By Achta Ngarmbatina Koumtog
N’DJAMENA, CHAD — As the morning sun climbs over the city’s low skyline, 35-year-old entrepreneur Delphine Ngarlemdana opens the doors to her tailoring workshop in N’Djamena’s Walia district. Inside, the rhythmic hum of sewing machines is accompanied by bursts of laughter from the women she employs—many of whom, just a few years ago, had never imagined themselves earning an income of their own.
“Starting this business wasn’t easy,” Delphine says, straightening a rack of brightly patterned dresses. “But I knew women in Chad had ideas, skills, and ambition—we just needed the chance to show it.”
Across Chad, women like Delphine are no longer waiting for change. They are creating it.
From business and politics to education and civil society, Chadian women are stepping into leadership roles and reshaping the country’s social and economic fabric. In villages and cities alike, they are driving conversations, building enterprises, and redefining what is possible for the next generation.
A New Wave of Businesswomen
In the southern city of Moundou, Aïcha Djimrangar runs a fast-growing agricultural cooperative that produces organic peanut butter and cassava flour. What began as a small group of neighbors pooling resources has now become a regional supplier employing over 40 women.
“Economic independence is powerful,” Aïcha says. “It changes how you see yourself, and how others see you.”
Support for women-led businesses has also grown in recent years, with initiatives such as Programme d’Appui aux Femmes Entrepreneures (PAFE) offering microloans, training, and mentorship to thousands of women across the country.
International organizations, including UN Women and the African Development Bank, have praised Chad’s efforts to elevate women in the private sector. But much of the credit, locals say, belongs to the women themselves—who are rising despite the odds.
Leading Beyond Business
The shift isn’t limited to the marketplace. In public life, Chadian women are becoming increasingly visible—and influential.
In 2021, for the first time in the country’s history, a woman, Amina Priscille Longoh, was appointed Minister of Women and the Protection of Early Childhood. Her leadership has inspired a new generation of girls to dream big.
“There was a time when a woman in politics was unimaginable,” says Fatimé Kaltouma, a school principal in the city of Abéché. “Today, our daughters see women in power, and they believe they belong there too.”
Community leaders, educators, and activists are also pushing for change in cultural norms, advocating for girls’ education, ending early marriage, and promoting health awareness. The results are real: school enrollment for girls has increased steadily in the past five years, and more women are pursuing higher education and vocational training.
Tradition and Transformation
What makes this movement uniquely Chadian is the way it blends progress with tradition. Rather than rejecting cultural values, many women leaders are reinterpreting them—drawing strength from their identities while advocating for change.
In rural Kanem, elder women known as mères conseillères (mother advisors) serve as trusted guides in their communities, supporting young women through mentorship and mediation. Their work has significantly reduced rates of domestic violence and improved maternal health outcomes.
“Our culture respects wisdom,” says one elder, Mariam Yacoub. “Now we use that wisdom to support our daughters, not silence them.”
Looking Ahead
There is still a long road ahead. Gender gaps remain in access to capital, education, and political representation. But the momentum is undeniable—and it is being driven from within.
As the sun sets on another day in N’Djamena, Delphine closes her workshop and reflects on how far things have come. “We are not just working for ourselves,” she says. “We are opening doors for others.”
Indeed, across Chad, women are not only at the forefront of change—they are the change.
