Lake Chad Basin project aims at earlier warnings of floods and droughts

The project, “Integrated Water Resources Management and Early Warning System for Climate Change Resilience in the Lake Chad Basin” is financed by the Adaptation Fund with a grant of US$ 11,665,500.

The Lake Chad Basin is vulnerable to extreme weather and climate impacts. More than 48 flood and drought disasters struck the basin between 1970 and 2020, affecting over 31 million people, killing nearly 4,000  destroying crops, harvests and livestock and fueling tensions and social conflicts over scare water.

Droughts and extreme floods are expected to become more frequent and intense, while the basin’s population is expected to double over the next 30 years. At the same time, the network of weather and river-monitoring stations has shrunk since the 1980s, leaving governments and communities without the timely, reliable information they need to prepare.

“The Lake Chad Basin cannot protect its people from floods and droughts it cannot see coming. This project gives our member States the shared data, forecasts and warnings they need to act early, together,” said Amb. Ibrahim Babani, Executive Secretary, Lake Chad Basin Commission.

The project has four main priorities:

1. Strengthen regional hydrometeorological observing networks and information systems for a better measurement of rain, rivers and lakes: weathers and river-monitoring stations will be rehabilitated or installed;
2. Identify user needs and developing hydrometeorological products and services, including flood and drought forecasting and a transboundary early warning mechanism;
3. Raise awareness among decision makers, lawmakers and water users on the importance of hydrometeorological information and services, and delivering warnings that reach vulnerable groups;
4. Improve communities’ response capacity, including gender-responsive flood and drought management plans and pilot community adaptation measures.

“Early warnings for all start with reliable observations. By modernizing hydrometeorological networks and services across five countries, this project will help turn data into timely action that saves lives and livelihoods,” said Dr. Wayne Jenkinson, Director of WMO’s Hydrology and Cryosphere Division.

An estimated 22.5 million people with access to radio or mobile phones are expected to benefit directly from improved warnings. The project gives particular attention to women, youth, farmers, herders and fishers, whose livelihoods depend most on the basin’s water.

For a farmer, a herder or, a fisher, this can mean a radio or phone message days ahead that flood is coming or that the rains are likely to fail, in time to move livestock, harvest early, change what is planted or adjust fishing. Pilot communities in each country will also draw up local emergency plans with women, youth, most vulnerable and community leaders, and receive training on how to read and use the warnings.

“Resilience is built with communities, not only for them. We will work with women, youth, farmers, herders and fishers so that warnings are understood, trusted and acted upon,” said Hervé Christian Didas Amboulou Chair of Global Water Partnership Central Africa.

A two-day regional inception workshop in N’Djamena, takes place on 28–29 October 2026 to launch the project. Delegations from the five participating countries, including their National Meteorological and Hydrological Services, Lake Chad Basin Commission focal points and Adaptation Fund Designated Authorities and the project partners will agree an action plan for the first year of implementation as well as governance arrangements. Each country will present the current state of its hydrometeorological services and its priority needs.  

“Chad is proud to host the launch of a project that reflects the solidarity of the basin’s countries in the face of climate change,” said H.E. Passale Kanabe Marcelin, Honorable Minister of Water Resources and Energy, Government of Chad.