Swiss foreign policy in Chad aims to reduce acute fragility through poverty alleviation, the mitigation of humanitarian shocks caused by armed conflict and drought, and the promotion of peace. These objectives are achieved by means of three foreign policy instruments: development cooperation, peace policy and humanitarian aid. Chad is a priority country for the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), which focuses its activities in the country on basic education and vocational skills development, agriculture and food security, citizenship, peace and the prevention of violence. Gender equality and good governance are cross-cutting themes promoted in all its activities.
Chad

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Embassy |
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Mission / Delegation / Permanent Representation |
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Consulate general |
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Honorary representation |
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Cooperation office |
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Contribution Office |
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Embassy with Cooperation Office |
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Embassy with Regional consular center |
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Swiss Business Hub |
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Swissnex |
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City |
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Capital |
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Disputed border |
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River |
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Lake |
Chad is a fragile state with a high level of poverty. The fall in the price of oil plunged the country into a deep economic crisis in 2017, placing it at rank 186 out of 188 countries in the United Nations Human Development Index. Spaces for dialogue and citizen participation are limited by the ever-present control of the state. The illiteracy rate is estimated at 78%, and nearly 3.5 million people are facing food insecurity. While the government continues to prioritise its security agenda and to stifle investment in the social and economic sectors, the quality of basic services is low and the population is growing at a rate of 3.6%.
Switzerland aims to assist Chad in reducing fragility through sustainable development that guarantees food security, increases the quality of education and enables better governance and the decentralisation of basic public services. The SDC operates at national, regional and local levels and focuses its cooperation activities on six regions in north-eastern, central and southern Chad.
Swiss Bilateral ODA |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 * |
---|---|---|---|
Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) |
|
|
|
Bilateral development cooperation |
19.91 |
20.31 |
23.00 |
Humanitarian aid |
4.32 |
5.54 |
4.40 |
State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) |
|
|
|
Economic Cooperation and Development |
- |
- |
- |
Peace and Human Rights Division (PHRD) |
|
|
|
Conflict transformation and human rights |
0.16 |
0.05 |
0.05 |
Total SDC/SECO/PHRD |
24.39 |
25.90 |
27.45 |
Other Federal Offices |
|
|
|
Other FDFA Divisions (ASAF, AIO, aso) |
- |
- |
.. |
Network of FDFA representations abroad |
2.06 |
2.28 |
.. |
State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) |
- |
- |
.. |
State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI) |
- |
0.01 |
.. |
MeteoSwiss |
- |
- |
- |
Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport (DDPS) |
- |
- |
- |
Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) |
- |
- |
.. |
Federal Statistical Office (FSO) |
- |
- |
- |
Total other Federal Offices |
2.06 |
2.29 |
- |
Cantons and municipalities |
0.43 |
.. |
.. |
Total |
26.88 |
28.19 |
27.45 |
Data status at 01.05.2023
* planned; total based on available data
.. = figures not available | – = nil or amount < 5'000 CHF
Citizenship, peace and the prevention of violence
Political dialogue and strengthening the administration of basic services
In the fragile context of Chad and the subregion as a whole, the consolidation of peace is a priority. Switzerland is strengthening mechanisms for resolving conflicts. It supports activities aimed at promoting national dialogue, in particular through the creation of spaces for dialogue to rebuild trust between political actors and civil society.
Switzerland also strengthens the rule of law through the promotion of local agreements aimed at the harmonious use of land and water resources and improving the social cohesion of communities riven by conflict. The SDC's efforts to strengthen the administration of basic services are focused on the health sector and the planning and use of water resources. For example, it has enabled 55,000 people – 50% of them women – to obtain health insurance.
Citizenship, peace and violence prevention(fr)
Basic education and vocational skills development
Improving the quality of education
As the leading agency for technical and financial partnerships, the SDC plays an active part in the dialogue on education policy. It aims to improve the quality of education and helps to develop educational programmes adapted to the needs of marginalised groups. For example, mother-tongue instruction in schools has resulted in a marked improvement in children's learning. The SDC also supports the development of innovative and diversified vocational skills development programmes that enable young people and women to acquire the skills needed for socio-economic integration.
