Community meetings (barazas) were conducted in November 2024 in 7 selected BMUs within the Vanga-Shimoni seascape. These BMUs included Vanga, Jimbo, Majoreni, Kibuyuni, Mkwiro, Shimoni, and Wasini; and were selected based on their general proximity to the Kenya-Tanzania border and their active conservation efforts.
A total of 175 participants participated in community Barazas; each BMU being represented by 25 participants. The representation in the barazas was based on gender, age, as well as memberships of either BMU or Community Forest Associations (CFAs) in the area. The meeting program included presentations on the TBCA concept, group work, and interactive plenary sessions . Break-out sessions were included to further dig for additional information on threats facing coastal and marine resources within their areas, current interventions, as well as community perceptions of the TBCA concept.
Following the presentation, participants were divided into different breakout groups where they identified and discussed the following: (i) Perceived impacts of TBCA upon implementation, (ii) Conservation issues within the TBCA and their root causes, and (iii) Current interventions and proposed solutions to the identified problems. Each group got to present the results of the discussions during a plenary session.
Fishbone Analytical Tool was employed as a participatory method to engage BMU members in identifying and analyzing root causes of issues affecting operations and ecosystems within their seascape. Members of BMUs were briefed on the purpose and structure of the tool, ensuring they understood how it could be used to dissect complex problems systematically. They were then split into two groups to ensure focused collaboration, with each group tasked with creating a fishbone diagram for a specific issue relevant to their BMU areas or operational challenges.
The process began with the groups defining a clear problem statement, which was placed at the "head" of the fishbone diagram. From there, members identified major categories of contributing factors, such as environmental, financial, social, regulatory, and operational aspects, which were represented as "bones" branching out from the main spine. Within each category, the groups brainstormed on potential causes, breaking them down into smaller, more specific factors that could contribute to the problem. This hierarchical structure facilitates a detailed analysis, where each category can be further examined to uncover underlying issues.
Once the issues were populated, the groups reconvened to present their findings to the full team. This collective sharing enabled cross-group learning; and allowed identification of recurring themes or interconnections between categories. Through this participatory and systematic process, members of the BMU were not only able to map out the root causes of their challenges but also to prioritize areas requiring immediate intervention.
Following the Questions and Answers session, participants showed consensus to the establishment of the Kenya-Tanzania TBCA by show of hands. Finally, the participants nominated 3 representatives (male, female and youth) from each BMU to attend a community representative meeting.
Engaging local communities in planning and implementation of TBCA is vital. Education and awareness-creating initiatives should empower communities to actively contribute to conservation while ensuring equitable access to benefits.