From 23 to 26 April 2024, Bissau hosted the 11th edition of the Regional Coastal and Marine Forum (FOMACO), bringing together more than 400 stakeholders committed to the conservation of the West African coastline. Organized by PRCM, this major event was an opportunity for RESILAO to present its first OUTPUTS since its launch in 2023 and discuss projects and actions implemented with partners.
RESILAO Management Unit paves the way for 2024
RESILAO seized the opportunity to organize, on the fringes of the Forum, its steering committee meeting bringing together all partners. This committee meeting reviewed the progress made, discussed the challenges encountered and those to come, and identified new planning and global coordination perspectives for 2024, as well as synergies of action between RESILAO partners and other ongoing initiatives in the region.
This first highlight revealed that the RESILAO Project, which is based on calls for projects, is a particularly innovative mechanism that is being increasingly considered by donors. It enables funds to be channeled directly to the final beneficiaries while reducing intermediary costs.
One of the project’s key actions has been to build on the experience of calls for projects carried out over the last ten years in the region, on themes similar to RESILAO. The results of this capitalization study were unveiled and discussed at this workshop, in the presence of partners and numerous stakeholders involved in coastal marine conservation.
The RESILAO capitalization web platform was also launched at this meeting. Stemming from the need to enhance consistency of interventions between stakeholders in coastal areas and promoters of calls for projects, this tool aims to encourage the mobilization of stakeholders and regional dialogue. It creates opportunities for joint reflection, mutual learning and capacity-building for stakeholders and institutions involved in marine and coastal conservation.
RESILAO Network in full swing
RESILAO’s second highlight at the FOMACO Forum was the meeting of all sstakeholders of the network for a discussion session on the 8 initiatives funded and the start of their implementation. There was also time for initial feedback on the RESILAO call for projects process, on the support planned for the beneficiary organizations and on the needs of project leaders in order to strengthen their capacity to influence and the scope of their achievements in terms of resilience.
RESILAO partners’ side event during the Forum
Prospects….
Efforts are still underway after the Bissau Forum. The RESILAO project management unit is meeting with partners in the four intervention countries: Mauritania, Cape Verde, Senegal and the Republic of Guinea. These missions include visits to project sites, meetings with local players and communities, and experience sharing.
