From 5th to 7th March 2025, the Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association (WIOMSA), with support from the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) under the Ocean Country Partnership Programme, hosted the LMMA Competency Framework workshop in Antananarivo, Madagascar. The workshop brought together participants from Madagascar, Mozambique, and Kenya to strengthen local marine conservation efforts through the Local Managed Marine Areas (LMMA) initiative. This training also focused on preparing five LMMAs in Madagascar and Mozambique for site-level certification, ensuring they met the necessary standards for effective management.
Over three days, the participants received training on applying the Competency Framework at site level. Participants exchanged knowledge on LMMAs within the contexts of Madagascar and Mozambique, gaining insights into the framework’s structure, regional standards, and country-specific requirements. Through the hands-on training, participants validated the LMMA Competency Tools and received guidance on piloting these frameworks to enhance marine resource management in their respective countries. By addressing objectives such as framework comprehension, standard review, and scoring system understanding, the workshop cultivated collaboration and practical learning.