Agriculture and food security
Diversification of agricultural production and higher incomes for rural households
The SDC aims to ensure food and nutritional security through sustainable agro-pastoral systems. It helps improve knowledge and management of water resources, and has thereby increased the income of farmers in targeted valleys. It supports the protection of pastoral livestock farming and the establishment of a legal framework (including legislation on seed) that favours the development of the agricultural sector. The SDC's support for the revitalisation of the shea nut and peanut sector has enabled smallholder farms to double their income.
Swiss cooperation instruments in Chad
Synergy between development aid, humanitarian aid and peace policy
Switzerland supports Chad through the concurrent, coordinated provision of humanitarian aid and development aid and the promotion of peace and human rights. This complementarity increases aid effectiveness and is crucial to help the country reduce fragility. Thanks to this approach, displaced populations can, for example, be integrated in seed production chains and humanitarian organisations can buy seeds produced by local farmers.
The FDFA is exploring synergies between the three complementary instruments it employs in its cooperation activities in Chad. Swiss Humanitarian Aid operates in the fields of food security, population movements (protection and integration) and health emergencies. The Human Security Division focuses on conflict prevention and resolution, political, social, intra- and interfaith dialogue, and the prevention of violent extremism. The South Cooperation Department works in the fields of education and vocational skills development, governance and rural development.
Approach and partners
As part of the 2018–21 strategy, Swiss programmes are implemented by national and international NGOs and companies recruited through international competitive bidding and carried out in close cooperation with relevant government departments and local authorities. The main partners are the following:
Swiss NGOs: Enfants du Monde, Caritas, Swissaid, Swisscontact
Research: Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Centre for Hydrogeology and Geothermics of the University of Neuchâtel, Consortium of Institutes and Universities of Chad, Chadian Institute of Agricultural Research for Development
Government: ministries, regional/local authorities
Chadian NGOs: e.g. Support Centre for International Health, Bureau d'études COSSOCIM
International NGOs and agencies: e.g. CIDR, CIRAD, CA 17 International, GIZ
Multilateral organisations: e.g. UNICEF, FAO, ICRC, WHO, UNHCR, OCHA, WFP.
Bilateral donors: public development agencies (Germany, France)
Links
Documents
Current projects
Tchad - PADS, Appui aux districts sanitaires
01.04.2023
- 31.03.2027
Au Tchad, la faiblesse de la gouvernance du système de santé est une des causes de la situation sanitaire caractérisée par des indicateurs les plus faibles de l’Afrique subsaharienne. L’appui de la Suisse va contribuer à améliorer la qualité des prestations et l’offre des soins de santé dans les districts sanitaires des provinces du Batha et du Moyen Chari ainsi qu’au déploiement de la couverture santé universelle dans certaines provinces.
Contribution to UNHCR Programme Budget 2023-2024 (earmarked)
01.01.2023
- 31.12.2024
UNHCR is one of Switzerland’s key multilateral partners due to its unique mandate by the General Assembly of United Nations to provide protection and assistance to refugees, asylum seekers, refugee returnees, and stateless persons. The strategic direction 2022-26 concretise the overall mandate of UNHCR for the upcoming years. Contributing to these directions allows Switzerland to achieve in particular the human development goal defined in the Dispatch to Parliament on International Cooperation for 2021-24.
Allocation of SDC Funding in 2023 to ICRC Operations in Cameroon, Central African Republic, and Chad
01.01.2023
- 31.12.2023
SDC funding to ICRC operations allows the International Committee of the Red Cross to respond proactively and to provide immediate protection and assistance for people affected by armed conflict and other situations of violence. In line with the Good Humanitarian Donorship principles, Switzerland recognizes the necessity of predictable and flexible funding to respond to changing needs in humanitarian crises.
2023 Annual Allocation to WFP Country Strategic Plans - Central Africa
01.01.2023
- 31.12.2023
Against historic levels of food security due to conflicts, climate change and COVID-19, Switzerland supports annually in 28 SDC priority countries operations of the World Food Programme (WFP) to provide humanitarian and development assistance. It funds indistinctively Country Strategic Plans, incorporating all WFP programmes or projects, based on affected population needs and potential synergies with other local partners, especially national governments and civil society.
