Source essentielle d’eau douce en Afrique, le lac Tchad était l’un des plus grands lacs du continent. Selon la Commission du bassin du lac Tchad, le lac a rétréci de plus de 90 % au cours des 60 dernières années en raison des sécheresses et de la baisse des précipitations. Il est désormais confronté à un avenir climatique incertain.

Selon les Nations unies, près de 30 millions de personnes dépendent de cette étendue d’eau.

Le Canada répond à l’ensemble des problèmes complexes auxquels la région est confrontée, y compris la crise climatique. Le ministre canadien du développement international, Harjit Sajjan, s’est récemment rendu au Tchad, ainsi qu’en Éthiopie et en Égypte, où il a réaffirmé l’engagement du Canada en Afrique.

“La confluence des crises d’aujourd’hui a retardé le progrès vers les Objectifs de développement durable des Nations Unies en Afrique et a augmenté la vulnérabilité des pays les moins développés du continent”, a déclaré le ministre Sajjan dans un communiqué de presse.

Pour s’informer sur le travail de développement au Tchad, il a rencontré des partenaires canadiens, dont Martin Blackburn, directeur régional terrain pour le nouveau projet d’Alinea, qui visent à la conservation du bassin du lac Tchad avec un fort accent sur l’égalité des genres et la réduction des conflits.

Financé par Affaires mondiales Canada, le projet de conservation du bassin du lac Tchad vise à renforcer la résilience climatique des écosystèmes et des communautés marginalisées structurellement vulnérables aux changements climatiques. En mettant l’accent sur les femmes et les jeunes, l’équipe du projet appliquera des solutions climatiques fondées sur la nature dans six sites de zones humides RAMSAR du bassin du lac Tchad au Cameroun, au Niger et au Tchad.

“Les zones humides de la région du bassin du lac Tchad sont particulièrement vulnérables aux effets des changements climatiques, ce qui rend encore plus vulnérables les millions de personnes qui en dépendent pour leur subsistance, en particulier les femmes et les jeunes”, a déclaré M. Blackburn.

“Au cours des trois prochaines années, nous soutiendrons activement les communautés dans le développement et l’application de solutions climatiques basées sur la nature afin d’assurer une résilience environnementale et socio-économique à long terme”.

L’équipe du projet utilisera une approche intégrée pour améliorer la conservation et la restauration des zones humides et des paysages agricoles adjacents, ainsi que pour contribuer à l’utilisation durable et équitable des écosystèmes. En outre, une approche de consolidation de la paix dans le domaine de l’environnement et l’application des connaissances et pratiques traditionnelles, locales et autochtones contribueront à réduire les conflits locaux liés à l’utilisation et à l’accès aux ressources.

Les partenaires régionaux et locaux de ce projet comprennent la Commission du bassin du lac Tchad (l’autorité intergouvernementale responsable de la gestion des ressources en eau du bassin), ainsi que des organisations de défense des droits des femmes et des organisations de jeunes.

Les partenaires techniques de mise en œuvre sont les suivants :

Le Centre d’enseignement et de recherche en foresterie de Sainte-Foy (CERFO), apportera son une expertise de pointe en matière de télédétection et de systèmes d’information géographique.
Le Centre autochtone des ressources environnementales (CARE), apportera une expertise en matière de pratiques traditionnelles, locales et autochtones.
L’Association canadienne pour les Nations unies (UNAC) soutiendra l’autonomisation des jeunes en mettant l’accent sur les jeunes femmes et les filles.
Wetlands international Afrique apportera ses connaissances et son expérience en matière de restauration des zones humides.
Le Centre pour la promotion des droits de l’homme et du développement en Afrique (CPHDA) mènera des actions de consolidation de la paix et de mobilisation communautaire.

Canada announces Lake Chad Bassin Conservation Project

An essential source of freshwater in Africa, Lake Chad was once one of the largest lakes on the continent. According to the Lake Chad Basin Commission, it has shrunk by more than 90 per cent over the past 60 years due to droughts and decreased rainfall. It now faces an uncertain climate future.

Nearly 30 million people rely on this body of water, according to the United Nations.

Canada is responding to the complex set of issues facing the region, including the climate crisis. Canadian Minister of International Development Harjit Sajjan recently visited Chad, as well as Ethiopia and Egypt where he reaffirmed Canada’s engagement in Africa.

“Today’s confluence of crises has set back progress toward the UN Sustainable Development Goals across Africa and increased the vulnerability of the continent’s least-developed countries,” said Minister Sajjan in a news release.

To learn about development work in Chad, he met with Canadian partners including Martin Blackburn, Regional Field Director for Alinea’s new project working on gender-transformative conservation in the Lake Chad Basin.

Funded by Global Affairs Canada, the Lake Chad Basin Conservation Project aims to enhance the climate resilience of ecosystems and marginalized communities structurally vulnerable to climate change. With a focus on women and youth, the project team will apply nature-based climate solutions to six Lake Chad Basin RAMSAR wetland sites in Cameroon, Chad and Niger.

“Wetlands in the Lake Chad basin region are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, making the millions of people who depend on them for their livelihoods even more vulnerable, especially women and youth,” said Blackburn. “Over the next three years, we will be actively supporting communities in their development and application of nature-based climate solutions to ensure long term environmental and socioeconomic resilience.”

The project team will use an integrated approach to achieve better conservation and restoration of wetlands and adjoining agricultural landscapes, as well as contribute to sustainable and equitable use of ecosystems. Additionally, an environmental peacebuilding approach and the application of traditional, local and Indigenous knowledge and practices will help reduce local conflict related to use and access of resources.

