Ongoing Project: Community Empowerment for Conservation of Marine Biodiversity

The essence of devolution was among others to promote social and economic development and the provision of proximate, easily accessible services throughout Kenya, to recognize the right of communities to manage their own affairs and to further their development, to protect and promote the interests and rights of minorities and marginalized communities in order to promote democratic and accountable exercise of power.

This has however not been the case as counties have witnessed devolution in corruption, impunity, and implementation of misplaced priorities resulting in the destruction of marine biodiversity. For example, the mushrooming of slums inside mangrove-protected areas, dumping sites that have encroached on the sea created by the counties and failure to take the necessary measures to ensure that garbage does not litter the sea and rampant indiscriminate cutting of mangroves are just but a few pointers that indicate confusion in the whole area of biodiversity.

This project has the following objectives:

1. To enhance the public’s participation in the formulation of better policies that empower them to sustainably manage marine biodiversity as their source of livelihood. 
2. To facilitate the process of identification and formulation of policies and legislations that promote sustainable management of biodiversity.
3.   To empower community members on alternative livelihood options that promote sustainable use of marine resources.

To achieve the above the project is being implemented together with the county governments as well as the community members in the way to achieve the key result areas.