S
I O F
P
OUTH WEST NDIAN
CEAN
ISHERIES
ROGRAMME
(SWIOFP)
NEWSFLASH 13: January 2005

An occasional newsletter to update



m embers of SWIO FP and ASLME on



current developments.

























The first meeting of the Project Management Theme was facilitated by
Madagascar followed by the fourth plenary meeting hosted by
Mozambique. Both meetings were held in Maputo from
12 to 14 January 2005.

Administration
· Regretfully Ms Paula Boane decided to resign from her SWIOFP secretarial position, although a
replacement is expected shortly. This added to the secretariat's workload in their extensive and
successful arrangements for the 4th plenary.
· The second tranch of PDf b funding from the World Bank was transferred to IIP.
· Considerable capacity has been added to project development with several experts from the World
Bank providing support at workshops, including Ms Mercy Sabai and Mr Donald Mneney from
Tanzania, Dr. Melissa Brown (WB: based with FAO in Rome) and Dr. Paulen Patil (WB:
Washington).

Project activities
· Results from the 2nd Operational and Procurement workshop held in Zanzibar were circulated to
participants by the TAFIRI team.
· Based on the information gathered during the Zanzibar meeting, a set of preliminary cost analyses
for SWIOFP was circulated amongst members.
· Draft proposals for Project Management structures had been circulated by Madagascar for
comment and in anticipation of the meeting in Maputo.
· The ASLME (Agulhas-Somali Large Marine Ecosystem) team had circulated an information
questionnaire to assist with the incremental costs analysis of both the GEF projects.
· The French delegation has seen to preliminary preparations for the Legal Theme workshop to be
held in La Reunion from 8 to 10 February 2005.

Fourth Plenary meeting: VIP Hotel, Maputo,
This, the pen-ultimate plenary meeting of the preparation phase, was well attended, with some 80
delegates participating. There was excellent representation from all member countries with especially
Madagascar, Comoros and France attending at full strength. There was also participation from several
members of the UNDP-ASLME steering committee. NORAD, FAO and other agencies attended.

The purpose of this Plenary was to present progress to date and especially to reach consensus on issues
such as budgets, levels of country participation and interface with other initiatives. Based on these
deliberations a final proposal would be drawn up for approval by the 5th Plenary before submission to
the GEF Board for ratification and eventual implementation.

The meeting was opened by the Honourable Alfredo Massinga, Vice Minister of Fisheries,
Mozambique. Minister Massinga highlighted the plight of the Tsunami victims, especially the fisher
communities, and he drew attention to the shared responsibility for environmental and fisheries
management in the West Indian Ocean (WIO). He stressed the potential role of SWIOFP in this
regard.

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The meeting received feedback from all the main themes. Although detailed minutes will be
circulated, some issues are highlighted here:

· All member countries strongly endorsed the SWIOFP project and the direction being followed.
There was confirmation of country participation and several countries indicated a willingness
to host one of the seven main project components.
· Options for programme structure were discussed and there was strong support for creating a
Regional Programme Management Unit (RPMU), to be located in one particular country that
met certain selection criteria. Madagascar would facilitate selection of such a host country.
· A preliminary evaluation of costs was presented, based on World Bank guidelines and costed
for each of the 50 activities per country separately. This is required as each country will enter
into a separate contract with the World Bank. Tentative estimates suggest that US$ 30 million
is a likely project cost over five years.
· The French delegation indicated that France would be contributing substantially to SWIOFP.
· Notwithstanding the considerable grant funding available, delegates were reminded that each
country would be expected to contribute substantially in terms of manpower and infrastructure
as part of an incremental cost contribution.
· It was anticipated that each participating country would be equipped with a SWIOFP office
including laboratory and IT facilities.
· There was much discussion concerning ships' time and its impact on project costs and success.
It was proposed that SWIOFP should fund a substantial proportion of ships' time from its own
resources and look to donors for additional top-up requirements.
· The five-modular approach of LME programmes was noted as an essential component and
hence emphasis was placed on the linkages between SWIOFP and ASLME. It was felt that the
management units of these projects should be located at the same place in order to save costs
and improve efficiency.
· As the ultimate goal of SWIOFP includes a regional resource management framework, close
collaboration with FAO and the new South West Indian Ocean Fisheries Commission will be
fostered.
· Members were urged to contribute to ongoing developments so as to present a final version of
the SWIOFP, with clear links to the ASLME, by the next Plenary in June/July 2005.
· A comprehensive list of tasks was developed which places considerable and urgent
responsibility on individual country focal points. A summary of these is listed below.


Updated Table of Activities reflecting approximate time schedules

INTERIM PROGRESS & PLANS
Task / Theme
Action
Status
Deadline
Secretariat
4th plenary (Pre-appraisal)
Complete: minutes to
End January 2005
be circulated
Plan for 5th plenary (final appraisal)
Preliminary stage only
June/July 2005

Maintain SWIOFP website; initiate
Ongoing

"FishChat"
Final version of project submitted
Basic framework
Mid 2005
conceived
Facilitate incremental cost analysis
Underway
February 2005
workshop
Additional workshop to finalise
To be planned
April/May 2005
outstanding issues, including ships,
Maputo?
gear, funding, legal
Interface with other WIO projects;
Ongoing
Ongoing
establish links

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Facilitate visit to Comoros to engage
Planned
Aril 2005
ministry
Circulate draft WB-country contract
Underway
End February 2005
for comment and future guidance..
Project Launch
-
Early 2006
Integrate new information into
Underway
Mid February 2005
Version 3 of the Draft Science Plan.
Project advisor
Science Plan
Incorporate other workshop
Underway
Mid February 2005
(MCM-S.Af.r)
recommendations­ revise activities
Project advisor
cost estimates

Country questionnaire analysis
Completed
-
Draw up TORs for Component 1
Underway
June 2005
Data Management
activities and staffing (2006)
(KMFRI-Kenya)
Facilitate evaluation of StaBase and
Underway
June 2005
alternatives
Operations &
Harmonise procurement procedures
Ongoing
-
Procurement
Finalise and update procurement plan
Underway
June 2005
(TAFIRI- Tanzania)
2nd Specialist workshop
Completed

Focal point questionnaire analysed
Underway
Mid February 2005
Legal issues
Assist with demonstration of
Underway
June 2005
(France)
StatBase fisheries software
Workshop
Planned
8-10 Feb: Reunion
Draft management plan developed
Achieved

Circulate plan for comment.
Underway
31 Oct 04
Project
Specialist workshop, minutes
Completed- minutes
Mid February 2005
management
circulated.
underway
(Madagascar)
Arrange for criteria and submissions
Underway
End February 2005
to hosting Regional PMU.
Consider and verify country-level
Achieved
Sustain
participation in Components and
Regional Unit.
Submit letter of project endorsement
Urgent
Mid February 2005
National Focal
to World Bank country office ­
Points
copied to Secretariat.
Workshop to develop country needs
Achieved, need for

and expectations; document prepared
confirmation.
Review and confirm draft budget
Underway
31 December 2004

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Instituto Nacional de Investigação Pesqueira (IIP)
SWIOFP coordinator
Maputo, Mozambique
Tel: + 258 1 490536 / 490307 / 499963
Fax + 258 1 492112
Email: swiofp@moziip.org
Web: www.swiofp.org

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