Chad

Year-end Overview

Working environment

 Chad has been going through an economic crisis since 2015 with devastating effects on the economy. Continued unrest in neighbouring countries, particularly in the Central African Republic (CAR) and Nigeria, will impact the security and humanitarian environment of Chad through refugee and asylum-seeker flows. The border with CAR is likely to remain closed. In the Lake region, Boko Haram, although weakened, still has a residual nuisance force that can cause violence and instability. As a result, prospects for the return of IDPs and refugees will be limited.
 
The lack of funding and investment in primary social sectors has led to failure in the provision of essential services, resulting in heightened chronic and structural vulnerabilities. However, the government remains committed to improving the protection environment and to integrating refugees into local, national and regional development plans. Chad has adhered to the multi-year, multi-partner strategy and there is a conducive environment to its enlistment in the Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework (CRRF) and adoption of the asylum law, which has already made significant progress. The draft law, to be presented to the Council of Ministers, would result in the right to work, freedom of movement with formal recognized documentation and access to services. The cohabitation between refugees and host communities remains peaceful.
 
UNHCR will continue to play an instrumental role in supporting Chad and will reinforce its joint programming in 2019 with UN sister agencies, development actors, private sectors, financial institutions and local communities.
 

Key priorities

Working closely with the Government and development partners, particularly the World Bank, UNHCR will continue pursuing durable solutions for refugees in 2019. These opportunities will include voluntary repatriation, for which a tripartite agreement has been signed with Sudan, an out-of-camp community development approach towards socioeconomic integration for those staying in Chad, as well as resettlement and other legal pathways.
 
In 2019, UNHCR will focus on:
 

• Continuous advocacy and support for the adoption of the national refugee law;
• Implementation of activities aiming at empowering refugees and other people of concern while searching durable solutions for them through the whole-of-society approach and inclusion in the local, national and regional plans;
• Maintaining emphasis on education, sexual and gender-based violence, child protection and protection from sexual exploitation and abuse as protection priorities in 2019.