The Western Indian Ocean Marine Protected Areas Professionals Network (WIOMPAN) recently concluded its Mentorship Workshop in Cape Town, South Africa. This event marked a significant step forward in the region’s efforts to enhance the effectiveness of marine conservation areas.
In November 2023, leaders from nine nations bordering the Western Indian Ocean gathered in Dar es Salaam for the first-ever Regional WIOMPAN meeting. Their goal? To tackle challenges facing Marine Protected Area (MPA) management. This included defining management effectiveness, identifying improvement needs, and brainstorming solutions.
One standout recommendation from the meeting was the establishment of mentorship programs. These programs, including training for trainers, were proposed to address the pressing need for enhanced staff capacity. Fast forward to February 2024, and the Mentorship Workshop became the next phase of this initiative.
With support from the Office Français de la Biodiversité, Expertise France, and other key partners, the workshop brought together 17 mentors from Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, South Africa, and Tanzania. These mentors represented a diverse range of backgrounds, including government, NGOs, consultants, and research institutes.
The workshop’s objectives were clear:
- Build a register of competences and expertise for easy access by site managers.
- Co-define the work modalities of the mentorship pool.
- Co-develop a database of existing resources in the region and globally.
By anchoring skills and competencies to the WIOCOMPAS certification program, developed by WIOMSA and the University of Rhodes Island, the workshop identified approximately 89 skills essential for effective marine conservation management.
Furthermore, the workshop showcased existing mentorship opportunities, such as the WIOCOMPAS program, the Green List program, and the VARUNA tutorship program. These initiatives provide essential support and training for practitioners in the region.
Looking ahead, WIOMPAN outlined a comprehensive plan for its Mentorship Program. Key elements include formal agreements between mentors and mentees, mentor-mentee pairing based on expertise and needs, regular communication channels, training opportunities, and annual mentor meetings.
Integration with existing initiatives, fundraising efforts, ongoing training for mentors, and personal relationship-building were highlighted as critical strategies for success. WIOMPAN also stressed the importance of incentives to encourage mentor participation, such as financial support, recognition, and networking opportunities.
Overall, the WIOMPAN Mentorship Program aims to foster professional development and capacity building for MPA managers across the Western Indian Ocean. With clear modalities and enabling conditions in place, this initiative holds promise for enhancing marine conservation efforts in the region.
The WIOMPAN mentors will be featured on the WIOMPAN website, so watch this space for profiles on our esteemed mentors!
Download the workshop report