Pulitzer Center-Supported Story Leads to Workshop for Female Entrepreneurs in Chad

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On January 31, 2025, the Chad chapter of the African Women's Entrepreneurial Network (REFA International-Chad) organized a workshop with female entrepreneurs to highlight initiatives in the light of climate challenges, particularly floods and droughts affecting the 9th arrondissement (district) of N'Djamena, the capital of Chad.

The workshop resulted in a call for better support for female entrepreneurs in the context of climate change, inspired by the women's testimonies and the report "In Pictures: Making a Living on the World's Largest Desert Lake," written by Pulitzer Center grantee Kang-Chun Cheng for The Christian Science Monitor as part of the Center's Our Work/Environment initiative. 

Cheng's report tells the story of the conversion of herders who turn to fishing in the face of drought and desertification in their region, thus putting pressure on the fish population.

"I was impressed by the Pulitzer Center's story about farmers who have become fishermen in response to climate change," a participant said in a questionnaire about the workshop.

"Thanks to the story, I realised that in Africa we have the same problems with climate change and we must always work to adapt and move forward," another participant said in the questionnaire.

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In 2008, the 9th arrondissement of N'Djamena was hit by heavy flooding, causing injuries and destroying crops, homes, and property. The situation has led to the destruction of homes, fields, crops, and livestock, and even loss of life. 

This makes women even more economically vulnerable: Thousands of women who provide for their families through farming and trading, in particular, have lost everything and struggled to meet their families' needs. 

"Before the disaster, I had a well-established perfume and honey business that enabled me to provide for my family. These products, appreciated for their quality and authenticity, were a regular and invaluable source of income for my household," said workshop participant Hawa Brahim. 

"However, the flood disrupted this fragile balance. The flood ravaged my house and my sales premises, dragging away my stocks of doukan and honey. The infrastructure needed to continue my business was seriously damaged, making it impossible to continue this flourishing commercial activity. Faced with this desperate situation, I had to show resilience and creativity," she concluded.

The workshop's main recommendations included technical and financial support for businesswomen's initiatives, more training on climate risk management and adapting economic activities, and better coordination with local authorities and partners. 

These measures aim to integrate climate resilience into policies to support women's entrepreneurship and to guarantee sustainable support for entrepreneurs in the face of climate-related challenges.

The need to provide for her family led Brahim to diversify her activities. After the flood, she decided to start selling all kinds of fish: smoked, fresh, and salted. This new activity, although different from her original business, has proved to be a way of surviving in an environment where every day is a challenge. 

Thanks to her determination and ability to adapt, she has been able to create a new source of income for her family, demonstrating the strength and resilience of women in the face of difficulties.

Her experience illustrates the importance of creativity, community support, and adaptation in transforming disastrous situations into opportunities for renewal and resilience, like the livestock farmers of Kenya.

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The discussions strengthened the determination of the women to fight for better access to financial resources and greater support from local authorities.

The workshop was not only a source of knowledge, but also of inspiration, giving women the means to overcome obstacles and prosper in their entrepreneurial activities. 

A participant even reported that a group of them had approached the 9th arrondissement authorities to express their desire to team up to organize themselves better, but their effort was refused. She also pointed out that most of them are widows, with no outside support. 

The workshop resulted in an advocacy document identifying 10 initiatives for female entrepreneurs, compiled by a consultant on behalf of REFA International-Chad with the support of the Pulitzer Center.