Limited water access in eastern Chad¡¯s Matar village once created widespread insecurity for families who depended entirely on farming and livestock to survive.
Local leaders frequently had to mediate disputes between farmers and herders from different communities over water sources to prevent violence. Climate change and environmental degradation worsened the situation, increasing competition and the risk of further dispute between farmers and pastoralists.
Following consultations with local authorities, traditional leaders, farmers and herders, the rehabilitation of the community pond was selected as a key priority to reduce competition over scarce water resources and strengthen peaceful coexistence.
Photo above: Herders walking alongside the rehabilitated Matar pond. Credit: Oundoum Cynthia Photo below: Bachar Annour, the Chief of Matar village. Credit: Junior Masra
Bachar Annour, village chief, Matar villageRelations between herders and farmers have improved considerably. We hardly hear about conflicts between herders and farmers in our communities anymore. And we no longer need to walk long distances to find water for our livestock.¡±
The initiative made a tangible difference, with over 2,000 families¡ªnearly 6,000 people¡ªbenefitted from stronger livelihoods and greater resilience.
It also empowered communities by training 140 mediators in conflict prevention and peaceful coexistence. Nearly 50 community leaders were trained and deployed to spot early warning signs of tension, allowing them to report and address conflicts.
At the same time, 25 critical infrastructures, including ponds, were built, improving access to resources and the quality of everyday life across communities.
Equally important, the peacebuilding initiative combined infrastructure with institutional and social change.
It strengthened local peace committees, making them more active and inclusive, with at least 20 per cent participation from women and youth.
It also introduced mechanisms for dialogue, early warning and joint resource management, enabling communities to address disputes before they escalated.
Together, these efforts helped to build trust, improve cooperation and support more sustainable management of shared resources.
Ibrahim Chamour Adam, Herder, Matar villageToday, we have a water source much closer to us for our livestock. People also use it for other purposes, including cultivation. We are now obliged to come to an understanding around this pond for the benefit of everyone.¡±
Built to last
The initiative has demonstrated that restoring and co-managing natural resources can serve as a practical entry point for peacebuilding in conflict?prone rural areas.
To ensure the progress lasts, the initiative's activities are aligned with government systems through collaboration with national ministries, particularly those responsible for agriculture and livestock.
At the local level, provincial conflict?management committees have been trained and are now resolving disputes with clearer roles and coordination. Crucially, their formal recognition through government decrees has strengthened their legitimacy, ensuring they will continue to anchor peace long beyond the initiative's funding.
Our partners in peacebuilding in Chad
For 20 years, the UN Secretary-General¡¯s Peacebuilding Fund has empowered people to rebuild their communities and countries in the aftermath of conflict and crisis, working with them to build the resilience needed to prevent the recurrence of violence and secure lasting peace.
The peacebuilding initiative in eastern Chad was implemented by the , the , the together with national and local authorities and organizations.
UN Peacebuilding initiatives are made possible by the generous contributions of Member States and the indispensable support of implementing partners, including UN agencies and local organizations.