Political economy of decentralisation in Chad

In December 2024, Chad organised local and provincial elections which marked a new step in the country's long-stalled decentralisation process. Elected provincial and municipal councils are now in place, but they lack some of the financial and technical resources required to exercise their mandates and they co-exist with deconcentrated state institutions (e.g. governors, prefects and sectoral ministry representatives). 

As part of the preparation of its new Country Programme (2026-2030) for Chad, the Swiss Development and Cooperation Agency (SDC) commissioned The Policy Practice to undertake a facilitated political economy analysis. The study will also contribute to the preparation of a new SDC programme in support of decentralisation. 

The study, led by TPP Director Laure-Hélène Piron, is based on field work in N'Djamena as well as in the provinces of Moyen-Chari and Mandoul (in the south) and Batha (in the north). It updates the 2019 analysis of local governance of Moyen-Chari, also led by Laure-Hélène. The facilitated process ensures that SDC staff are involved at all stages of the analysis and in drawing operational implications for the country strategy and sectoral programmes.