Title
Building a Blue Future for Ecosystems and People on the East African Coast. Annex A: Stakeholder Engagement Plan. Version 2
Author(s)
Wildlife Conservation Society
Published
2022
Abstract
Stakeholder engagement refers to a process of sharing information and knowledge, seeking to understand and respond to the concerns and needs of the counterpart, and building relationships based on mutual respect, collaboration and trust. Stakeholder consultation and disclosure are key elements for mobilization, engagement and ownership by the beneficiaries, and key for delivery of successful and sustainable projects. The present document is a Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP) for the project entitled, “Building a Blue Future for Ecosystems and People on the East African Coast”, funded by the Blue Action Fund and implemented by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) in partnership with “Ajuda de Desenvolvimento de Povo para Povo (ADPP)”, “Fundação para a Conservação da Biodiversidade (BIOFUND)”, ProAzul Trust Fund, “Associação do Meio Ambiente (AMA)”, “Instituto Oceanográfico de Moçambique” (InOM), formerly known as “Instituto Nacional de Investigação Pesqueira (IIP)”, “ProAzul”, “Departamento de Ciências Biológicas - Universidade Eduardo Mondlane (DBIO UEM)” and Faculdade de Ciências – Universidade Eduardo Mondlane (FC UEM) in Mozambique. The purpose of the SEP is to document all stakeholder information, sensitization, consultation, mobilization activities for a participative and informed commitment towards the project presented. This SEP is a public, “living document” that will be revised and updated throughout the lifetime of the project to account for the ongoing stakeholder engagement activities and potential changes to the project. The overall aim of the SEP is to ensure that a timely, consistent, comprehensive, coordinated and culturally appropriate approach is taken to consultation and project disclosure. It is intended to demonstrate the commitment of WCS and partners to an international best practice approach to engagement in line with IFC’s Performance Standards (PS) on Environmental and Social Sustainability. In this context, good stakeholder relations and trust are also a prerequisite for good risk management. The SEP has been prepared by the WCS Social Safeguards Management Team, with input from the project implementation teams and local partners in Mozambique (WCS Mozambique and ADPP), and oversight from the WCS Conservation Measures and Communities staff. This SEP is based on the fieldwork carried out in November 2020 by the local NGO partners ADPP and AMA, in the Districts of Memba, Nacala-Porto and Mossuril for the socio-economic component of the intervention and on subsequent contacts established in 2021 (particularly between June and August). The assessment framework results from the Terms of Reference presented by WCS and approved by consensus by the project partners. While Nacla-Porto was assessed, we ultimately decided against including the site in our project intervention area because it is very industrialized, which could create bottlenecks due to opposition from local governments and private companies. The information gathered has allowed the partners to detail project's objectives, activities and target indicators at social and economic levels as well as to show clear evidence of community and local authority support for it. The fieldwork conducted has enabled a good understanding of the local context and needs. The assessment involved local communities and relevant stakeholders in the target districts to inform about the project and gather all the necessary information, including insight on vulnerable groups living in these areas and accessing resources within the proposed MPA, to develop a complete and viable proposal. The work included identification and confirmation of the target areas to intervene within the project scope as well as the real challenges that will be faced by it. A rapid assessment was carried out. The collection methods included: - Interviews with Key Informants: local authorities, community leaders and other key influencers in the community about their observations, the data they have and the experience they can share. - Focus Group Discussions: with Community Fishery Councils, existing fisher associations, local leaders and other community groups to discuss the challenges they face, opportunities that exist locally and their willingness/availability to participate in the project. - Direct or participatory observation: visiting community spaces, such as community meeting places, subsistence project sites to observe and talk to those at field level, as well as participate in ongoing programmes and activities taking place during the visit. - Direct engagement with several stakeholders at the national level. The project team consulted 128 people including 32 women. People from economically disadvantaged groups were also included in the FDGs. The local leaders were asked to identify other vulnerable groups and give insights about their socio-economic situation. The socio-economic assessment was conducted as a pre-implementation baseline study. The filed assessment was funded by BAF. Between November 2020 and August 2021 WCS engaged with several stakeholders at the national level (Government institutions) and conservation partners with projects being implemented in the study area (RARE, IUCN, OIKOS, Blue Ventures and Solidariedade Moçambique). This engagement was particularly intensive between June and August 2021 when AMA and ADPP also re-established contacts with local stakeholders from Memba and Mossuril, including the District authorities and several Community Fishing Councils. Finally, additional field work was conducted in December 2021 and 130 people, including 21 women, were consulted during this second site visit, including representatives of the District Services of Economic Activities, technicians from Institute for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development and community focal points, local leaders, CCPs, fishers and private sector.
Full Citation
Wildlife Conservation Society (2022). Building a Blue Future for Ecosystems and People on the East African Coast. Annex A: Stakeholder Engagement Plan. Version 2. Bronx, NY: Wildlife Conservation Society and Blue Action Fund.
Access Full Text
![]()
Back
DMX4409000000