Launch "Shoring up Stability: Addressing Climate Fragility Risks in the Lake Chad Basin"

The Lake Chad region is caught in a conflict trap. adelphi’s study Shoring up Stability demonstrates, for the first time, how climate change is interacting with the conflict and compounds the crisis in the region. Launch events will take place in Niger  (24/10) and Berlin (30/10).

The Lake Chad region is caught in a conflict trap. It is experiencing one of the world’s worst humanitarian emergencies with an estimated 10.7 million people in need of assistance. adelphi’s study Shoring up Stability demonstrates, for the first time, how climate change is interacting with the conflict and compounds the crisis in the Lake Chad region.

Launch events in Niamey, Niger on 24 October 2019 and Berlin, Germany on 30 October 2019 will present the findings from this climate and fragility assessment on Lake Chad.

Tackling the root causes of existing as well as future risks in the Lake Chad region

Based on the study Shoring Up Stability, experts from the region will discuss how humanitarian, stabilization and resilience focused actions, such as the Regional Stabilization Strategy (RSS) and the new UNDP- initiated and German-supported Regional Stabilization Facility for Lake Chad can address climate and fragility in order to tackle the root causes of existing as well as future risks in the region.

Findings indicate that military responses to the crisis are not working. Instead, it identifies alternative entry points for addressing the root causes of the crisis to enable sustainable, people centred solutions, such as strengthening the link between the population around Lake Chad and state institutions by providing better access to services, information and livelihoods.

If the climate-fragility risks are carefully managed, then the lake could once again be an engine for sustainable livelihoods and stability in the region, increasing food security and reducing poverty.

Climate-proof and conflict-sensitive interventions represent better value for money and offer a better chance of delivering a lasting peace and sustainable development. Following a short presentation of the climate-fragility assessment and learnings from the field, a panel of study authors and local experts will discuss the merits of such an approach, what has been done and what more can be done to advance such assessments, as well reflect on what lessons we can draw from this case for other regions.  

Inviting the audience to comment and respond, the subsequent discussion will revolve around these questions at the launch events:

• What are the key challenges arising from the convergence of climate change and fragility?
• To what extent are these risks being acknowledged in stabilization interventions on the ground?
• How specifically can humanitarian, stabilization and resilience focused action address these risks?
• What entry points can address the security, development and climatic challenges together?
• What is the value of a climate-fragility risk assessment to sustainable development? What are the challenges/limitations?  

24 October 2019 | Launch Event in in Niamey, Niger

TENTATIVE AGENDA

• 9:00 a.m.: Welcome
  
  H. E. Hermann Nicolai, German Ambassador to Niger
  
  Coronel Major Mahamadou S. Magagi, Director-General, Centre National d‘Études Stratégiques et de Sécurité (CNESS)
  
   
• 9:20 a.m.: Presentation of study findings
  
  Oli Brown, Associate Researcher, Chatham House
  
   
• 10:00 a.m.: Panel Discussion: Climate and fragility risks in the Lake Chad region
  
  - Diana Louise Ofwona, Resident Representative, UNDP Niger
  
  - Oli Brown, Associate Researcher, Chatham House
  
   
• 10:30 a.m.: Open floor discussion
  
   
• 11:30 a.m.: Closing remarks and opening of photo exhibition
  
  Ibrahim Boukari Abdou, Secretary-General, High Authority for the Consolidation of Peace

The event will be moderated by Stella Schaller, Project Manager, adelphi.

Please R.S.V.P. by confirming your participation here no later than 16 October stating your name, position and affiliation.

This launch event is targeted at policy-makers, experts and practitioners working on regions affected by climate and fragility.

30 October 2019 | Launch Event in Berlin, Germany

TENTATIVE AGENDA

• 9:00 a.m.: Registration and admission
  
   
• 9:30 a.m.: Welcome
  
  Miguel Berger, Director General for Economic Affairs and Sustainable Development, Federal Foreign Office
  
   
• 9:40 a.m.: Presentation of study findings
  
  Janani Vivekananda, Senior Advisor, adelphi
  
   
• 10:00 a.m.: Panel Discussion: Climate and fragility risks in the Lake Chad region
  
  - Chitra Nagarajan, Conflict Advisor Maiduguri
  
  - Florence Sylvestre, Hydrologist, IRD, Aix-en-Provence
  
   
• 10:30 a.m.: Open floor discussion
  
   
• 11:00 a.m.: Closing remarks and opening of photo exhibition
  
  Ambassador of Niger

The event will be moderated by Alexander Carius, Managing Director, adelphi.

A light breakfast will be served. The launch event will be followed by a photo exhibition illustrating climate and fragility risks the population in the region are experiencing.

Please R.S.V.P. by confirming your participation here no later than 27 October stating your name, position and affiliation.

This launch event is targeted at policy-makers, experts and practitioners working on regions affected by climate and fragility. Participants are requested to present their passport or another form of official identification. There will be a security check before entering the building. We recommend not to bring larger items of luggage to the venue.