Lake Chad Information System

The collection, processing and dissemination of knowledge and data on the environmental resources of the Lake Chad Basin is one of the cardinal missions assigned to the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC). Since its creation in 1964, this regional institution in charge of the harmonious management of water resources and other environmental resources of the Lake Chad Basin has not failed in this tradition. Far from being neglected, this culture of knowledge management and sharing has been developed over time, notably with the creation of the Lake Chad Information System (LIS).This information system stores and manages a wide range of data and information from all LCBC member countries and other regional basin stakeholders in a regional database (RDB) and allows viewing of synthesized data in maps, charts and tables.

The LIS provides access to available knowledge on water, climate, environmental and socio-economic aspects via a web portal (https://lis.cblt.org/), and promotes exchange and coordination between stakeholders and knowledge creation in the Lake Chad Basin.

This process of capitalizing on knowledge for better decision-making is further supported by the advent of certain projects and programs. One example is the Lake Chad Region Recovery and Development Project (PROLAC), one of whose key objectives is to facilitate knowledge sharing and regional dialogue through a knowledge management platform hosted by the LCBC.

The main functions of this platform are the regular and reliable collection of data, the production and dissemination of knowledge, in order to provide regional, national and local actors with accurate, reliable and up-to-date information on the various factors of fragility and vulnerability that undermine development efforts in this region, as well as on the possibilities of accelerating development and stabilization through cross-border cooperation.

Building on the existing Lake Chad Information System (LIS), this knowledge management platform main objective is to help officials and stakeholders in the Lake Chad region to better understand the socio-economic context and the factors of risk, fragility, conflict and violence, and to support investments in a better understanding of the mapping of projects, vulnerabilities and risks in the region.

Thus, the LIS was further extended to a decision support tool to ensure coordination, collaboration and seamless knowledge exchange among all stakeholders and the Lake Chad region under the PROLAC project.