United Nations
Global Environment
Environment Programme
Facility
UNEP-GEF WIO-LaB PROJECT
ADDRESSING LAND BASED ACTIVITIES
IN THE WESTERN INDIAN OCEAN
WIO International Waters projects Workshop
Governance, Institutions and Partnerships for IW Management in the Western Indian
Ocean
Workshop held during the
GEF FOURTH BIENNIAL INTERNATIONAL WATERS CONFERENCE,
Cape Town, South Africa
(July 31st-August 3, 2007)
Summary Report of the Workshop
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 The Western Indian Ocean (WIO) Region that basically encompasses countries found
in the Eastern part of the continental Africa (Somalia, Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique,
South Africa) and the island states (Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles) is
currently hosting a Portfolio of international waters (IW) projects funded by the Global
Environment Facility (GEF). These include the following multi-national projects;
· UNEP/GEF Project `Addressing land-based activities in the WIO Region (WIO-
LaB)
· UNDP/GEF Agulhas and Somali Current Large Marine Ecosystem Programme
(ASCLMEs).
· World Bank/GEF South West Indian Ocean Fisheries Project (SWIOFP)
· World Bank/GEF Marine Electronic Highway Development and Coastal-marine
Contamination Prevention Project
· UNEP/GEF Project on Reduction of Environmental Impact from Coastal
Tourism through the Implementation of Pilot Demonstration Projects,
Promoting the Development of Sustainable Tourism Policies and Strategies and
Strengthening Public-Private Partnership.
1.2 In addition, there are a number of other important GEF national and international
projects that are active in the WIO Region such as World Bank/GEF Tanzania Marine
and Coastal Environment Management Project (MACEMP) and the World Bank/GEF
Coral Reef targeted Research and Capacity Building for Management Project (CRTP).
Furthermore, there are also a number of non-GEF supported projects and programmes
that are being implemented in the WIO Region such as the African Coelacanth
Ecosystems Programme (ACEP), the EU/COI Regional Programme for Coastal Zone
Management of the Indian Ocean (ReCoMap-IO), the IOC-UNESCO Ocean Data and
Information Network of Africa (ODINAFRICA) Project and the Transboundary Marine
Protected Areas Project (TRANSMAP).
1.3 Because of the considerable portfolio of IW projects in the WIO Region, there is a
strong need for coordination between projects in order to avoid duplication of effort and
wastage of resources and at the same time benefit from the comparative advantages of
different projects. In this regard, three of the GEF funded IWProjects, namely WIO-LaB,
ASCLME and SWIOFP, have already agreed on a common coordination framework for
the implementation of activities and preparation of Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis
and Strategic Action Programme (TDA/SAP) for the WIO Region.
1.4 The overall goal of the Western Indian Ocean (WIO) IW Projects Workshop held
under the auspices of the GEF Fourth Biennial International Waters Conference held in
Cape Town, South Africa in the period July 31st-August 3, 2007, was to bring together
the various GEF funded projects with an objective of enhancing cooperation in the
implementation of such projects and creating an efficient coordination mechanisms for
the GEF IW Portfolio in the WIO Region. This workshop builds on the previous WIO-
LaB Project IWForum that was held in Mauritius on 31st August 2005 during the Fourth
WIOMSA Scientific Symposium.
1.5 The Workshop brought together representatives of various GEF Projects including
other key organizations involved in coastal and marine environmental management in
the WIO Region.
2. KEY PRESENTATIONS
2.1 The purpose of the workshop
2.1.1 Dr. Johnson U. Kitheka, the Environmental Scientist/Project Officer of the UNEP-
GEF WIO-LaB Project, on behalf of the WIO-LaB Project Manager, welcomed
participants to the meeting and highlighted the objectives of the Workshop. He also
expounded on the need for coordination and/or cooperation between the various IW
projects in order to avoid duplication of effort and wastage of resources.
2.1.2 Following the introductory remarks on the GEF IW Projects that are implemented
in the WIO Region, Dr. Kitheka introduced the two key facilitators of the workshop,
namely Dr. Rolph Payet, Special Advisor to the President of Seychelles on Environment
as well as the Interim Coordinator of the UNEP/Nairobi Convention, and Dr. Julius
Francis, the Executive Secretary of the Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association
(WIOMSA). The meeting was chaired by Dr. Rolph Payet.
2.2 Existing governance mechanisms and institutional arrangements in the WIO
Region
2.2.1 Dr. Rolph Payet briefed the meeting on the existing governance mechanisms and
institutional arrangements in the WIO Region. He also briefed the meeting on the major
projects in the WIO Region, including mechanisms that are being used to implement
them, and in particular the approaches adopted by the projects in order to achieve their
objectives.
2.2.2 Dr. Payet highlighted how different projects fit into the framework of existing
Multi-lateral Environmental Agreements. He briefed the meeting on the approaches
adopted by different projects with regard to the establishment of Projects Steering
Committees and other projects coordination structures. He furthermore expounded on
the process for the development of WIO Region Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis and
Strategic Action Programme (TDA and SAP).
