Integrated approaches to food security can be feasible in fragile countries such as Chad - IOE
Rome, 29 October 2024 – A recent project performance evaluation (PPE) report published by the Independent Office of Evaluation of IFAD (IOE) confirms that an integrated approach to food security is feasible in a fragile country such as Chad. The evaluation demonstrates that combining a wide range of simple activities is realistic. In particular, the evaluation found that the combination of several intervention levels – individual producers, households, informal groups and village communities – was both appropriate and effective.
The PPE evaluated the Project to Improve the Resilience of Agricultural Systems in Chad (PARSAT), which is an integrated agricultural development project, financed by IFAD in the Sahelian zone of Chad over the period 2015-2022. The aim of the PARSAT was to improve the resilience of the agricultural systems and the economy of rural households to climate change and external shocks, to contribute to a sustainable improvement in food security and the incomes of rural households in the project area.
The report found that the PARSAT enabled the realization of a range of coherent activities in response to farming communities’ needs. Production systems have been adopted that are better adapted to climate change, and that are more productive and sustainable. The project has also helped to ensure that small-scale farming is included in national climate change adaptation policies, and that rural households understand the importance of adapting to climate change.
Thanks to the increased availability of cereals, households experienced shorter periods of food shortages. Households saw their resilience increase during the dry season, also thanks to the diversification of income from existing agricultural production and the development of new activities. Households also strengthened their general skills through one or more cross-disciplinary training courses, including environmental education, literacy and nutrition.
Farming field schools on rainfed and flood recession crops provided participating households with access to knowledge, improved seeds and tools, with the support of partner NGOs. Farmers also improved their ability to make strategic choices, particularly about their production system, and social cohesion within communities has improved, with a reduction in drivers of exclusion. A number of innovative elements helped to achieve results, such as seed shops, farmer and agropastoral crop and livestock field schools, and nutritional education through nutritionists.
Particularly noteworthy is the fact that the PARSAT was the first in a series of IFAD-financed projects in Chad's Sahelian zone to make women's participation a priority, in a context where changing attitudes towards women's empowerment remains a long-term effort, as evidenced by the lack of women in positions requiring a field presence.
These achievements notwithstanding, come challenges remain, as the project suffered from a lack of planning in relation to strengthening the sustainability of the developments and organizing upkeep and maintenance. In addition, operational support for marketing was not carried out as planned, and the project lacked efficient solutions for the management of infrastructure investments and to carry out related studies for market gardening, weirs and the renovation of rural tracks.
Building on these findings, the PPE recommends pursuing the approach of multi-theme projects in Chad, especially in the Sahelian and Sudanese zones. The report also advises that IFAD take into account the structure of the social fabric to choose several entry points for intervention, and redesign the approach to sustainable natural resource management in the Sahelian zone.
Chad, located in the centre of the continent, is one of Africa's largest countries, covering an area of 1.284 million km². It is one of the G5 Sahel countries in a fragile situation. The factors of fragility particularly present in the Sahelian zone are the environment and the degradation of natural resources, climatic risks, the low availability of basic and production services, the weakness of markets and food prices, the instability of points of sale, food insecurity and malnutrition, unemployment, conflicts between farmers and stockbreeders and land conflicts.
For further information, please contact Dr Alexander Voccia, Senior Evaluation Communication & KM Specialist [here].
RESOURCES
- To access the Chad PPE report, please click here.
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