About
Watch our 1st International Symposium on Sustainability of Agrarian Societies in the Lake Chad Basin
Lake Chad, a freshwater lake located in the Sahelian zone of west-central Africa at the conjunction of Chad, Cameroon, Nigeria, and Niger. It is situated in an interior basin formerly occupied by a much larger ancient sea that is sometimes called Mega-Chad. Historically, Lake Chad has ranked among the largest lakes in Africa, though its surface area varies greatly by season, as well as from year to year. When the surface of the lake is approximately 920 feet (280 meters) above sea level, the area is about 6,875 square miles (17,800 square km); in the early 21st century, however, the area was typically about 580 square miles (1,500 square km). The hydrologic contributions and biological diversity of Lake Chad are important regional assets. The region is noteworthy for important archaeological discoveries, its role in trans-Saharan trade, and its association with historic African kingdoms.
The Project
The ''Sustainability of Agrarian Societies in the Lake Chad Basin'' project, supported by the BA/Wolfson Fellowships 2023, aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the region's agrarian societies. Through rigorous data collection, statistical modeling, and collaboration with local stakeholders, the project seeks to understand the long-term sustainability of agricultural practices in the Lake Chad Basin. Our goal is to generate actionable insights and policy recommendations to support the region's agrarian communities in the face of climate change and population growth.
Work Packages
Literature Review and Data Collection
- Task: Gather existing research and data on Lake Chad’s water levels and agrarian societies.
- Resources: Research team, databases, libraries..
- Responsible Parties: Research assistants, data analysts.
Field Surveys and Community Engagement
- Task: Conduct surveys and interviews with local agrarian communities.
- Resources: Field researchers, survey tools, translators.
- Responsible Parties: Field researchers, community liaison officers.
Symposium Planning and Execution
- Task: Organize the logistics of the symposium, including venue, speakers, and participants.
- Resources:Event planners, administrative staff, marketing team.
- Responsible Parties: Symposium coordinators, event planners
Data Analysis and Reporting
- Task: Analyze collected data and prepare reports and presentations.
- Resources:Data analysts, statisticians, report writers.
- Responsible Parties: Data analysis team, report authors.
Stakeholder Workshops and Feedback Sessions
- Task: Facilitate workshops and sessions to gather feedback from key stakeholders including government representatives, local communities, and NGOs.
- Resources:Facilitators, workshop materials, venue
- Responsible Parties: Stakeholder engagement team, workshop coordinators
Policy Formulation and Advocacy
- Task: Develop policy recommendations based on research findings and advocate for their adoption by relevant authorities.
- Resources:Policy analysts, advocacy specialists, communication tools
- Responsible Parties: Policy development team, advocacy groups.