Regional and local partners on this project include the Lake Chad Basin Commission (the intergovernmental authority responsible for managing the basin’s water resources), as well as women’s rights and youth-led organizations. 

Technical implementing partners include:

The Centre d’enseignement et de recherche en foresterie de Sainte-Foy (CERFO) will provide expertise in remote sensing and geographic information systems.
The Centre for Indigenous Environmental Resources (CIER) will brings its expertise in traditional, local and Indigenous practices to the project.
UN Association Canada (UNAC) will support youth empowerment with a particular focus on young women and girls.
Wetlands international Afrique will provide extensive wetland restoration knowledge and experience.
The Center for the Promotion of Human Rights and Development in Africa (CPHDA) will lead peacebuilding and community mobilization actions.

alinea’s whistleblower policy

1.1 Purpose

The following Whistleblower Policy has been established to provide guidance to Alinea International employees and sub-contractors on how to deal with known or suspected improper conduct within the organization. The objectives of this Policy are to:

Create awareness of the Policy and available whistleblower protections
Act as a reference guide to potential whistleblowers wishing to make a disclosure
Define the structure of the whistleblower system, including reporting and investigation procedures, whistleblower protections, and confidentiality, among others
Improve the communication and transparency in the processes associated with whistleblowing and assure protection against derogatory consequences, namely reprisals and detrimental action
Complement the current communication channels between employees, sub-contractors and immediate managers, and hierarchical channels flowing to the President and Senior Management team
Provide guidance to all parties involved in either whistleblowing or whistleblower protection.

1.2 Scope

Alinea requires all employees and sub-contractors to observe high standards of business and personal ethics in the conduct of their duties and responsibilities. All employees and sub-contractors of Alinea are required to comply with applicable laws and regulations of Canada and the countries where we operate. Any allegations of known or suspected improper conduct or mismanagement of organizational resources will be dealt with in accordance with this Policy, and reasonable steps will be taken to protect those who come forward with allegations. Alinea’s Whistleblower Policy covers both internal and external whistleblowing, and establishes the controls and procedures for dealing with allegations of malpractice, fraud and violations of our code of ethics and/or laws or regulations that govern our operations. This Policy is intended to encourage employees and sub-contractors to report known or suspected improper conduct or mismanagement of organizational resources and to enable Alinea’s Senior Management team to address and correct inappropriate action. It is the responsibility of all Board of Directors’ members, the Senior Management team, employees and sub-contractors to report concerns about known or suspected malpractice, fraud and violations of our code of ethics and/or laws or regulations that govern our operations. This Policy is applicable to all employees and sub-contractors of Alinea International.

1.3 Reporting Procedures

Alinea recognizes the value of transparency and accountability in its administrative and management practices and supports the making of disclosures that reveal improper conduct or mismanagement of organizational resources. Our internal controls and operating procedures are intended to detect and prevent malpractice, fraud and violations of our code of ethics and/or laws or regulations that govern our operations. As detailed in Alinea’s Employee Policy and Onboarding manuals, employees and sub-contractors are encouraged to share complaints and/or concerns regarding ethical or legal violations with their immediate managers. If the employee or sub-contractor is not comfortable speaking with their immediate manager or is not satisfied with the response, they are encouraged to speak with the Gatineau or Calgary Office Managers, the Vice Presidents or, as required, the Chief Financial Officer. All members of the Senior Management team are required to report complaints and/or concerns about suspected ethical or legal violations in writing to Alinea’s Ethics Committee who has the responsibility to investigate all reported complaints and/or concerns. In the event that the complaint and/or concern is about the President, it should be raised by the employee or sub-contractor to their immediate manager or the Ethics Committee who will determine how the investigation will proceed. All reports will be promptly investigated and appropriate corrective measures will be taken if warranted by the investigation. Alinea’s Ethics Committee is responsible for acknowledging receipt of the suspected violation and notifying the whistleblower of the outcome of the investigation. Anyone filing a written complaint concerning suspected improper conduct or mismanagement of organizational resources must be acting in good faith and have reasonable grounds for believing the information disclosed indicates a violation. Personal grievances or complaints related to employment are not covered under Alinea’s Whistleblowing Policy. For cases such as this, employees and sub-contractors are advised to first refer to Alineas Employee Policy and Onboarding manuals when considering a disclosure under the Whistleblowing Policy. Any allegations that prove not to be substantiated and which prove to have been made maliciously or knowingly to be false will be viewed as a serious disciplinary offense.

1.4 Confidentiality

Maintaining confidentiality is crucial to ensure reprisals are not made against the whistleblower. Alinea is committed to safeguarding the identity of the whistleblower and to protecting the whistleblower against detrimental action taken in reprisal for allegations of suspected improper conduct or mismanagement of organizational resources. The Ethics Committee is responsible for ensuring whistleblowers are protected from direct and indirect detrimental action, and that the culture of the workplace is supportive of suspected allegations being made. Any employee who retaliates against someone who has reported a violation in good faith is subject to discipline up to and including termination of employment.

1.5 Review

Alinea is committed to implementing ‘best practice’ policies and procedures for dealing with allegations of suspected improper conduct or mismanagement of organizational resources (as defined by this Policy) and the management and protection of whistleblowers making allegation(s). This Policy will be reviewed periodically to ensure it meets the objectives of relevant legislation and remains effective for Alinea, and may be changed at the discretion of the Board of Directors at any time. For allegations of fraud, securities law, or human rights concerns, or when you are not satisfied or uncomfortable with following the Company’s open door policy, individuals should contact the Company’s Ethics Committee directly.

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Le Canada annonce le projet de conservation du bassin du lac Tchad