Mardangai – On April 28, 2022, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the provincial authorities of the Borkou inaugurated two new community markets and multifunctional mills in the neighborhoods of Djiddi and Mardangai in the department of Faya in northern Chad. The new community markets, each with 3 sheds, will accommodate up to 24 traders each. The need to build modern community markets was raised during assessments conducted in May and June 2021 with local and customary authorities as well as youth, women, and community actors in the two neighborhoods.

During theses assessments, the communities expressed their wish to have modern commercial spaces in which they could develop their economic activities. "Being the result of an inclusive and concerted choice, we believe these new structures will meet the needs of communities and contribute to improve their socio-economic wellbeing", declared the Prefect of the Department of Faya representing the Governor of the Borkou province during the inauguration ceremony.

In addition to providing economic opportunities to the communities, the construction of the two new markets will help reduce the security risks to which the populations are exposed when they travel for the weekly markets. "We are proud to contribute to this initiative which will strengthen local development and enable the population to exercise more socio-economic autonomy, particularly in the face of shocks and various vulnerability factors," said William Barab, IOM's project manager in Faya.

In addition to markets and mills, a community garden was also built for farmers in Djiddi and a borehole was installed in Mardangai. The construction of the Djiddi and Mardangai community markets was carried out within the framework of the "Balke - Security and Stability in Northern Chad" project implemented since 2020 by IOM in the provinces of Borkou, Ennedi-Ouest and Tibesti with the financial support of the German Federal Foreign Office.

The project has already rehabilitated and equipped a hospital in the district of Amoul, 18 kilometres from Faya, and built 10 community markets for the benefit of vulnerable communities across the provinces. Various other community assets have been completed including the installation of grain mills and solar streetlights to strengthen the resilience and security of local populations.

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For more information, please contact François-Xavier Ada-Affana, Communications Manager. E-mail :fadaaffana@iom.int