introduction

SRFC member states negotiate and sign fisheries agreements with international partners, governments and private entities, through which they grant foreign partners access to the fishery resources of their Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ). However, many of these countries are afflicted by major shortcomings in their respective capacities to negotiate good agreements, which is mostly related to urgent needs for foreign exchange and limited limited organisational and technical capacities. Their need for foreign currency weakens their negotiating position as owners of much coveted fisheries resources. This weaknesses is exacerbated by a lack of scientific and technical collaboration between the seven countries of the sub region.

In light of this situation, the SRFC, with the support of the WWF and other PRCM partners (Regional Conservation Program for the Coastalal and Marine Zone of West Africa) set up a project to strenngthen the negotiation capacity of SRFC member countries. Designed to run for three years, this project aims at enhancing the capacity of SRFC member States in negotiating more equitable and sustainable fishing agreements.

The work program of the project was developed in consultation with SRFC members, during a workshop held in Saly Portudal, Senegal, from 20th to 22nd June 2005, under the aegis of the SRFC. Member countries were represented through high-ranking officials from the respective fisheries administrations.

choice of priorities and development of the work plan

Following the closure of the workshop, and based on the deliberations of the working groups, the team of experts met with the Marine Program Officer to develop a detailed work plan. Given the duration of the project, the available financial resources and the need to reduce the number of specific objectives to a manageable number, the team proceeded to a second priority ranking of the nine identified key issues.

Based on the cumulated ranks of four individual classifications, five issues were initially selected. Following a discussion, two of these were regrouped, so that four specific objectives were eventually selected for the draft program proposal, as follows:

Specific Objective 1 – Negotiation Training Program.
Specific Objective 2 – Capacity building in multidisciplinary monitoring and evaluation, allowing for optimum fisheries agreements evolution.
Specific Objective 3 – Strengthened institutional capacity to anticipate and respond to WTO rule changes and related aspects at the global level.
Specific Objective 4 – Financial Dependence.

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project news about us work plan resources links documents fisheries agreements license register infractions register site contacts webmail login: password: log in	work plan The key reference document of the project, containing the work plan, in PDF version: Proposition de Plan de Travail - Projet sur le Renforcement des Capacités de Négociation des Accords de Pêche dans les Etats Membres de la CSRP (2005- French) 266 KB Proposta de Plano de Trabalho - Projecto sobre o Reforço das Capacidades de Negociação dos Acordos de Pesca dentro dos Estados Membros da CSRP (2005- other) 264 KB Work Plan Proposal - Capacity Building Project for Negotiating Fisheries Agreements in SRFC Member States (2005- English) 267 KB introduction SRFC member states negotiate and sign fisheries agreements with international partners, governments and private entities, through which they grant foreign partners access to the fishery resources of their Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ). However, many of these countries are afflicted by major shortcomings in their respective capacities to negotiate good agreements, which is mostly related to urgent needs for foreign exchange and limited limited organisational and technical capacities. Their need for foreign currency weakens their negotiating position as owners of much coveted fisheries resources. This weaknesses is exacerbated by a lack of scientific and technical collaboration between the seven countries of the sub region. In light of this situation, the SRFC, with the support of the WWF and other PRCM partners (Regional Conservation Program for the Coastalal and Marine Zone of West Africa) set up a project to strenngthen the negotiation capacity of SRFC member countries. Designed to run for three years, this project aims at enhancing the capacity of SRFC member States in negotiating more equitable and sustainable fishing agreements. The work program of the project was developed in consultation with SRFC members, during a workshop held in Saly Portudal, Senegal, from 20th to 22nd June 2005, under the aegis of the SRFC. Member countries were represented through high-ranking officials from the respective fisheries administrations. choice of priorities and development of the work plan Following the closure of the workshop, and based on the deliberations of the working groups, the team of experts met with the Marine Program Officer to develop a detailed work plan. Given the duration of the project, the available financial resources and the need to reduce the number of specific objectives to a manageable number, the team proceeded to a second priority ranking of the nine identified key issues. Based on the cumulated ranks of four individual classifications, five issues were initially selected. Following a discussion, two of these were regrouped, so that four specific objectives were eventually selected for the draft program proposal, as follows: Specific Objective 1 – Negotiation Training Program. Specific Objective 2 – Capacity building in multidisciplinary monitoring and evaluation, allowing for optimum fisheries agreements evolution. Specific Objective 3 – Strengthened institutional capacity to anticipate and respond to WTO rule changes and related aspects at the global level. Specific Objective 4 – Financial Dependence.
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