NOCAMO Project Progress

The NOCAMO project has established a strong institutional base for the region’s Marine Spatial Planning (MSP), engaging countries in a cohesive vision for sustainable ocean management. A regional MSP strategy was developed in 2020-2021, and an MSP Technical Working Group (MSP TWG) was formed in July 2020. The following key activities were undertaken to support this Component: 

National Consultations and Engagement (Activity 1.1.1): Supported national consultations in Madagascar, Mozambique, Comoros, and Tanzania to align their MSP processes with regional commitments to SDG 14. The regional MSP vision and government commitments were successfully established. 

Support for Multi-Sectoral Platforms (Activity 1.1.2): Guided national multi-sectoral platforms to incorporate sustainability principles into MSP processes and ensured coherence of national approaches at the regional level. A functional MSP Working Group and partnerships framework were established, with capacity-building workshops conducted for national CSO coalitions in 2022. 

Collaboration with Regional Bodies (Activity 1.1.3): Established links with relevant regional bodies, including Regional Economic Commissions (IOC, SADC, EAC, COMESA, RFMOs). The NOCAMO project was presented at key regional forums in October and December 2023, engaging stakeholders from SADC and IOC. 

Experience Exchange with Other Regional Conventions (Activity 1.1.4): Facilitated exchanges with conventions like HELCOM and the Barcelona Convention, and other regional Integrated Ocean Management (IOM) processes. Notable meetings took place in Dar Es Salam in November 2023 and Barbados in November 2023. 

Strengthening Capacity (Activity 1.1.5): Supported the Nairobi Convention in enhancing its regional coordinating role by preparing the Terms of Reference for a technical consultant. 

To ensure well-informed decision-making, the NOCAMO project focuses on establishing knowledge resources and decision-support tools: 

Development of an Interactive Online Atlas (Activity 1.2.1): An interactive online atlas to harmonize and share data across various capitals (natural, social, economic, and governance) is under development. This atlas will enhance National Data Centers’s (NDCs) capacity to manage open data, aligning with regional commitments.  

Mapping and valuing coastal and marine goods and services of the NMC, and link with the national Natural Capital accounts and processes (Activity 1.2.2): An interactive tool, the Ocean Health Hub (OHH), was established to assess marine goods and services. The OHH is set for integration into the CHM for improved data management, with planned training and stakeholder engagement. 

Scenario Development for Future Planning (Activity 1.2.3): A set of future scenarios for the Northern Mozambique Channel (NMC) was developed between 2017-2018, involving key economic sectors, demographics, and climate change. This included participatory workshops held across several WIO countries. 

Evaluation of Scenarios for Blue Economy Potential (Activity 1.2.4): Plans to hire a consultant to assess the implications of each scenario in terms of blue economy potential and SDG-14 contributions are underway. 

A regional Framework for MSP has been developed and validated through a multi-stakeholder process: 

Assessment of Existing Management Tools (Activity 1.3.1): Completed in Madagascar (December 2021) and Tanzania (February 2022), assessing gaps and conflicts in existing spatial and temporal management tools. Initiatives in Madagascar include mapping stakeholders and maritime activities, SWOT analyses, and creating a regional maritime atlas. 

Technical Guidelines for MSP Development (Activity 1.3.2): Based on the Components of scenario assessments and future regional strategies, technical guidelines were proposed to support MSP development. The MSP Vision and Roadmap event was held in Maputo, Mozambique, in May 2023. 

Validation of the Regional MSP Strategy (Activity 1.3.3): Scheduled for 2024, focusing on integrating the regional MSP framework into national MSP/ICZM processes and securing political commitment. 

The NOCAMO project aims to enhance the policy and regulatory frameworks for oil and gas development in the Northern Mozambique Channel (NMC) region, ensuring sustainable practices are embedded in national laws. Key activities include the development of decision-support tools and policy gap analyses: 

Development of a Marine Biodiversity Atlas (Activity 2.1.1): The project has developed an online Marine Biodiversity Atlas to support decision-makers in implementing environmental and oil & gas regulations. The atlas, set to be available by June 2024, aims to facilitate compliance with SEA/Baseline/ESIA requirements and has completed a policy gap analysis related to oil & gas development. 

 National Policy Gap Analysis for Marine Infrastructure Development (Activity 2.1.2 & 2.1.3): National policy gap analyses are being conducted for the development of marine infrastructure and industry in Madagascar and Tanzania. These analyses focus on reporting and compliance with SEA/Baseline/ESIA texts for oil & gas activities, and both countries are making progress, with ongoing efforts in Tanzania. 

To protect priority biodiversity and ecosystem services in the NMC area, the NOCAMO project is developing best practice guidelines for environmental case law and MSP related to oil and gas activities. This Component focuses on identifying biodiversity components and integrating global best practices: 

Selection of Biodiversity Components for Guideline Development (Activity 2.2.1): Workshops were held in Madagascar, Mozambique (September 2023), and Tanzania (October 2023) to identify relevant biodiversity components for which guidelines should be developed. This activity resulted in a comprehensive report on the selected biodiversity components. 

Review of International Best Practices (Activity 2.2.2): A review was conducted to localize best practice guidelines for oil & gas development in the NMC region. The guidelines are being adapted to the specific context of the region. 

