 The Benguela Current Large Marine Ecosystem (BCLME) Programme that unites the coastal regions of South Africa, Namibia and Angola has recently come to the end of its funding stages. The Programme has seen many successes in advancing the scientific knowledge and management of the region and its resources. It is now the Benguela Current Commission (BCC), which was created during the BCLME phase, that acts as advisory bodies to the three countries governments. It is envisioned that the BCC will strengthen regional cooperation on regulatory, institutional, decision-making and scientific aspects relating to the Benguela region and that its decisions and results will trickle down to the coastal populations, the fishers, diamond miners, tourist operators, and everybody that uses our rich coast.
As DLIST-Benguela is still firmly rooted in the region, the DLIST/BCC partnership is a rather important one as part of DLIST-Benguela’s role is to capture, transfer, and disseminate information on BCLME related activities to the communities, public and stakeholders in the region and beyond. It is in keeping with the two way flow of information that DLIST encourages, that we have conducted interviews key BCC representatives to find out more about the exciting initiatives, activities and challenges for the year ahead. We spoke to Kevin Stephanus the BCC’s training and capacity building officer and data and information manager Zukile Hutu.
Kevin Stephanus – Training and Capacity Building Officer
DLIST BCLME: What does your role as a Regional Training and Capacity Building (TCB) officer for BCC entail?
Kevin: One of my roles is to develop, implement and evaluate BCC TCB program which focuses on an entire spectrum of capacity development and enhancement activities from in-service training, exchange of research staff, student attachments, exchange, and mentorship right up to graduate training in order to fulfil the mandate of the BCC. Another role is to assist in establishing regional and international collaboration with research and academic institutes through joint research and training programs aimed at supporting the implementation of ecosystems approach to fisheries management and ocean governance. Third is to monitor implementation of capacity building activities within projects contracted out under the BCC science plan.
DLIST BCLME: What and how many training session did you deliver in different countries?
Kevin: 5 training sessions in Data Management using MS Access were delivered of which two sessions were delivered each in Angola and South Africa, while one was delivered in Namibia. A total of 78 young scientists and technicians from the three National Fisheries Research Institutes benefitted from this intervention. Local service providers or trainers were contracted to carry out training on behalf of the BCC.
DLIST BCLME: What is your approach and activities in the different countries, in particular Angola?
Kevin: Stakeholder engagement is the key approach we use in the implementation of the BCC short course training program. First, we re-prioritised regional training needs and developed short courses identified as regional priority for implementation via a process of stakeholder consultation conducted in each of the BCLME member states. This approach was necessary to entrench ownership of the training program mainly within the national fisheries research institutes and to secure legitimacy. It is worth noting that we really enjoy profound support from all countries because they are part and parcel of the process and that in turn makes implementation much easier. Our BCC National Coordinators attached to the National Fisheries Research Institutes make invaluable contribution to the successes we achieved so far in the implementation of the BCC training program. We have also established of partnerships with international research and academic institutes.
DLIST BCLME: What do you plan to achieve in 2010?
Kevin: Amongst other things, we would like to set up a regional Training Advisory Group, and develop a training calendar in consultation with BCC projects to realise synergies and avoid duplication. It is envisaged that five regional and one national training workshop in the areas of stock assessment, phytoplankton taxonomy, fish taxonomy, hydro acoustics, fish ageing and time series analysis will be implemented. Furthermore, we plan to perform impact evaluation of training activities concluded during 2009. TBC will develop partnership establishment strategy together with SAP IMP and formalise existing partnerships with research and academic institutions. We are hoping to establish training consultative working group with African sister LMEs.
DLIST BCLME: Do you foresee any challenges?
Kevin: No major challenges that would impede implementation are foreseen at this stage assuming the availability of adequate funding and personnel to attend training events.
Kevin’s message to the BCLME stakeholders as far as training and capacity building is concerned
"BCC will continue to rely on your cordial support to implement the training and capacity building activities for 2010. In order to fully implement the BCC TCB Program, additional resources will be needed and I kindly urge all stakeholders to provide us with details of “people of good will” who are willing and interested in offering technical and material support to the our ambitious training program which is aimed at supporting the implementation of EAF (ecosystem approach to fisheries)management in the Benguela region. "
Zukile Hutu – Data and Information Manager
DLIST BCLME: What does your role as information and data manager for BCC entail?
Zukile: My position is two fold - internally I am responsible for Information Technology e.g. sourcing the right IT equipment, and regionally the focus is to ensure that data generated by the countries (Angola, Namibia and South Africa) is shared. Furthermore, this role is to ensure that there are functional national and regional data policies, as well as functional data and information management systems and procedures.
DLIST BCLME: How do you acquire data from the different countries, and what is the working relationship with the different countries?
Zukile: I have done an audit study thus far to identify existing data within the institutions. A lot of data exists, but it is decentralised, but we have formed a working group that will assist in getting the data from the institutions with guidelines from the regional data policy. We are working on getting the regional systems up and running and currently the upgrading and renovation of SEIS is ongoing. By 2013, we hope to finish the development of regional portal that will be driven by BCC database system. The database system will have functionalities that will include GIS, Marine Atlas, connections to other global data providers, etc.
DLIST BCLME: What do you plan to achieve in 2010?
Zukile: We would like to have the data and information policy up and running. The data and information policy will cover aspects such as generation, collection, storing, archiving and analysis of data and information. It will also help protect the institutions that are funders of the information generated (e.g. BCC secretariat, MCM, INIP). It is envisaged that the regional metadata system will be done by April/May, and the SEIS will be operational by the end of 2010.
DLIST BCLME: Do you foresee any challenges?
Zukile: At the moment the information is mainly distributed among scientists, and this may prove difficult to acquire, especially when people/scientists would like to do journal publications first.
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