Civil societies and networks' engagement generating empowered communities with stronger voices

Empowering communities in resources management and conservation has now become a trend. However, due to remoteness and isolation, the majority of those communities have limited opportunities to communicate and share with each... [ view full abstract ]

Empowering communities in resources management and conservation has now become a trend. However, due to remoteness and isolation, the majority of those communities have limited opportunities to communicate and share with each other. Not only are they facing different challenges and external pressures, but they also barely get their voices heard. Nowadays, the effectiveness of community networks, as both a tool to bring together a community and a stronger civil society, is emerging as an important agent of change. Networks give space for community leaders to engage in a sound forum and discuss their ideas as well as successful models through peer-to-peer learning. Together as a whole then, their voice gets amplified, and thus they become stronger as an empowered network.

Acting as the coordinator of one of Africa’s largest and most active civil society networks called MIHARI Network, which advocates for the fundamental human rights of small-scale fishing communities, we would like to leverage the power of a speed-dating or a community gathering in order to:

• Understand the challenges encountered by communities in resources management and conservation
• Identify the existing international civil societies that can support communities and community networks
• Evaluate how different stakeholders (networks, consortiums, civil societies, NGOs, government, private sectors, etc.) can support community initiatives

MIHARI is a network that brings together the vulnerable coastal communities of Madagascar and helps them manage their marine resources and take their future in their own hands. Established in 2012 to exchange learning and experiences across Madagascar’s growing movement of communities developing local marine and fisheries management initiatives, MIHARI now represents over 150 sites, collectively covering over 14% of the island’s inshore seabed. The core network activity lies in exchange learning and experiences across Madagascar’s growing movement of communities developing marine and fisheries management initiatives through the organization of exchange visits and forums. Fisher exchanges are a powerful tool in the spread of fisheries management practices and governance while forums and exchanges build leadership and engagement in management efforts. Any civil  societies and networks/ consortiums that are interested in supporting  in the preparation of this event are invited to send an email to vatosoa@mihari-network.org.