Women and Water in the Lake Chad Area: Participation and Influence in Water Management Processes

Abstract: The riparian countries of Lake Chad River Basin – Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon and Chad – suffer from environmental degradation as the lakes surface water has decreased with 90 percent since the 1960’s. This has put pressure on the population around the lake as the livelihood for many of them is dependent of the lake’s water. The area has during the last decade also been characterized by increased violent conflict. The water scarcity is assumed to aggravate an already intractable conflict, where women are an especially vulnerable group. Women are also disproportionately affected by a decreasing lake as they are recognized to be main collectors and guardians of water. Women are important agents in finding a solution to the many challenges the Lake Chad area faces. This paper has used a theory on women’s inclusion and influence in peace processes to investigate women’s participation in and influence on water management processes, as it is an integrated strategy toward sustaining peace and stabilization around the Lake Chad Basin. The main findings of this paper is that women to some extent both participate in and have influence on water management processes.