Implementation of the Strategic Action Programme (SAP) Toward Achievement of the Integrated Management of the Benguela Current Large Marine Ecosystem (LME)

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Implementation of the Strategic Action Programme (SAP) Toward Achievement of the Integrated Management of the Benguela Current Large Marine Ecosystem (LME)

GEF ID	789
Project Website URL	http://www.bclme.org
Region	Africa
Sub-Region	Southern Africa
Basin	Benguela Current (LME)
Project Contacts	Michael O'Toole Chief Technical Advisor Integrated Management of the Benguela Current Large Marine Ecosystem (BCLME) Nik Sekhran MR Regional Coordinator for UNDP/GEF, Southern Africa United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Hashali Hamukuaya Deputy Director Namibia; Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources Claire Attwood Media Consultant ASCLME Project Abraham IYAMBO Minister Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources Nangula Mbako Permanent Secretary Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Namibia (MFMR) Monde Mayekiso DEPUTY DIRECTOR-GENERAL MARINE AND COASTAL MANAGEMENT
Project Documents	Outreach materials newsletters, brochures. Evaluations Reports mid-term, final, appraisals... Maps/Graphics Maps and Graphics Datasets measurement, statistical data Workshops presentations, participants list, meeting reports... Project Documents project document, fact sheets, annexes... Technical Reports TDAs, SAPs ...

General Information:
Project Type	Full Size Project
Project Status	Under Implementation
Start Date	2000/05/01

GEF characteristic:
Operational Programme	OP8 - Water based Program
Focal Area	International Waters
GEF Project Stage	CEO Endorsed
GEF Allocation to project	15.45M US$
Total Cost of the project:	38.90M US$

Partners:
Countries:	Angola, Namibia, South Africa
Other Implementing Agency	United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
Executing Agencies	United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS)

Project Description:

The long-term objective of the project is to undertake the array of priority measures identified in the Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis (TDA) and the Strategic Action program (SAP), in conjunction with the ongoing activities of the participating countries, donors, regional organizations, private industry, NGOs, and other affected interests to bring about the integrated, sustainable management of the Benguela Current Large Marine Ecosystem (BCLME). Major outputs will include provision of effective inter and intra project coordination and support through the establishment of a Program Coordination Unit (PCU), and the identification and provision of resources for a Lead Agency in each of the participating countries. The project makes provisions for the transfer of increasing amounts of responsibility and ownership of project activities as implementation proceeds. Other major project outputs include the creation of the necessary mechanisms for and steps to be undertaken to effect the sustainable management and use of the resources of the BCLME; assessment of environmental variability, ecosystem impacts, and improvement of predictability, preliminary steps to maintain BCLME ecosystem health and effectively control of pollution; and support to recruit new, additional donors and increase the level of co-finance during the life of the project and increased funding for the post-project programs and activities of the newly created Benguela Current Commission (BCC). The creation of the BCC, which must be negotiated among the participating countries, and immediate creation of the Interim Benguela Current Commission (IBCC), are highlights of the country-prepared and endorsed SAP. Seven Ministers from the three countries, representing the essential ministries relevant to the project activities and future work in the BCLME, have formally signed the SAP. At the substantive level, special emphasis in this project is being given to effecting the sustainable management and use of the resources of the BCLME and on assessment of environmental variability, ecosystem impacts, and improvement of predictability of system dynamics. Outputs and activities related to pollution and the coastal zone, issues whose transboundary impacts are limited at this point but likely to grow in the future, are modest in nature but deemed critical to include as they sustain the broad level of inter ministerial participation that has characterized country efforts to date. Including a limited number of pollution and coastal zone activities is also necessary to the project objective of taking an integrated approach to the BCLME. Project Status The BCLME programme is a broad-based multisectoral initiative between Angola, Namibia and South Africa aimed at sustainable integrated management of the Benguela Current ecosystem as a whole. It will run for five years and focuses on a number of key sectors, including fisheries, impacts of environmental variability, sea-bed mining, oil and gas exploration and production, coastal zone management, ecosystem health, socio-economics and governance. Transboundary fisheries management issues, environmental protection and capacity building are of primary concern although activities are also expected to make contributions towards understanding global fluctuations in the marine environment, including climate change. The programme was launched in March 2002 with the formation of a Programme Steering Committee (PSC) and the appointment of a Chief Technical Advisor. The first year of the BCLME Programme was spent in establishing the Programme Coordination Unit (PCU), the three Activity Centres and recruiting staff. In addition, specialist task, consultative and advisory groups were formed to formulate projects that would address the issues and threats outlines in the SAP. Some sixty projects were developed and contracted out mainly to clients in the region including Universities, Government Agencies and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO’s). projects were classified into three broad areas: a) Environmental Variability b) Living Marine Resources and c) Biodiversity, Ecosystem Health and Pollution. Some of the projects that were developed and commissioned were as follows:- · Establish an ecosystem approach to fisheries management in the BCLME region · Mitigate the by-catch of pelagic sharks, turtles and seabirds in longline fisheries in the BCLME region · Optimise the utilization of hake, the most important commercial species in Namibia and South Africa · Develop a responsible policy for mariculture · Improve knowledge and understanding of the artisanal fisheries · Assess the cumulative effects of marine diamond mining activities on the BCLME · Harmonise national environmental policies and legislation for marine mining, dredging and offshore petroleum exploration and production activities · Model the cumulative effects of offshore petroleum exploration and production activities on the marine environment.

Project Results:

GEF Council approval for the PB has now been obtained. Preparation of the project document has now begun, but progress is dependent on approval of the Namibia Country Office to approve two consultancies necessary to finalization of the project document. Communication with the CO continues but progress toward resolution is slow.

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