Msambweni, Diani Chale Coast and Marine Conservation & Livelihoods Enhancement Project
Pact Kenya is pleased to report that it has just embarked on a new two year project on the South Coast of Kenya. The Msambweni, Diani Chale Coast and Marine Conservation & Livelihoods Enhancement Project was officially launched on the 10th July 2008 at Ukunda Showground, South Coast by a Kenyan Government’s Community Development Trust Fund (CDTF) representative Ms Pauline Ikumi. The project is funded through CDTF and its Community Environment Facility with funds from DANIDA and SIDA. The signing of the financing agreement by the Project Implementation Committee (PIC) marked the commencement for implementation of the project.
Pact Kenya is the Strategic Partner on this project which has taken 18 months to develop and finalize with its local partners the Tiwi Diani Chale Management Trust, the Msambweni Turtle and Marine Conservation Group and the Simakeni Environment Group. As well as these local CBOs and Pact Kenya the PIC includes representatives from the Kenya Wildlife Service, the Fisheries Department, the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute, and local NGO KESCOM. The overall goal of the project is to improve the co-management of coastal and marine resources in the Tiwi-Diani-Chale-Msambweni areas.
The project will do this by supporting the role of local communities to engage effectively with other key stakeholders in the sustainable co-management of coastal and marine resources in Msambweni and Tiwi Diani Chale areas while enhancing the local benefits and livelihoods gained from those resources.
The main objectives of the project are to:
- Build the capacities of 50 representatives of local community organizations to co-manage coastal and marine resources in the coastal areas of the newly formed Msambweni District
- Improve the co-management of coastal and marine resources between the local community organizations and major government and non-government stakeholders in the Msambweni area
- Facilitate the local community organizations and other community groups to undertake nature-based enterprises that improve the livelihoods of local communities in the project area while employing sustainable conservation practices
The launch was attended by the Pact Kenya CEO – Titus Syengo – as well as the Pact Kenya Mombasa office staff. Nancy Kireu, the Mombasa Office Manager, signed the Finance Agreement on behalf of Pact Kenya and will be the main contact person on the project for Pact Kenya and act as its Secretary. Khakim Mwatondo will also provide support to the project.
