The
regional coordination unit of Go-WAMER has commenced a five-day sub-regional
conference in governance, marine resource, management policies and poverty
reduction in the Eco-region.
The
five-day sub-regional conference currently underway in Nouakchott has brought
together parliamentarians and journalists in six Eco-regions in West Africa namely
The Gambia, Mauritania, Senegal, Guinea Bissau, Guinea Conakry and Cape Verde.
It
aims to develop synergies between networks of journalists and parliamentarians
on Go-WAMER (Western Africa Marine Eco-Region) Program themes as well as
contribute to the work of capitalising and improving the visibility of the
Go-WAMER programme.
The objective of the programme is to improve
governance and promote the adoption of best practices for sustainable use of
marine and coastal resources in the Eco-region.
Speaking
at the event, the coordinator of national implementing team, Go-Wamer in
Mauritania, Muhammed Ahagie E. Jiwen, explained that the regional programme
which was funded by the European Union and implemented by the United Nations
Development Programme (UNDP) aims at reducing poverty and strengthening food
security in the Eco-region WAMER (Western Africa Marine Eco-Region).
He
added that coastal and marine resource in West Africa is declining, especially
in Mauritania, saying the European Union in collaboration with United Nations
Development Program is supporting the event in order to ameliorate the effects
of marine resource management policies and poverty reduction in the Eco-region
Wamer.
Mr
Muhammed further pointed out that the best practice of managing coastal
resources in the Eco-region is the legislative aspect as well as management
tools.
He
expressed the event would avail the journalists the opportunity to disseminate
information to the public with regard to the marine, governance and management
of coastal resources in Go-Wamer countries.
For
his part, the representative of UNDP in Mauritania, Mr ZosaLavi, pointed out that coastal resources are
important in the socio-economic aspect, noting that there could not be
sustainable fishing without better management and governance.
Hans
Christian Beaumond, EU representative, said they would facilitate and support
the community with fish, adding that the Go-Wamer project would phase out in
December 2017 and in January the new project would be implemented in the six
West African countries.
