The
West African Development Artisanal Fisheries (WADAF), a sub regional fisheries
project has organised a capacity building forum for local fishermen on how to
develop action plan ahead of project funds disbursement.
WADAF
have secured funding for various fish landing sites in the country which
include the Bakau Fishing Landing site.
Speaking
at the opening ceremony held at the Bakau Community Centre, Dawda Saine,
national correspondent for WADAF project, announced that the focus was geared
towards developing their capacity on resource management, processing,
organisational management, communication and advocacy.
He
said the workshop was aimed at developing a document for work plans that are
generally agreed to by the Bakau fishing community to help in the
implementation of the project.
He
divulged that strengthening the capacity of fishermen in Africa focused on such
issues as sanitation, and construction of toilets to address the issues of
hygiene in member countries.
According
to Mr Saine, the project total cost is D4 million, saying that as soon as the
work plan is completed, the project would kick-start the implementation
process.
He
said all the participants are from Bakau and that there was a need for all to sit
down and agree on the work plan.
For
his part, the project coordinator, Musa Mbenga, commented on the importance
attached to capacity building, saying that there was need to build the capacity
of the fishermen who are the sole beneficiaries of the project.
He
opined that before taking up the responsibility, there is need to sensitise the
grassroots communities about the benefit of the project, adding that the issue
of building the capacity of fisher folks is a priority in the project.
“We
must prepare a collective action plan before disbursement of funds and to
prepare well before the project starts.” he said.
He
said that WADAF project was designed years back in Ivory Coast with its
regional office is based in Dakar, Senegal and has been implemented in seven
regional countries including The Gambia, Senegal, Guinea Bissau, Mauritania and
Sierra Leone.
