Sustainability Mechanisms Environmental Compliance Global Climate Change Policy and Governance support Local Capacity Development Public Private Partnerships

33 Two Fisheries Commission staff have also been accepted to URI master’s degree programs in Marine Affairs and will start their program of Study in September. Implementation Challenges One key challenge that has arose has been delays in promoting a new smoking technology which may affect our ability to meet targets for number of MSMEs benefiting the project in Q4. The delays in finding a new smoker design are twofold: First, The Fisheries Commission Post Harvest Unit requested that an independent evaluation be conducted of the Morrison stove to ensure that fish processors like the design and to discover any possible problems and modifications needed to be considered in a scale-up. The second concerns high PAH levels Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons which are known potent carcinogens found on the fish after the high thermal smoking in the Morrison Stove. Available evidence postulates that this increased carcinogenic deposition has a potential of causing cancer when consumed over a period of time. For this reason, SFMP has embarked on a new pathway towards developing a new appropriate technology to address this challenge. The processes especially recruiting an international consultant took longer than expected. However, this process has been completed now and two stoves designs has been completed with a third one underway. It is expected these three designs will inform the direction of programming next quarter and year ME Plan and Update No changes have been made in the SFMP ME Plan and Performance targets after a revision for FY 2016 was submitted in February 2016. 3. INTEGRATION OF CROSSCUTTING ISSUES AND USAID FORWARD PRIORITIES Please see Section 2, IR5 for information on activities directly related to this issue.

3.2 Sustainability Mechanisms

In order to assure sustainability of project activities, emphasis is placed on: • Involvement of relevant government officials in procurement processes undertaken has been highly participatory with government staff involved in developing specifications for procurement. In some cases this has resulted in a longer timeframe for procurement but more buy-in and assurance that it meets the needs of the intended beneficiaries. • Capacity building and development of local stakeholders is described throughout the report and a key strategy to enhance sustainability of project outcomes.

3.3 Environmental Compliance

During this quarter, field visits were made to the Central Regional TCPD Office refurbishment site and also to Elmina where the Hen Mpoano boat construction work is taking place. The contractors for the TCPD refurbishment work and also for the boat construction were met with and taken through the Environmental Mitigation and Monitoring forms developed for those activities. A follow-up activity will be undertaken to monitor the progress of these activities in the next quarter. 34

3.4 Global Climate Change

See Section 2, IR4.5: Pra and Ankobra Resilience plans for information on climate activities

3.5 Policy and Governance support

See Section 2, IR1 which describes SFMP’s policy and governance support initiatives.

3.6 Local Capacity Development

See Section 2, IR7 for capacity development activities of government, producer, processor and CSO groups. URI conducted an internal assessment of local implementing partner financial and administrative systems in June. This review noted significant improvements in financial management, especially with the adoption of QuickBooks financial software and training provided by SFMP.

3.7 Public Private Partnerships

See Section 2, IR 6 for activities on development of public-private partnerships.

3.8 Science, Technology, and Innovation