The meeting of lenders organized by the Chadian government, in Paris on September 7 and 8, 2017, to secure funding for its 2017-2021 National Development Programme (PND) was a true success.

Indeed, while it initially intended to mobilize FCFA3,710.88 billion (around $6.74 billion) for the programme, the Central African nation was able to get nearly FCFA10,000 billion (around $18 billion) of funding commitments from “lenders, technical and financial partners as well as allied countries”, during the meeting. This is thrice the expected amount.

The news was revealed in a preliminary statement from the presidency of Chad’s republic, which however does not provide details regarding the commitments themselves.

Cost for the 2017-2021 PND was valued at FCFA5,538.23 billion (about $10 billion). Out of this sum, FCFA618 billion, or 11% of total cost, are to be provided by the Chadian State itself. Meanwhile, FCFA1,208 billion (22% of overall amount) has already been secured via external funding prior to the recent meeting.

Yielded from the" 2030 Vision, the Chad we want" (La Vision 2030, le Tchad que nous voulons) scheme which materializes President Idriss Deby Itno’s wish to make Chad an emergent economic powerhouse in the region, by 2030, the 2017-2030 PND lies on four strategic axes. These are: reinforcing national unity; improving governance and consolidating the rule of law; establishing a diversified and competitive economy; and last, improving living standards of Chad’s populations.