By Trokon A. Freeman
Conservation International (CI), an acclaimed international non-governmental organization (NGO) working to protect nature around the globe, has ended a one-day validation workshop on the implementation of the Blue Oceans Program (BOP) from the public engagement perspective. The workshop took place during the weekend in Congo Town.
With funding from Swedish International Development and Cooperation Agency (SIDA), CI is providing support to the BOP in Liberia. Headed by Liberia’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in collaboration with other ministries and agencies including the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA), Liberia Maritme Authority
(LiMA), Forestry Development Agency (FDA), Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Ministry of Mines and Energy and WASH Commission, the BOP is a Liberian government project.
With focus on four thematic areas such as Marine Pollution, Climate Change, Sustainable Fisheries and the Blue Economy, the BOP promotes the sustainable management of Liberia’s coastal and marine ecosystems; working towards conservation and restoration of marine and coastal ecosystem services to alleviate poverty, protect biodiversity, and mitigate and adapt to climate change.
Because it’s effectively known to spread awareness through communication channels to a target audience to achieve a desired positive result, Conservation International has been working with media professionals from different government line ministries and agencies as well as community-based enterprises, to develop Information, Education, Communication strategy (IEC) for the implementation of the program.
Speaking at the start of the event, CI’s BOP Coordinator, Nathaniel I. Kollie said the workshop was meant to validate IEC strategies drafted by different working groups set up during a meeting with stakeholders on February 22, 2023 at the conservation NGO office in Monrovia.
With the presence of members of a Technical Working Group (principal validator), the working groups made PowerPoint presentations on different IEC methods and materials necessary for the implementation of the program. Radio and social media were highlighted among effective channels for dissemination of messages related to the BOP.
The validated IEC strategy, when finally approved by the government of Liberia and partners, is expected to be produced and used in the rollout of the BOP in coastal communities across Liberia.
The workshop brought together twenty-seven participants from across different government line ministries and agencies and community-based enterprises working to promote Blue Oceans in Liberia.
