Planning phase | PANORAMA

Capacity Building of Stakeholders

SPC offers a number of regional and local training and capacity building programmes for national and state government officials as well as community representatives. These teach management and specific skills at all levels of expertise. This process supports the sustainability of CEAFM.

Assess the willingness of the political counterparts to accept “outside” support and ability to sustainably implement and follow up the gained know-how during the training.

It is very often difficult to guarantee that the officers trained actually stay in their jobs for a sufficient timeframe to actually be able to implement the skills gained during the trainings. Therefore it is advisable to include a more systemic approach that includes e.g. institutional capacity building in the respective agency.

Community Management Plans

Community consultations.

F. Brunken, GIZ

Communities analyse their fishing practices and develop community-owned plans to introduce appropriate actions and conservation measures. This is supported by awareness raising programs as well as technical advice. The strategy is based on 3 principles; maximum participation, motivation rather than education and demand-based process. Communities should be convinced that they have the primary responsibility to manage their own marine environment and not the government.

Keeping the process simple
Respect local customs and protocols
Provide motivation
Make use of traditional knowledge
Use science to support community objectives
Adopt a precautionary approach
Suggest alternatives to the over-exploitation of resources

Local knowledge has often been underestimated however; most communities have an acute awareness of, and concern for their marine environment. These views should be considered when developing management undertakings. The success of community consultations depend on the facilitators. Facilitators should be equipped with the appropriate skills such as cultural, traditional, confident, encouraging individuals to give their opinion and good listeners than teachers. Facilitators should never dominate discussions or express their opinions – neutrality is of key importance. Awareness materials and programmes should consider its target audience, how it is delivered and who the message is aimed. Sometimes messages are defensive when interpreting the local situation. Community has ownership or assumed control over the managed area or fishery.

SPC - Community fisheries management plans

Multi-stakeholder workshop

Participants representing diverse interests meet to discuss three issues: biodiversity in the National Park, water management and fire prevention, and co-management for natural resources. The group decides on actions to be taken and agrees on an appropriate timetable for action. Group members include representatives from ministries, universities, science and planning institutes, province governments’ staff, national parks, protected areas, and local communities.

• Agreement on the problem • Strong political will at all levels • Engagement of the local community • Support for technical and methodological knowledge • Support to establish and sustain co-management

Not only was the problem recognized and prioritized, but also stakeholders at all levels showed strong commitment to working together for saving this significant cultural site, its biodiversity and ecosystem. The support provided by the project to start and follow through with a co-management process proved to be a winning input that brought together all stakeholders with different backgrounds to jointly identify the problem. This process helped all stakeholders reach an agreement to undertake the appropriate steps towards conservation and sustainable development of the National Park. It also allowed, at the same time, accommodation of farmer’s interests to raise an endangered, endemic fish species that contributes to food security and income.

Planning phase

Local