotton, Fondation Dieu Bénit, and National Union of Cotton Producers of Chad (UNPCT).
As next steps, the coalition will implement its Governance Charter, as well as set up Local Action Groups to address issues crucial to sustainable development. Through collaborative action this coalition aims to create a positive impact on improving climate resilience and prosperity for Chad’s farming communities and its environment.