CRS in Chad

Chad is a landlocked country situated at the crossroads of North and Central Africa whose northern half is desert. The country is bordered by Libya to the north, Sudan to the east, the Central African Republic to the south, Cameroon and Nigeria to the southwest at Lake Chad, and Niger to the west. Chad is the fifth-largest country in Africa. Chad has a population of more than 18 million inhabitants with 42.3% of the population living below the national poverty line. CRS began its activities in Chad in 1984 by supporting the Episcopal Commission for Justice and Peace from the Cameroon office. In 2002, in response to the humanitarian crisis in Darfur, the Chadian Bishops Conference invited CRS to open an office in the capital city of N’Djamena.

In Chad, CRS’ key programming areas focus on: emergency response and recovery, microfinance, child protection, and promoting local leadership.

Currently, CRS Chad programming is dealing with challenges that have been exacerbated by the effects of climate change, malnutrition, and a spill-over of armed conflict in the Central African Republic and the ongoing crisis in Sudan. Chad is currently hosting more than 500,000 refugees and returnees. CRS works in partnership with the local government and local partners, including diocesan Caritas. Currently, CRS supports communities living in vulnerable conditions to meet their basic needs, better their livelihoods, build resilience, and reinforce social cohesion. The country office works with local partners, helping to develop their capacities to acquire and manage donor resources. CRS is also committed to carrying out its operations in a manner that honors and protects the right of all people to live free from abuse and harm.

Emergency Response & Recovery

Stabilization and Reconciliation in the Lake Chad Region (STaR) Phase II

Photo by Jennifer Lazuta/CRS

Funded by German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) via the German Development Bank (KfW), the project is supporting the recovery of families affected by the Lake Chad Basin (LCB) crisis. STaR II implements activities that improve access to basic infrastructure, equip households with tools and skills to establish or improve livelihoods, strengthen social cohesion, and improve local governance.

Emergency response to Sudanese refugees, Chadian returnees, and host communities in eastern Chad

Photo by Mabel Chenjoh/CRS

Thanks to funding from Caritas Internationalis, CRS is supporting Caritas Mongo to lead the distribution of food aid and household items to 1,500 Sudanese refugees, Chadian returnees, and host communities in the east of Chad.

Microfinance

Savings and Internal Lending Communities (SILC) & Social Cohesion

Photo by Jennifer Lazuta/CRS

Through this privately funded project, CRS is strengthening the economic security and social cohesion in communities at risk or already affected by conflict. SILC groups have accumulated over $360,000 in savings, which have been lent to group members to start small businesses or contribute to social needs. The project has also trained local conflict management committees on how to foster social cohesion within communities.

Child Protection

Community Child Protection Systems

Photo by Jennifer Lazuta/CRS

The 18-month project funded by United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) is being implemented in partnership with Caritas N'Djamena. The project works to ensure that children of Chad live in safe communities where their basic needs are met and their right to protection is respected. 

Local Leadership

Partnership and Capacity Building Project (PCS) in Chad

Photo by Doura Mogobung/CRS

CRS is working to improve the organizational capacities of Caritas Chad and its diocesan members so that they can better respond to humanitarian emergencies, promote development, and build community resilience. The PCS project has enabled Caritas Chad to develop a strategic plan (2023-2030).

Local Partners

The Chadian Episcopal Conference
Caritas Chad
Diocesan Caritas

CRS' History in Chad

Catholic Relief Services’ work in Chad began in 1984 with operations based in the CRS Cameroon office. CRS supported the Chad Episcopal Commission for Justice and Peace to implement peacebuilding projects. In 2002, in response to the humanitarian crisis in Darfur, the Bishops’ Conference invited CRS to open an office in the capital of N’Djamena. From 2002 till 2015, the activities of the CRS country office in Chad focused on enhancing food security in the East of Chad.

From 2015 to 2019, the CRS projects in Chad supported populations living in vulnerable conditions to have increased access to finances to make productive investments and improve their economic resilience.

Currently, CRS interventions in Chad include emergency response, microfinance, livelihoods and agricultural activities, child protection, and capacity-strengthening activities. CRS implements all these projects in Chad for communities living in vulnerable conditions in the west, east, and south regions of Chad in collaboration with the local government and local partners including diocesan Caritas.