2.3 Partnerships in the WIO Region
2.3.1 Dr. Julius Francis, the Executive Secretary of the Western Indian Ocean Marine
Science Association (WIOMSA) briefed the meeting on the existing and potential
partnerships in the WIO Region. He also expounded on the experience of various
partnerships established in the WIO Region for the protection and/or management of
the coastal and marine environment in the WIO Region.
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2.3.2 Dr. Julius also highlighted different mechanisms that have being used to establish
partnerships in the WIO Region including processes that have been used to build and
sustain partnerships in the WIO Region such as Nairobi Convention, the Forum for
Academic and Research Institutions (FARI) in the WIO Region, the Consortium for the
Conservation of the Coastal and Marine Environment of the WIO Region (WIO-C), the
Group of Experts on Marine Protected Areas (GEMPA-EA), various Technical Working
Groups, etc.
3. SUMMARY OF THE DISCUSSIONS
3.1 During the discussions that followed the above mentioned opening presentations, it
became clear that different projects that are being implemented in the WIO region are
now providing opportunities for involvement of different stakeholders/organizations.
in the WIO Region The fact that the projects are using the same stakeholders in
participating countries emphasizes the need for collaboration between the different
projects so that resources channeled to the participating countries are more efficiently
utilized to the maxim extent possible.
3.2 It was also recognized that there are several legally binding regional
platforms/frameworks in the region (such as the UNEP/Nairobi Convention, the
Southwest Indian Ocean Fisheries Commission (SWIOFC), the Indian Ocean
Commission (IOC), the Tuna Commission, etc.), which most of the WIO countries are
party to. This makes WIO Region quite complex with regard to regional environmental
governance. It was noted that this to certain extent exerts certain complications to GEF
IW Projects with regard to implementation of activities as well as the implementation of
the Strategic Action Programme (SAP) for the WIO Region.
3.3 In order to address these regional complexities that are to a certain extent unique to
the WIO Region, it is important for the GEF IW projects to determine which of the
existing regional platforms and/or legal frameworks should take a lead in the
implementation of the SAP for the WIO Region. In this regard, it was noted that there is
a need for an overarching regional institution in the WIO Region that would provide
guidance to the donors with regard to the implementation of WIO Region SAP.
3.4 It was however appreciated that existence of a multiplicity of regional institutional
frameworks in the WIO Region is a healthy situation for the WIO Region in the sense
that the ultimate goal is to ensure the protection, management and sustainable
development of the coastal and marine environment. Within the framework of African
Union, there is an attempt to rationalize the regional institutions in order to come up
with few ones that are more efficient. In view of the rapid transformation taking place
in Africa within the framework of African Union, it was suggested that projects should
eventually link up under the auspices of such an overarching regional framework.
3.5 With regard to the role of UNEP/Nairobi Convention for the protection,
management and development of the coastal and marine environment in Eastern Africa,
it was noted that the convention is relevant in the sense that it offers a sound legal
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platform for countries in the WIO Region. However, in view of the fact that the
convention is not an institution, it may still be important to pursue the goal of building
(based upon existing framework) an overarching institutional arrangement for the WIO
Region.
3.6 With regard to the implementation of Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis and
Strategic Action Programme (TDA and SAP) for the WIO Region, it was noted that
emphasis/support should be provided to a regional institution/organization where
there is optimal buy in.
3.7 It was also noted that the GEF Projects in the WIO Region provide an opportunity for
countries in the WIO Region to evaluate the effectiveness of various regional
instruments operating in the WIO Region. It was emphasized that countries in the WIO
should have the final responsibility of deciding which of the existing regional
instruments should be used (whether or not in an amended format) in order to provide
an overarching regional framework that operates on the basis of ecosystem management
approach necessary for an efficient implementation of SAP in the WIO Region.
3.8 However, it was also brought to the attention of the meeting that there are very few
regions in the world where GEF has been able to bring under the same umbrella,
different regional institutions such as the regional environmental conventions, regional
fisheries management organizations, etc.
3.9 In order to ensure ownership, the process of evaluating/assessing the suitability of
the existing regional legal frameworks should be done in a transparent and participatory
manner under the leadership of the GEF IW Projects in close collaboration with the
governments of the participating countries. In this way, the GEF IW Projects in
collaboration with the participating countries should set the basis for determining which
of the existing Regional legal frameworks will take the lead in the implementation of
activities that would be defined in the SAP for the WIO Region.
3.10 During the discussions, the representatives of various projects agreed to cooperate
in the implementation of various projects in order to maximize the use of resources and
benefit from the comparative advantages of different projects and their implementing
agencies. With regard to the sustainability of activities initiated by the GEF IW Projects
in the WIO Region, the need for country ownership of projects activities was
emphasized.
4. CONCLUSIONS
4.1 The GEF IW Workshop held within the auspices of the GEF Fourth IW Conference
was successful. The representatives of various GEF IW projects that are being
implemented in the WIO Region expressed willingness to continue cooperating in the
implementation of projects activities geared towards the protection, management and
development of the coastal and marine environment in the WIO Region.
