Working Paper on Options for a Nested Coastal Management Program

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1. Designing Options for Nested Integrated Coastal and

Fisheries Governance Systems The Year 3 activities are organized to reflect the different roles and responsibilities of the districts, region and national government in supporting Integrated Coastal Management ICM policies. The design of a nested governance system for coastal planning was targeted at capacity building for key constituency groups to ensure that there are Ghanaians with capacities and commitment to carry forward the design options and opportunities for nested governance.

1.1 Options for a Nested Coastal Governance System for the Western Region

The objective was to obtain a governmental commitment for a nested system of governance in the Western Region that provides a model of a future ICM program for Ghana.

1.1.1 Working Paper on Options for a Nested Coastal Management Program

A draft Working Paper, model for a ‘Nested Marine and Coastal Resources Management Program for Ghana’ has been prepared and discussed with a variety of stakeholders including senior level personnel of the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development MLGRD, National Development Planning Commission NDPC, the ICFG Advisory Council, some district coordinating directors and local government practitioners. The consultations allowed for stakeholder refinement prior to a wider public communication. The table below outlines the planned outputs and accomplishments under Activity 1.1.1 Planned Outputs Accomplishments Working paper drafts - Options for a Decentralized National Coastal Management Program Proposal finalized for publication in the national newspapers in November 2012 before final submission to government Office of the President, NDPC, Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, etc. Identification and discussion of options through an inclusive consultative process Paper widely circulated and reviewed by many stakeholders. Several national round-table discussions already held, more will be completed after the publication in the press to receive final inputs for a more refined document. ICFG Advisory Council working sessions and program review meetings Four Quarterly Meetings held to advise, discuss and orient the activities of the ICFG Initiative and also discuss the draft papers. Table 1: Nested governance The document is propositional and will be submitted to the government for consideration. Figure 3 is the proposed structure for a nested governance system for coastal and marine governance for the Western Region and Ghana. 6 Figure 3: Draft proposed nested marine and coastal governance system in the Western Region National Scale An inter- ministerial marine and coastal management commission chaired by the office of the vice president or president sets national marine and coastal policy and defines performance standards at the region and district scales Regional Scale The Western Region spatial development framework WRSDF guides planning and decision-making and incorporates a CoastalMarine Management Board District Scale Future medium-term development plans contain a coastal and marine management chapter whose content and implementation is guided by district Coastal and Marine Committees Community Scale Local level governance addresses community development and community- based fisheries management 7

1.1.2 Policy Briefs on Key ICM Issues