N’Djamena — A landmark three-day workshop on groundwater governance kicked off today in N’Djamena, uniting policymakers, technical partners, civil society representatives, and local water user groups. The June 16th gathering aims to design a unified, multi-stakeholder action plan to address pressing concerns over groundwater quantity and quality across the country.

Groundwater remains the backbone of Tchad’s water security, supporting drinking water supplies, agricultural irrigation, pastoral systems, and urban growth—especially in regions facing worsening climate stress and shrinking surface water resources. This workshop was called to strengthen national groundwater governance and mitigate risks to both availability and quality of this vital resource.

Addressing the opening session, Natascha Paddison, UNICEF Representative in Tchad, emphasized the shared responsibility to ensure every child has fair access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene services. She stressed that technical decisions about groundwater directly impact human lives—affecting health, education, human development, and dignity. Over the next three days, participants will exchange insights, evaluate priority risks, and co-create practical solutions to turn groundwater into a pillar of resilience rather than a source of vulnerability or conflict.

Natascha Paddison reiterated UNICEF’s commitment to supporting Tchad’s government and partners throughout this initiative. She also expressed gratitude to the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office for funding the workshop.

Fatimé Hassan, Director-General of Water Resources in Tchad, outlined the workshop’s goal: to craft a coordinated action plan that enhances groundwater governance nationwide. Discussions will build a shared understanding of the country’s groundwater landscape, highlight key governance challenges, and outline steps for implementing solutions. Outcomes will be documented in a comprehensive report and a technical guidance note, incorporating findings from the 2026 national groundwater risk assessment.

Nearly fifty participants are taking part, including officials from national water authorities, sector ministries, regional bodies, technical and financial partners, UN agencies, NGOs, private enterprises, water user associations, and academic experts. Their collaboration is expected to yield actionable recommendations for more effective, inclusive, and sustainable groundwater management across Tchad.