Photo courtesy of Etienne Djedangombaye
Etienne Djedangombaye is an agronomist and the Chad country representative for SOS SAHEL, a civil society organization that invests in local solutions to food security, biodiversity, and climate challenges across 11 countries in the Sahel. In a GEF Youth Voices interview, he shared life lessons from his work connecting forestry and farming for wide benefit.
What do you do for a living, and what do you enjoy most about it?
I'm an agronomist by training – it was also my parents’ profession. I work in the field of environmental preservation and food safety. What I love about my work is the contact with rural communities. Being constantly with them, exchanging ideas, and tackling the challenges we face together. These challenges include combating food insecurity, adapting to climate change, preserving biodiversity and, above all, helping rural communities make the transition from subsistence farming to agricultural entrepreneurship.
How does your work relate to the Global Environment Facility?
We have the same objectives as the GEF. We are working to help Sahelian states make progress towards international climate goals, while improving the living conditions of the most vulnerable populations. We work with a network of partners and seek innovative solutions together. We don't impose knowledge. We build together, drawing on local dynamics and knowledge. We are involved in GEF projects in Chad, and SOS SAHEL is a partner of the GEF Small Grants Programme in the region.
Could you describe a project that you are currently focused on?
Yes, one is the Chad ALBIA – which means environment in Arabic – project for adaptation to climate change. It’s financed by a World Bank loan to Chad, with a GEF grant under the Global Wildlife Program. It aims to improve natural resource management and also boost the livelihoods of vulnerable populations around the Wadi Hachem reserve. This reserve covers more than 70,000 square kilometers, making it the largest in Chad and one of the largest in Africa. More than 70,000 people live in the reserve, which extends over five provinces in the Sahelian strip of Chad. This project has two objectives: to preserve this reserve, and to strengthen adaptation to climate change. We are setting up five agro-forestry farms of 100 hectares each, with producers organizing themselves and we share a range of techniques to increase their production and income.
How did you get into this line of work?
My father was a farmer, and my mother was also involved in the family business, so I was brought up in this environment. My father was a leader in a project where he encouraged villagers to plant trees. These trees now stand at the entrance to the village and welcome all who visit. This is the atmosphere I grew up in and it shaped my academic and professional career.
Before joining SOS SAHEL, I worked with a local organization where we distributed over 1 million acacia plants to cooperatives and producer organizations in Chad to establish living hedges and protect small farms. Looking back, I think this has helped to reduce conflicts between farmers and herders, while also bringing environmental benefits.
Is there a GEF-supported program that is especially close to your heart?
Yes – the GEF Small Grants Programme, which supports civil society and community organizations so they can address environmental challenges and respond to food security and sustainable development needs. This program has enabled SOS SAHEL to support local initiatives in seven Sahelian countries since 2017. It has really generated positive results.
Is there someone you have met through your work who has had a lasting impact on you?
The person who has inspired me most is Wangari Maathai, the Kenyan who won the Nobel Prize in 2004. When I was in my second year studying agronomy, I was deeply moved by her actions. She mobilized her community to plant millions of trees, creating a green belt in Kenya. Her commitment motivated me, and I thought: if she could do that, why couldn't we?
What life lessons has your work taught you?
In a rural African community, it's essential to listen in order to learn, as communities possess invaluable knowledge. Patience is also crucial.
Environmental issues are very often complicated and concerning. What gives you hope?
I've noticed that more and more associations are working to preserve the environment. In Chad, young people are getting more involved, and there is a growing awareness of the importance of preserving our environment to bequeath a viable future to our descendants. This is a ray of hope. On an international level, the Conferences of the Parties and meetings between world decision-makers to discuss policies aimed at preserving our planet also offer an optimistic outlook on our common future.
