Ghana coastal fisheries governance dialogue: Presentations, discussions and outcomes from a stakeholder forum on issues for reforming governance of Ghana’s coastal fisheries

This meeting, the second national Fisheries Governance Dialogue, aimed to help stakeholders in the fisheries sector generate a shared understanding of critical lessons and pathways for fisheries co-management success in Ghana. This was a direct response to the call from both fisheries communities and the government of Ghana for a radical change from the way fisheries resources are currently being managed. The meeting was attended by 60 men and women from stakeholder organizations and communities, and commenced with presentations on co-management experiences from local, regional and international participants. This was followed by panel discussions to extract lessons that specifically related to successfully implementing co-management in Ghana’s fisheries. Finally, breakout groups addressed in greater detail some issues of importance to fisheries governance reform in Ghana. While fisheries co-management is not a new concept in Ghana, participants heard that previous attempts to initiate these systems proved unsustainable. A number of lessons were drawn from these past experiences

Ghana coastal fisheries governance dialogue: developing options for a legal framework for fisheries co-management in Ghana

The Third National Fisheries Governance Dialogue was a direct follow up on the Second National Fisheries Governance Dialogue held in Elmina in April 2012. It was agreed at the Second dialogue that co-management was the way forward for sustaining Ghana’s fisheries and that its success would depend on a supportive legal framework. The two day dialogue meeting consisted of four key presentations focusing on: the current status of fisheries in Ghana; co-management as a fresh approach to fisheries; outcomes from the regional stakeholder consultations on co-management structure; and outcomes from the research on the legal framework. The presentations were followed by four breakout groups that generated ideas for co-management structures for different species namely pelagic fish or Sardinella, near shore demersal, Volta lake, and lagoons and estuaries. Key elements for co-management structures and elements of a co-management legal framework were later identified during plenary discussions

Application de la recherche-action participative à l'adaptation aux changements climatiques en Afrique : manuel de référence

Version anglaise disponible dans la Bibliothèque numérique du CRDI : Application of participatory action research to climate change adaptation in Africa : a reference guid

Application of participatory action research to climate change adaptation in Africa : a reference guide

French version available in IDRC Digital Library: Application de la recherche-action participative à l'adaptation aux changements climatiques en Afrique : manuel de référenceThe Climate Change Adaptation in Africa (CCAA) program works to establish a self-sustained African body of expertise on adaptation defined by African communities, decision-makers, and institutions. This Reference Guide presents a “best bet” approach to the application of participatory action research (PAR) in addressing adaptation challenges. Diverse PAR tools and processes are portrayed in detail, including basics used throughout the PAR process (facilitation, process documentation), preparatory steps in building teams and engaging stakeholders, ways of understanding the problem or opportunity and conceptualizing change, planning, managing of change, and the role of empirical research as inputs to decision making

Political Economy of Climate Compatible Development: Artisanal Fisheries and Climate Change in Ghana

Interest in prospects for policy processes that contribute to development, climate change adaptation and mitigation, known as ‘climate compatible development’, has been growing in response to increasing awareness of the impacts of climate change. This paper provides insight into the complex political economy of climate compatible development in Ghana's artisanal fisheries, a sector that has received comparatively little attention in climate change literature and policy processes. It focuses on two contentious policy areas where there is potential for climate compatible development, namely the subsidized premix fuel provided to artisanal fishermen, and mangrove protection. Regarding the premix subsidy, while there is theoretical scope for a ‘triple win’ outcome by removing the subsidy to reduce incentives to unsustainable fishing and supporting alternative policies, in practice this is highly problematic. Artisanal fishermen strongly oppose removing the subsidy on the grounds that it would damage their livelihoods, and do not have the confidence that they would be appropriately compensated for any hypothetical reform. Moreover, it is argued that removing it could have negative unintended consequences if fishermen are forced into alternative livelihoods that are themselves unsustainable. There is, however, a need to make considerable improvements to the distribution of the premix fuel so that it reaches the intended beneficiaries and is not siphoned off for contraband. Meanwhile, although improved mangrove protection could have significant ‘triple‐win’ benefits, this area suffers from a lack of funding and administrative coordination across ministries and agencies, leading it to be neglected. The case studies reveal, therefore, that the major constraint to climate compatible development is institutional failing, rather than a lack of policies per se. The paper emphasizes the need to conceptualize climate compatible development as a process which is dynamic across space and time, such that potential for triple win outcomes is fluctuate to vary according to changing circumstances. It is necessary to recognize, furthermore, that pressures from a number of actors, including those at the grass roots, may demand short term improvements to current problems rather than aspiring to triple win outcomes in the long term, creating a major challenge for climate compatible development

Strengthening women's tenure rights and participation in community forestry in central Uganda

Although women’s rights and participation in forestry are recognized and addressed in Uganda policy and law, the actual practice on the ground still excludes women from participating in decision making and benefiting from forest and tree resources. Cultural norms, beliefs and practices constrain women’s access and control of forest and tree resources. This undermines their investments in sustainable forest use and management and further limits their participation in decision making and benefit sharing. This research explored ways in which women’s rights and access to forests could be strengthened, and mechanisms for enhancing their participation in forest resource management, decision making and benefits sharing. We present lessons from and outcomes of processes of facilitation and negotiation using an adaptive collaborative management (ACM) approach in six randomly selected communities in four districts in Central Uganda. After six years of implementing ACM activities, our findings suggest that despite being usually regarded as “sticky,” with careful facilitation and negotiation, change of gender-based customary norms can be speeded up. These processes can also help determine more just directions of cultural change thereby offering potential for enhancing gender equity over a short period of time. We have learnt that the involvement of men, the provision of safe platforms for women to express themselves, exposure through exchange programmes, leadership training (for both men and women) and support from collaborating partners are essential for enabling gender-transformative outcomes

Sustaining adaptive collaborative management processes: Challenges and opportunities from Mafungautsi State Forest, Gokwe, Zimbabwe

An adaptive collaborative management (ACM) project was implemented in Mafungautsi State Forest, in the Gokwe South District of Zimbabwe between 1999 and 2006. By 2005, significant collaborative momentum between local resource users and officialdom at various levels had been created. Over the same period, Zimbabwe experienced unprecedented changes associated with its land reforms, profoundly impacting natural resource management. State forests became frontiers for contestation for land and forestry resources between the state and land-hungry, internal migrants and those displaced when the forests were reserved. This chapter examines the earlier ACM processes against the backdrop of this national meltdown. Interviews and desk study yielded longitudinal data that tracked nuances in the dynamics and endurance of ACM processes. The study provides important insights that can enhance ACM efficacy and functionality under a unique ‘test’ environment characterized by severe economic and socio-political stress, lessons presumably also applicable under more normal conditions. Despite these political economic factors that had a profound impact on local ACM processes, residual elements of ACM remained around Mafungautsi. Forestry Commission (FC) management still considers ACM a policy option, albeit in largely rhetorical terms. We conclude that ACM can contribute to dealing with the complex situations faced in this forest and elsewhere