RESILAC 2, Economic and socially inclusive recovery in Lake Chad

May 2024 - December 2028

Based on the encouraging effects observed during the implementation of the RESILAC (Redressement Economique Social Inclusif du Lac Tchad) project from 2018 to 2022, the consortium members (ACF, Care, Groupe URD) and the donors (EU and AFD) have committed to carrying out a second RESILAC project, designed on the basis of the lessons learned from the first RESILAC component.

Funded by

The French Development Agency & European Union

Project presentation

The project is implemented by a consortium composed of Action Against Hunger (lead partner), CARE and Groupe URD, in partnership with the CCFD-Terre Solidaire network and with local and national organisations in each of the countries. Its innovative approach has proven to be relevant, effective and flexible, delivering initiatives tailored to the needs of beneficiaries in the targeted regions, in line with national policies and international cooperation efforts.

Co-financed to the amount of 40 million euros for a period of 5 years, RESILAC 2 is continuing its sub-regional approach with activities deployed in the countries around the Lake Chad basin, in Cameroon, in the Far North region; in Niger, in the Diffa region (subject to donor approval); in Nigeria, in the State of Borno and finally in Chad, in the Lake Province.

The main aim of the project is to build people’s resilience through economic recovery, social cohesion and sustainable land management in the areas most affected by the Lake Chad crisis and climate change. The aim is to improve the living conditions of households, particularly the most vulnerable (refugees, internally displaced persons), and to help local players become drivers of change. This will be made possible by a combination of factors implemented through the activities and by the creation of a collective bottom-up dynamic involving local stakeholders in the implementation of the project.

The project has 3 components:

Component 1: Strengthening access to basic services, livelihoods and social inclusion opportunities for displaced populations, returnees, refugees and vulnerable host communities;
Component 2: Improving the capacities of the authorities, community organisations and civil society organisations at local, regional and national levels to ensure social cohesion and the management of natural resources around Lake Chad ;
Component 3: Support economic recovery and promote cross-border trade by giving men and women access to employment and to diversified agro-sylvo-pastoral and fisheries production systems adapted to climate change.

Groupe URD’s role in the consortium

Groupe URD, as the project’s learning partner and knowledge manager, will be responsible for developing and managing the Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) strategy, as it was for the first RESILAC. This will be based on complementary tools, methods and approaches that will enable :

to support the adaptive management of the project,
to assess the progress of the action and its effects on the ground,
to produce useful and relevant knowledge
to encourage iterative learning.

Find out about all the RESILAC 1 lessons and resources:

See the results of Groupe URD’s activities
See all the resources produced as part of the project on the RESILAC website
Explore, through 4 episodes of ‘Les mots du Lac Tchad’ podcast, the structuring subjects for the RESILAC project.

Between continuity and innovation

Consolidating the achievements of the first phase:
- Implementing the lessons learnt during the first five years.
- Continuing and scaling up the actions undertaken.
Adjusting the project’s approach:
- A more holistic consideration of needs (displaced people, gender, etc.)
- A sustained sub-regional dimension
- A strengthened partnership-based approach

A ‘multi’ project

Multi-country: three countries around the Lake Chad basin, with a regional approach
Multi-level: community, local, regional, national and sub-regional
Multi-sectoral: three main, interconnected and complementary areas of action
Multi-partner: more than 20 implementing partners
Multi-donor: the European Union and the French Development Agency
Multi-year: five years (2024–2028)

The activities carried out by Groupe URD:

Training for RESILAC project staff (members of the regional office and country offices) on the CHS Standard (core humanitarian standard) and the method for monitoring and recording outcomes.
EIMS 1 (real-time Evaluation with feedback sessions), carried out between April and May 2025 in the three countries where the project is being implemented, to assess and strengthen stakeholders’ ownership of the project as well as the project’s governance structure.
Regional study on the cross-border economy, carried out between May and December 2025, to analyse the needs and obstacles to cross-border trade in the Lake Chad Basin, as well as the promising economic sectors in this region, and the forms of cooperation and coordination to be considered in order to facilitate cross-border trade between the countries participating in the RESILAC programme.
Regional study on climate change, carried out between November 2025 and May 2026, with the aim of highlighting potential synergies between local mutual aid initiatives and institutional mechanisms, with a view to jointly developing preparedness and response plans.