7 • Implemented a diverse wide-reaching communications program that included: a
public launch of the Initiative; radio documentaries, jingles and drama; celebrations of special events; press conferences and written articles; and other communications
activities both in the Western Region and other parts of Ghana see Press and Communications -- Annex 3
2
. • Produced several thematic reports
3
including : Fisheries Sector Review [58]; Biodiversity Threats Assessment [56]; Assessment of Critical Coastal Habitats [19];
Governance Case Studies of the fisheries sector [2]; Diversified Livelihoods Study [60];
Gender Analysis [77], among others.
The results of activities completed in Phase I are summarized in the widely distributed report ‘Our Coast, Our Future’
publication [20]. This publication outlines key coastal governance
issues in the Western Region coastal districts as identified through technical and participatory assessments. It sets the agenda for the contributions that ICFG made in Phases II and III
Years 2-4 to address the issues profiled.
2.1 Profile of the Fisheries and Coastal Issues of the Western Region
Under Phase I, the issues profiled within the focal areas including 5 of the 6 coastal districts and at the national level in fisheries and coastal governance included:
• Overfishing and food insecurity • Competition among the fleets
• Ineffective enforcement • Climate Change
• Loss in environmental goods and services • Threats to coastal biodiversity
• Expanding population • Oil and Gas development
• Weak ecosystem governance • Dysfunctional nested systems of governance
These issues set the path for the subsequent years activities which were categorized into the five components as follows:
• Develop and formalize a nested governance system for the coastal zone • Improve governance of the landscape
• Improve governance of the seascape • Capacity building of stakeholders
• Monitoring and evaluation These components reinforced the goal for improving coastal and fisheries governance in the
focal areas and generated examples of good practice in Integrated Coastal Management ICM and fisheries governance at the district and sub-district scales. The central strategy was
to build constituencies among key stakeholders and enhance their capacity to carry forward more effective approaches to coastal and fisheries governance that will maintain the flow of
environmental goods and services.
2
Press and communications in Annex 3 are linked to the original sources on the internet
3
Bibliography contains titles of various reports generated under the ICFG Program. All documents have been uploaded online at. www.crc.uri.edu OR www.henmpoano.org
8
2.2 ‘H ɛn Mpoano’ as a Movement
During the first year of implementation, communicating the program name or acronym ICFG was met with some difficulties as it did not resonate with local people. A slogan
contest identified an appropriate name or catch phrase that the local people related to and
reflected the aspirations of the Initiative. The slogan Hɛn Mpoano, which means ‘Our Coast’
in the local Fante dialect, emerged as the expression of choice to refer coastal and fisheries issues. However, project documents and communications followed the official USAID
project title and branding per the branding plan.
Figure 5: The Abuesi Drama Troupe - use rural drama to communicate issues of the coast in the Shama District
9
3.0 Working Modes
