Phase III – Analysis of Benefits from Coastal Resources and Mechanisms for Equitable Benefit Sharing in Selected WIO Countries – South African and Mozambican components

This three-year project set out to investigate the extent to which benefits arising from the use of coastal resources are shared amongst different stakeholders, the ways in which these benefits are distributed, and the governance arrangements enabling or constraining benefit sharing. We aimed to enhance understanding as to why benefits are distributed in the way they are, and the main blockages preventing greater equity in these arrangements. Understanding economic and power imbalances between stakeholders, and identifying strategies to more fairly distribute benefits arising from coastal resource use, provides an important avenue to reduce poverty and enhance the governance and sustainable use of natural resources amongst coastal communities in southern Africa. Three case studies were selected in both South Africa (Sokhulu and Mbonambi in KwaZulu-Natal Province and Mankosi in the Eastern Cape Province) and Mozambique (Gala in Maputo Province, and Conguiana, and Josina Machel in Inhambane Province). These case studies represent marginalised or poor communities reliant on coastal resources and incorporate state, community, NGO and/or private sector initiatives that aim to redistribute benefits. A range of sectors was investigated including forestry, fisheries, tourism, agriculture, mining and conservation. Because communities often pursue a diverse portfolio of livelihoods across sectors, we also explored interactions of benefits and losses between sectors.