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4.2 The need for establishment/appointment of an overarching regional framework for
the implementation of the Strategic Action Programme (SAP) for the Western Indian
Ocean (WIO) Region was recognized. Further discussions between the governments of
the participating countries and GEF IW Projects would be necessary in order to address
this need.
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LIST OF PARTICIPANTS
Project/Institution
Name of Representative
1. UNEP/Nairobi
Dr. Rolph PAYET
Convention
Interim Regional Coordinator
UNEP/Nairobi Convention
Special Advisor to the President of Seychelles
Email: ps@env.gov.sc
Ms. Chantal ANDRIANARIVO
Chair, Bureau of Nairobi Convention
Chef de Cellule Recherche et Biodiversite
Association Nationale pour la Gestion (ANGAP)
E-mail: val@angap.mg
2. UNEP/GEF Addressing Dr. Johnson U. KITHEKA
land-based Activities in
Project Officer/Environmental Scientist
the Western Indian
UNEP-GEF WIO-LaB Project
Ocean Project (WIO-
Email: Johnson.kitheka@unep.org
LaB)
3. Western Indian Ocean
Dr. Julius FRANCIS
Marine Science
Executive Secretary
Association (WIOMSA)
Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association
(WIOMSA)
Email: julius@wiomsa.org / secretary@wiomsa.org
4. Tanzania Marine and
Dr. Magnus NGOILE
Coastal Environmental
Project Manager,
Management Project
Tanzania Marine and Coastal Environmental
(MACEMP)
Management Project (MACEMP)
E-mail: mngoile@simbanet.net
5. UNDP/GEF Agulhas
Dr. David LaROCHE
and Somali Current
Task Manager
Large Marine
Agulhas and Somali Current Large Marine
Ecosystems (ASCLME)
Ecosystems (ASCLME) Programme
Programme
United Nations Development Programme/Global
Environment Facility (UNDP-GEF)
Email: dal1727@myvermont.com
Ms. Hajanirina RAZAFINDRAINIBE
Expert, Marine and Coastal Resources Management
Agulhas and Somali Current Large Marine
Ecosystems (ASCLME) Project
SAGE-Fampandrosoana Maharitra
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Email: hajanirina.sage@blueline.mg
6. World Bank/GEF South Dr. William Bill LANE
West Indian Ocean
Senior Environmental Specialist
Fisheries Project
World Bank South West Indian Ocean Fisheries
(SWIOFP)
Project (SWIOFP)
Equatorial Africa Deposition Network
World Bank
Email: wlane1@worldbank.org
7. Global Environment
Dr. Alfred DUDA
Facility (GEF)
Senior Advisor
International Waters
Global Environment Facility (GEF)
Email: aduda@thegef.org
8. NEPAD Coastal and
Mr. Ali MOHAMMED
Marine Programme
Regional Coordinator
(COSMAR)
NEPAD Coastal and Marine Programme
(COSMAR)
Email: ali@nepadkenya.org
9. IUCN-The World
Mr. Jerker TAMELANDER
Conservation Union
Marine Coordinator
IUCN-The World Conservation Union
Email: jerker.tamelander@iucn.org
10. UNEP/GEF Sustainable Mr. Daniel NKONDOLA
Coastal Tourism in Sub-
Environment Officer
Saharan Africa Project
Sustainable Coastal Tourism in Sub-Saharan Africa
Project
Ministry of Environment, Division of Environment
Vice President's Office
Email: dnkondola@hotmail.com
11. UNEP/GEF Lake Chad
Mr. Oumarou DOBAI
Basin Commission
National Coordinator
Lake Chad Basin Commission
Government of Cameroon
Email: oumaroudobai@yahoo.fr
12. UNIDO/GEF Guinea
Dr. Rebecca KLAUS
Current Large Marine
Project Consultant
Ecosystem (GCLME)
Guinea Current Large Marine Ecosystem (GCLME)
Email: BexKlaus@aol.com
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13. World Bank/GEF Coral
Dr. Narriman JIDDAWI
Reef Targeted Research
GEF/WB Coral Reef Targeted Research and
and Capacity Building
Capacity Building for Management Project (CRTP)
for Management Project Institute of Marine Sciences
(CRTP)
Email: jiddawi@ims.udsm.ac.tz
14. Volta River Basin Project Dr. Yaw OPOKU-ANKOMAH
Acting Project Director
Volta River Basin Project
Email: vrbp@africaonline.com.gh
Mr. Ben AMPOMAH
Volta River Basin
Water Resources Commission of Ghana
Email: byampomah@yahoo.com
15. Niger River Basin
Mr. Idi HASAN
Project
Niger River Basin Project
Niger Basin Authority (NBA)
Email:
16. World Bank /GEF
Ms. Gina BONNE
Western Indian Ocean
World Bank/Western Indian Ocean Marine
Marine Highway
Highway Development Project
Development Project
Indian Ocean Commission
Email: gina.bonne@coi.ioc.org
17. GEF IW Conference
Mr. Addmore MACHANJA
Rapporteur
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