Phase 2 of the PASFASS project to increase the social empowerment of Chadian women (2025-2028)

Context

In Chad, challenges in terms of of maternal, reproductive, neonatal, child and adolescent health, family planning and gender-based violence (GBV) remain numerous. The population is predominantly young (50.6% under 15 years of age) and rural (75.7%), and health indicators remain low. Maternal and infant mortality rates are among the highest in the subregion, at 860 per 100,000 live births for maternal mortality and 72 per 1,000 live births for infant mortality.

In addition, young people and adolescents, who are nevertheless heavily affected by these issues, remain largely absent from primary health care facilities.

In the provinces of Mandoul and Logone Oriental, customary law still largely governs social relations, limiting women’s empowerment and access to fundamental rights.

Review of phase 1 of the PASFASS project

Between 2019 and 2023, the first phase of the project targeted nearly 550,000 people. The results showed an increase in prenatal consultations (+33%) and deliveries in health facilities (+17%) thanks to work with traditional birth attendants and the provision of tricycles for emergencies.

It contributed to the creation of a strategic healthcare purchase fund (FA) and the establishment of 222 village savings and credit associations (AVECs) promoting the social and financial empowerment of women.

Activities to combat gender-based violence were carried out, as well as infrastructure rehabilitation and building construction work.

Phase 2 of the PASFASS project

The second phase of the PASFASS project continues to align its interventions with the broader national health policies in Chad. This alignment of the project’s objectives and activities with the country’s legal framework and national strategies aims to ensure greater ownership of the project by provincial and national health authorities, thereby ensuring a more sustainable impact of the interventions.

The specific objectives of Phase 2 of PASFASS are:

• Promoting demand for reproductive, maternal, neonatal, infant and adolescent health services, family planning and GBV care to meet the specific needs of women and adolescents.
• Strengthening access to, quality and use of reproductive, maternal, neonatal, infant and adolescent health care and GBV care to meet the specific needs of women and adolescents.
• Improving knowledge of the social and health determinants that influence access to reproductive, maternal, neonatal, infant and adolescent health services and gender-based violence.

Groupe URD, a learning partner in the consortium

Groupe URD is acting as a learning partner, supporting those responsible for operational implementation in strategic management and continuous improvement through the analysis of practices and contexts, the production of knowledge and support for the application of lessons learned.

This support will include evaluations and capacity building for project teams.

Knowledge production, capitalisation and dissemination

The Groupe URD also provides support for the implementation of recommendations, the completion of two operational research projects, and the production of case studies and technical data sheets for capitalisation purposes.

Finally, following the positive reception of the documentary produced during phase 1 on the persistence of female genital mutilation in Mandoul, an adapted version will be used in awareness-raising activities and a second documentary is planned for phase 2 of PASFASS.