Chad

The Government has expressed the need for technical support to ensure the planning and viability of the new settlements built in eastern Chad, as well as the extension/rehabilitation of existing refugee settlements to accommodate for the new arrivals. A technical mission of UN-HABITAT under the leadership of the Government has taken place and the urban planning Action Plan is under discussions, as a result of the mission.

Strengthening the refugee registration processes and issuance of ID cards will facilitate access to public services. The Government has started enrolling refugees in the National Biometric Population Register and providing them with a biometric identity card alongside a unique identifier number to refugees aged sixteen and above. Investing in documentation should be done for the new refugee arrivals as well as the protracted caseload. Enrollment started in N’Djamena and Abeche in February 2025 to reach 75,000 people.

Mobilize support for the funding of 100,000 biometric travel documents for refugees, in compliance with ICAO standards. The Government of Chad pledged at the 2023 Global Refugee Forum to issue identity cards and biometric travel documents to refugees. The issuance of travel documents will help facilitate access to higher education opportunities for Sudanese students and improve mobility for refugee graduates. According to the Government of Chad’s ANATS (Agence Nationale des Titres Sécurisés), the production of 100,000 travel documents is estimated to cost approximately 10.5 million USD (equivalent to 6,000 million CFA). This estimate is based on a unit cost of approximately 106 USD per travel document.

Agriculture and small business are the most promising pathways for resilience and self-reliance for refugees and their hosts. The socio-economic profile of newly arrived Sudanese refugees reveals a diverse range of potential and skills, with a significant number of professionals, skilled, and semi-skilled individuals. Although 85% have backgrounds in agricultural activities, there is a growing presence of tertiary sector professionals. These profiles could be an asset to diversify the region's economy and support the functioning of basic social services. Investments are needed to (1) support climate-resilient agricultural practices, and (2) expand economic opportunities for 15% of refugees with a non-agricultural professional profile, particularly for youth and women, to foster social cohesion and self-reliance. 

On employment, within the application of the Asylum Law and its implementing Decree, the Government has expressed its will and taken concrete steps to facilitate the professional integration of refugee lawyers and medical practitioners, as well as other professions.

Expand and improve health services for refugees and host communities by constructing and rehabilitating health centres, providing medical supplies, and recruiting health workers. There is an urgent need to extend the national health system to areas hosting the new arrivals, with a priority of constructing and equipping additional new health facilities and rehabilitating existing health ones. 

Build classrooms, train teachers, and provide school supplies to accommodate refugee and local children in line with the National Refugee Education Strategy 2030, which aims to ensure that all newly arrived refugees have access to the Chadian education system on par with nationals. In the East, there is an urgent need for additional classrooms to respond to the massive education crisis in the country. Over 250,000 new refugee children are school age, but they are out of school. With limited school capacity in Chad, there is a dire need to construct schools for the (re)enrolment of refugees and Chadians towards integration in the camp vicinities. 

The growing number of protection issues in refugee settlements and in host communities requires enhanced access to justice, governance and administration, to enable citizen rights and duties, as well as to guarantee refugee standards. 

Establish sustainable water supply systems and improve sanitation in refugee settlements and host communities. Priority should be given to ensure a sustainable water supply in the new settlements established in 2024 and 2025. 

Deployment of improved clean cooking solutions for refugees and host communities. Limited or no access to cooking fuel and technology/solutions has had a significant impact on the environment, but also a dramatic impact on refugee protection, putting them at risk of GBV, tensions with host communities, and increased child protection issues, amongst others. There is a need for solarization of public infrastructures and provide alternative cooking systems (e.g. solar cooking, bio-gas cooking etc.) to prevent devastating deforestation. As for alternative cooking systems, the Government is providing ecological charcoal and gas to refugees in Wafi Fira province through the project Albia funded by the World Bank.

Implement reforestation and environmental protection measures to mitigate the impacts of deforestation and climate change. Trees need to be planted in and around the settlements, and the sites will be classified as protected natural areas. The aim is to minimize the environmental impact of deforestation and the effects of climate change, while creating better conditions for cohabitation of refugees and host communities.