One of the top priorities of the RAMPAO Network is to enhance capacities of the staff managing the marine protected areas (MPAs), but also those of the local stakeholders (fishermen, MPA riparian populations, etc.). Actually, in West Africa, the number of MPAs is on the rise, the aim being to meet the international undertakings, notably Aichi Target 11 . However, these MPAs are not all entirely operational, or do not have a skilled staff (trained in marine environment), which often causes a poor planning and an inefficient management of the sites. Mindful of the fact that capacity-building for site managers, and some key members of the management committees is essential all along the life of a MPA, RAMPAO conducted a study in 2013, in collaboration with its partners (PRCM, FIBA) with the view to:

• Assessing the capacity-building needs and current priorities in terms of training in the MPAs of the network;

• Analysing the existing capacity-building programmes and the current achievements in the area;

• Developing a capacity-building strategy that meets the management requirements of member MPAs.

You can access the findings of this study be clicking here. With the support of MAVA, the enhancement of the network’s capacities will unfold at various levels: regional, national and local. A training cycle will be put in place, as well as a network of exchanges, a coaching system, some Task Forces grouping experts, and a peer training programme. Presently, MPA professionals can avail themselves of the following:

• Management tools on RAMPAO’s virtual resource centre;;
• A database of experts ;
• • Platforms of information and sharing of information on marine protected areas;
  • www.aires-marines.uqar.ca
  • www.prcmarine.org/fr/le-prcm-lance-sa-nouvelle-plateforme-virtuelle

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