The National Union of Diocesan Relief and Development Associations (UNAD – Caritas Chad) is an instrument of the social ministry of the Church of the Family of God in Chad. Established on 27 October 1986, it consists of eight member associations that are active throughout the country: AURA – Caritas Mongo, BELACD Caritas in Doba, BELACD in Goré, BELACD in Laï, BELACD in Moundou, BELACD in Pala, BELACD in Sarh and SECADEV in the Archdiocese of N’Djamena.
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UNAD – Caritas Chad’s vision is that of the Catholic Church in Chad, namely “striving for a society of justice and peace with men and women who are confident about their possibilities and strengths, and who engage in concrete and fruitful activities to ensure their self-reliance”.
It is also the vision of a world in which the goods of God’s creation belong to everyone. The men, women and children of Chad have the right to live with dignity and love. UNAD – Caritas Chad’s fundamental values of are: faith, charity and loving one’s neighbour.
UNAD – Caritas Chad’s strategic priorities are:
● food security
● development of infrastructure and basic social and community services
● emergencies and humanitarian actions
● advocacy
● prevention and management of property and inter-communal disputes
● advocacy regarding extractive industries.
Healthcare projects coordinated by UNAD – Caritas Chad include: support for 36 health centres, 3 hospitals and 6 diocesan patient support centres; partnership with the International Centre for Development and Research (CIDR), which is co-financed by the European Union, regarding coordination of health insurance organisations in Pala, Doba and Sarh; and supply of equipment and medicines, and capacity building for health centre staff.
The Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA) project is a continuation of the Emergency Appeals (EA) implemented since the arrival of Sudanese refugees in eastern Chad. The EA projects were funded by the entire Caritas network. As of 2013, DANIDA is a bilateral project with Caritas Denmark. It is implemented by SECADEV from Ndjamena in the refugee camps in Milé and Kounoungou in the district of Dar Tama. The sectors concerned are: water and sanitation, as well as food security.
UNAD – Caritas Chad’s main partners are: the government of Chad via its various ministries, Caritas Internationalis, Caritas Africa, Misereor, Caritas Switzerland, Caritas Denmark, Secours Catholique (Caritas France), Catholic Relief Services (CRS), Caritas Spain, Caritas Korea, Caritas Japan, the European Union, the French Development Agency (AFD), the International Centre for Development and Research (CIDR) and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis.