Cabo Verde @FAO/Maarten Roest

Dakar, 24 August 2021 - The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), representatives of the Governments of Cabo Verde, Côte d'Ivoire and Senegal and other stakeholders gathered virtually on August 9 and 10, 2021, for the second meeting of the Coastal Fisheries Initiative in West Africa (CFI-WA) Steering Committee.

Nearly 40 participants, including the focal points of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) as well as fisher organizations and women fish processors, came together to assess the project's state of implementation, to present recommendations based on a mid-term evaluation, to examine a one-year extension proposal and to redefine the project's strategic orientations for the achievement of the expected results.

Given the constraints linked to the COVID-19 pandemic, the stakeholders agreed to request a one-year extension from the GEF Secretariat in order to allow the three beneficiary countries to implement all the activities of the results framework for the achievement of project objectives. Initially, CFI-WA was scheduled to end on May 31, 2022.

They also made a series of recommendations to the Regional Coordination and the national project teams.

They recommended that CFI-WA ramp up its capacity-building activities for fishing communities, especially women fish processors, as well as for the technical staff of national and local institutions in order to better support the implementation of fisheries management plans.

The Steering Committee also recommended that CFI-WA continue assessing existing legal frameworks and fisheries policy documents with regard to instruments and aspects such the EAF, the VGSSF and gender, and to consolidate its activities around sustainable mangrove management and strengthening fisheries value chains.

About the CFI

The Coastal Fisheries Initiative (CFI) is a global effort to conserve marine resources and ensure that coastal fisheries continue to play a crucial role in society by contributing to food security and economic and social development.

Funded by the GEF, the CFI mobilizes UN agencies and international conservation organizations around a common objective: to encourage the sustainable use and management of coastal fisheries by promote innovative approaches to improve governance and strengthen seafood product value chains.