Development of Best Practice Guidance for Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs), Strategic Environmental Assessments (SEAs), and MSPs (Activity 2.2.3): A workshop in Maputo, Mozambique, in September 2023 focused on creating best practice guidelines to mitigate the impacts of oil and gas development on marine biodiversity. The guidelines are tailored for technicians from regulatory bodies, with an emphasis on applying the mitigation hierarchy to achieve No Net Loss (NNL) or Net Positive Impact (NPI) in the sector. The workshop report will be available soon. 

The NOCAMO project also focuses on building the capacity of various stakeholders to implement best practices and guidelines for sustainable development of the oil and gas sector: 

Training of Regulatory Agencies and Project Developers (Activity 2.3.1): In August 2022, WCS Mozambique conducted training for private sector stakeholders on the new ministerial diploma on biodiversity offsets. The training covered impacts mitigation and offsets, with a focus on Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) and managing risks according to international guidelines. 

Training for Civil Society Platforms (Activity 2.3.2): CSOs received training on the Mitigation Hierarchy and the new Ministerial Diploma on Biodiversity offsets. The event, attended by 45 participants, aimed to increase their capacity to mitigate the impact on biodiversity and ecosystem services. 

Capacity Building Workshops (Activity 2.3.3 to 2.3.4): Scheduled to begin in 2024, these activities will focus on building the capacities of government, private sector, and civil society personnel to use and implement good practice guidance for oil & gas development. National workshops will be held in Madagascar and Mozambique. 

Development of a National Roadmap for Policy Recommendations (Activity 2.3.5): A roadmap will be developed in 2024 to guide policy adoption and capacity building for oil & gas development, focusing on countries most impacted by these activities. 

 Public Outreach for Regional and Global Uptake of Best Practices (Activity 2.3.6): Awareness-raising activities targeting the public will be conducted in 2024 to improve the understanding and uptake of good practices related to marine infrastructure and industry.

The NOCAMO project aims to enhance community livelihoods and well-being by fostering a learning network that promotes best practices in community-based marine resource management across the Northern Mozambique Channel (NMC) region. The following key Components and activities are being implemented to achieve this objective: 

Component 3.1: Establishing Elements for a Community-Based Learning Network in Natural Marine Resource Management and Community Welfare 

The foundation for a community-based learning network is being put in place to enhance knowledge sharing and capacity building in sustainable marine resource management. Key activities under this Component include: 

Identifying and Mapping Effective Practice Models for Community-Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) (Activity 3.1.1): A comprehensive inventory of effective practice models for CBNRM is being compiled by various implementing partners, such as MIHARI, AMA, Sea Sense, and AIDE. This will involve assessing feasibility in NMC sites and developing criteria for selecting candidate sites. Activities will commence in early 2024, feeding into a broader analysis to scale up these practices regionally. 

Identifying Sites for Participation in Learning Networks (Activity 3.1.2): This activity involves selecting community sites characterized by community-based marine resource management practices. Targeted community sites and their resource gaps will be identified to develop tailored training materials. This activity is expected to take place in the first half of 2024. 

Developing a Support Package with Diverse Tools (Activity 3.1.3): A regional workshop will bring together learning institutions and national key actors to discuss capacity building for coastal communities across the Western Indian Ocean (WIO) region. Implementing partners, such as CORDIO, MIHARI, Sea Sense, AIDE, and AMA, have been actively conducting regional and national learning exchanges, workshops, and field visits to share best practices. 

Establishing an Online Portal and Platform for Learning Materials and Community of Practice (Activity 3.1.4): Discussions are underway to develop a user-friendly, regional platform to share Community-Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) best practices and toolkits. Options include SSF Hub and Panorama Solutions, though the focus will be on creating an accessible platform for community members, including alternative methods for sharing educational materials such as graphical designs and videos. 

Component 3.2: Activating Learning Networks to Scale Effective Practices at the Levels of Community-Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) 

The NOCAMO project also focuses on activating learning networks to scale effective practices in CBNRM across the NMC region. Key activities under this Component include: 

Establishing a Shared Vision for CBNRM Through a Theory of Change (Activity 3.2.1): A shared vision for CBNRM in the region was co-developed by WWF and CORDIO in 2022 during the WIOMSA Symposium. A Theory of Change is being finalized and will be adopted at the regional learning network workshop in 2024. Sea Sense, AIDE, AMA, and MIHARI are actively involved in establishing and strengthening learning networks in their respective regions. 

Summarizing Evidence to Support the Theory of Change (Activity 3.2.2): This activity will consolidate evidence supporting the Theory of Change, identify key assumptions, and implement a participatory Component monitoring system. Regional exchanges, workshops, and dissemination of good practices among communities are ongoing to foster understanding and documentation of successful approaches to sustainable practices. 

Identifying Promising CBNRM Models and Facilitating Learning Exchanges (Activity 3.2.3): Identification of the most promising CBNRM models will take place through a consultancy in early 2024, in collaboration with implementing partners. Learning exchanges and training sessions on sustainable fisheries management, illegal fishing practices, and other key areas are being conducted to support knowledge transfer among community members. 

Writing Case Studies (Activity 3.2.4): The documentation of case studies on successful CBNRM models and practices will be undertaken in the second half of 2024. This activity aims to provide comprehensive insights into the impact of project activities, participatory monitoring Components, and the evolution of tools and practices in the region.