Femmes rurales dans le développement durable chez les arabes du Tchad : cas d’Am Timan

Abstract

This study focuses of indigenous women in sustainable development among the Arab communities of Chad, with a case study of Am Timan. It shows that indigenous Arab women play an important role in promoting sustainable development within their community. The choice of this topic is based on both personal and scientific motivations. On a personal level, the author closely observed the daily lives of women in Am Timan and noted their essential role in agricultural, pastoral, domestic, and community activities, despite the limited recognition of their contributions and their invisibility in decision‑making spheres. From a scientific perspective, this research addresses a gap in the literature concerning indigenous Arab women in Chad and their involvement in sustainable development at the local level. The research is structured around a main question: what are the roles of rural women in sustainable development in am timan? Three secondary questions complement this inquiry and focus on the challenges they face, the strategies implemented to support their contribution, and the impact of their economic activities particularly agriculture and livestock farming on the sustainable development of the community. The main hypothesis states that indigenous women significantly contribute to sustainable development through natural resource management, agriculture, livestock farming, water management, and family and community activities. Secondary hypotheses examine the influence of socio‑cultural practices, economic participation, and institutional support on the effectiveness of their contribution. To answer these questions, the study combined documentary research and field research. Documentary research involved the analysis of academic books, scientific articles, and institutional reports on the role of women and sustainable development in African and Chadian contexts. Field research conducted in Am Timan made it possible to collect empirical data on women’s practices, knowledge, and strategies. Data collection relied on four main techniques: direct observation to understand women’s daily activities; semi‑structured interviews to gather their experiences and perceptions; life histories to analyze individual and collective trajectories; and group discussions to highlight collective practices and mechanisms of solidarity. This methodological approach produced rich qualitative data and provided a comprehensive view of indigenous women’s participation in sustainable development in Am Timan. The results show that women play a key role in the economic, social, and environmental dimensions of sustainable development through their initiatives and empowerment strategies. This research therefore helps to highlight the role of indigenous Arab women, identify the obstacles they face, and propose possible forms of support to strengthen their participation within the community. It also demonstrates that integrating women into sustainable development policies and programs is essential for the effectiveness of these policies, the promotion of gender equality, and local social transformation.