Appui à la transition au Tchad
01.05.2022
- 30.04.2024
Forte de sa crédibilité en matière de gouvernance et de promotion de l’état de droit, la Suisse s’engage au côté des partenaires du Tchad pour l’appuyer dans une transition politique pacifique et inclusive vers un nouveau cadre constitutionnel propice au développement grâce à l’établissement d’institutions représentatives, responsables et redevables par le financement d’actions concertées. Elle appuie des initiatives spécifiques à l’objectif suisse de promotion de l’équilibre entre sécurité et développement.
RNI, Phase unique
01.03.2022
- 29.02.2024
Reconnue pour ses actions de promotion de la paix, la Suisse souhaite contribuer à la prévention de la violence dans la région du Lac Tchad. En appuyant la Radio Ndarason Internationale (RNI), la Suisse favorise l’accès à des informations fiables et contribue à offrir un espace d’expression et de dialogue aux habitants de la région. Elle leur permet ainsi une meilleure compréhension des enjeux, socle pour bâtir des solutions locales aux problèmes de gouvernance, de violence et de développement.
PREPAS - Programme de Renforcement de l’élevage pastoral au Tchad
01.10.2021
- 31.12.2026
Le Batha, le Wadi Fira et l’Ennedi sont des provinces sahéliennes soumises à l’avancée du désert et à l’irrégularité pluviométrique. L’élevage pastoral y est la principale activité économique. La Suisse appuie un programme de renforcement de l’élevage pastoral qui contribue à une gestion durable des ressources, à la prévention des conflits, et à l’amélioration de l’offre de services aux éleveurs. Ce programme impulse des opportunités économiques aux jeunes limitant la migration vers la Libye ou les zones aurifères marquées par l’insécurité et le banditisme.
PFNL Crédit d'ouverture Phase 1
01.01.2021
- 28.02.2027
Au Tchad, les PFNL constituent une importante source d’alimentation pour la population rurale (tamarinier, jujubier). Le projet facilite : (i) la valorisation de certains PFNL pour améliorer la sécurité alimentaire et nutritionnelle, (ii) l’accès à des marchés porteurs et rémunérateurs à travers le renforcement des petites et moyennes entreprises et, (iii) l’amélioration des conditions cadres socio-économiques visant la création d’emploi et de revenu pour les plus pauvres (gomme arabique).
UNHAS – Accès aux bénéficiaires en Afrique de l’Ouest
01.06.2020
- 31.12.2023
Dans un contexte d’insécurité civile et alimentaire croissante en Afrique de l’Ouest, aggravée par la crise sanitaire due au Covid-19, seul le service aérien humanitaire des Nations Unies (UNHAS) permet d’accéder aux populations grâce à un transport sûr et rapide d’acteurs et de biens humanitaires et de développement. La contribution à UNHAS permettra d’atteindre les populations vulnérables dans les régions reculées, d’assurer le suivi des programmes suisses et de rendre compte sur ces derniers.
Réponse à la crise alimentaire en Afrique de l’Ouest dans le cadre du COVID19
01.06.2020
- 30.09.2023
La soudure de juin à septembre 2020 s’annonçait déjà très difficile au plan alimentaire pour les populations de l’Afrique de l’Ouest. La crise liée au COVID19 les plonge immédiatement dans une crise alimentaire particulièrement grave. La DDC soutient d’une part, le Programme Alimentaire Mondial (PAM) pour fournir des vivres aux populations et d’autre part, le Réseau d’éleveurs Billital Maroobe (RBM) pour apporter assistance aux populations pastorales et renforcer leur résilience.
Allocation of SDC Funding to ICRC Operations in 2020
01.01.2020
- 31.12.2020
SDC funding to ICRC
operations allows the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to
respond proactively and to provide immediate protection and assistance for people
affected by armed conflict and other situations of violence. In line with the
Good Humanitarian Donorship (GHD) principles, Switzerland recognizes the
necessity of predictable and flexible funding to respond to changing needs in
humanitarian crises.
Programme de Renforcement de l’Éducation de Base au Batha (PREBatha)
01.12.2019
- 30.11.2023
Au Tchad, la situation de l’éducation primaire est alarmante. Les taux de scolarisation et d’achèvement y sont très faibles, y compris au Batha, province d’intervention prioritaire de la Suisse. A travers le PREBatha et en complémentarité avec son programme « Promotion de la Qualité de l'Education de Base » (ProQEB), la Suisse contribue à l’amélioration de l’environnement et des conditions d’accès à l’éducation et d’apprentissage des enfants du Batha, particulièrement des filles.