Water Pollution Control and Biodiversity Conservation in the Gulf of Guinea Large Marine Ecosystem
Project / Programme Summary

1. Objectives
   • Strengthen regional institutional capacities to prevent and remedy pollution of the Gulf of Guinea LME and associated degradation of critical habitats.
   • Develop an integrated information management and decision-making support system for environmental management.
   • Establish a comprehensive programme for monitoring and assessment of the health of the Gulf of Guinea Large Marine Ecosystem.
   • Prevent and control land-based source of industrial and urban pollution.
   • Develop national and regional strategies and policies for the long-term management and protection of the Gulf of Guinea Large Marine Ecosystem (GOGLME).
2. Activities / contents

   Output 1:

   A regional network of scientific and regulatory institutions with appropriately trained personnel and adequately equipped for long term monitoring, assessment and management of the health and living resources (including the conservation of biodiversity) of the GOGLME.

   Output 2:

   To create robust GIS-based regional and national data bases (centers), as decision making support systems, including versatile managers version, for marine environmental and living resources management.

   Output 3:

   An integrated, comprehensive and long term programme of ecosystem pollution monitoring and marine living resources surveys implemented by appropriate institutions for the assessment and improvement of the state of health of the GOGLME and the conservation of its biological diversity.

   Output 4:

   An overall action plan and adequate infrastructure (including the definition of environmental quality standards and enforcement procedures, elaboration of incentive programmes for pollution reduction, adoption of pollution free technologies and appropriate process modifications of existing industries) for effective urban and industrial waste management and control.

   Output 5:

   National Integrated Coastal Areas Management Plans and a set of regional policies and strategies (possible including Conventions and Protocols) for the long term management and protection (including conservation of biological diversity) of the GOGLME and sustainable exploitation of its living resources including financial mechanism for sustaining long term monitoring activities and management actions.

3. Expected outcomes / impacts
   
   A comprehensive, regional and cross-sectoral approach has been instituted with active scientific, technical and social networks to address identified common (transboundary) problems in shared waters (and resources) of the Gulf of Guinea. National Integrated plans aimed at the rational management of the coastal and marine environment in the GOGLME region have been debated at National Workshops and are nearing adoption by various governments. Innovate methods of controlling urban and industrial wastes are being adopted and GIS based decision making support systems are being institutionalized. The Project is firmly entrenched with a solid capacity building programme and the enthusiastic support and participation of stakeholder countries. The project implementation is at an adequate level to ensure the timely and fruitful achievement of the defined objectives.
4. Features in line with the Agenda for Action
   
   I.) Serving as a model: The project serves as a model for other partners and African countries because it is the only on-going large scale project in Africa within the framework of International Waters operational activities of GEF.
   
   II.) Availability of resources: The project with the current budget of USD 5.9 M will be complemented in April 1999. Application for PDF Block B grant has been made. Approval target date is October 1998. The Ministerial Committee of the project also formally requested the 2nd Phase project with a budget of USD 20M. It should also be noted that the 2nd Phase will be covering 16 countries of the Gulf of Guinea sub-region.
   
   III.) Extensive Geographical Impact: The ongoing 1st Phase of the project is implemented in 6 countries namely Benin, Cameroon, Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria and Togo. The 2nd Phase would be extended for all 16 countries bordering the Gulf of Guinea from Guinea Bissau to Angola.
   
   IV.) African ownership respected: The project is guided by the National Steering Committees consisting of stakeholders and the Regional Steering Committee. The highest decision-making entity of the project is the Ministerial committee. All participating countries have included the financing of project related activities in their respective national budgets. GEF is financing only those activities related to transboundary issues. It should be noted that except one international consultant, all human resources supporting the project, inclusive the Regional Coordinator, are coming from the region. The African ownership can further be demonstrated by the fact that all countries started community-based mangrove reforestation programmes and protection of their coastlines against coastal erosion.

Mr. Zoltan Csizer
Director
Cleaner Production and Environmental Management Branch
Sectoral Support and Environmental Sustainability Division
United Nations Industrial Development Organization
Vienna International Centre
P.O. Box 300
A-1400 Vienna, Austria
Phone: +43-1-21131 3895
Fax: +43-1-21131 6819/21346 3895
E: mail: zcsizer@unido.org

and

Mr. Michael Moore
Senior Technical Adviser on Water Management
Cleaner Production and Environmental Management Branch
Sectoral Support and Environmental Sustainability Division
United Nations Industrial Development Organization
Vienna International Centre
P.O. Box 300
A-1400 Vienna, Austria
Phone: +43-1-21131 3363
Fax: +43-1-21131 6819
E:mail: mmoore@unido.org