The Somdia Group is pleased to announce the completion of a community assessment carried out within its subsidiary, the Compagnie Sucrière du Tchad (CST), in consultation with village leaders and local communities.
Rolled out across the Group’s various sites with the support of the Somdia Foundations, this initiative aims to gain a better understanding of the realities of the areas in which our subsidiaries operate, to engage in dialogue with local communities and to identify the priority needs that our social initiatives can help to address.
In practical terms, how is a community assessment carried out?
It is based on a participatory, field-based approach: meeting with local authorities and communities, identifying their needs and expectations, observing living conditions and existing infrastructure, and then analysing the information gathered to identify the key priorities for action.
Some key figures from the community assessment carried out at the CST:
– 34 villages surveyed
– Over 57,000 inhabitants in the villages concerned
– A participatory approach combining on-the-ground discussions, an infrastructure survey and a needs analysis
– 85 participants attended the results presentation, including the three canton chiefs, the 34 village chiefs and their community leaders.
The presentation of findings was a highlight of this process. It provided an opportunity to thank the traditional authorities and community representatives for their contribution, to present the main findings of the study to them, and to discuss the issues that had been identified. Several topics were thus addressed collectively, continuing the dialogue that had been ongoing throughout the fieldwork.
This assessment represents an important step towards deepening our understanding of the region and better prioritising the actions to be taken in response to the needs identified.
It is fully in line with the societal pillar of the Somdia Group’s sustainable development policy and contributes to the preparation of the CST’s CSR action plan for the period 2027–2031.
Beyond the assessment itself, this approach reflects a firm conviction: relevant and sustainable social initiatives are built, first and foremost, on listening to communities, understanding local areas and engaging in dialogue with local stakeholders.
