.png)
Leadership and Governance
Beach Management Units (BMUs) are the lowest-level fisheries management institutions, composed of communities that co-manage marine resources with the government. COMRED has been working with the BMU leaders to improve their capacity in the governance of marine resources while encouraging trust in its leadership, accountability and transparency.
Co-management plan
COMRED in partnership with Blue Ventures has trained and mentored over 255 BMU executive committee members from 15 BMUs:
Shimoni, Mkwiro, Wasini, Kibuyuni, Majoreni, Jimbo, Vanga, Mwandamu, Munje, Mkunguni, Mwaembe, Funzi and Bodo in Kwale County: Roka and Wesa in Kilifi County. The training and mentorship focus on roles and responsibilities, financial management, leadership skills, bookkeeping, and BMU by-laws. This co-management plan can serve as the blueprint for developing more inclusive community-led conservation areas across the Kenyan coast.
Since 2021, 225 leaders from 15 Beach Management Units in Kwale and Kilifi counties have been trained and mentored on leadership skills, roles and responsibilities, financial management, bookkeeping and fisheries management.
Our Expansion
The training has been expanded to seven new community groups
- Six BMUs from Kwale (Munje, Mwandamu, Bodo, Funzi, Mwaembe, Mkunguni);
- 7 from Shimoni-Vanga seascape (Shimoni, Mkwiro, Wasini, Vanga, Jimbo, Majoreni, Kibuyuni);
- Two from Kilifi County (Roka, and Wesa);
- And one Community Forest Association (RACOFA) in Kwale County.
Development of a guide on Effective Community Capacity Building and Mentoring for Coastal and Marine Resource Governance
The Impact
The Impact
- 805 BMU members from 15 BMUs reached in awareness campaigns.
- 400 community leaders capacity built in governance and management of marine resources.
- BMU leaders improving their understanding of their roles and responsibilities, as well as their confidence and communication skills
- Enhanced teamwork and unity
- 9 BMUs benefited in 2022-2023 from improved planning, such as endorsing of work plans and budgets
- Improved record-keeping and the presentation of financial reports during executive committee and assembly meetings, which has resulted in improved trust, transparency and accountability
- 11 regional and national community learning visits facilitated in 3 years
- Development of a guide on Effective Community Capacity Building and Mentoring for Coastal and Marine Resource Governance
126,771 Ha
"The leadership and governance training have made me a better leader. I now have a better understanding of my roles, I have gotten better at financial bookkeeping and I have become very confident."
"The leadership and governance training have made me a better leader. I now have a better understanding of my roles, I have gotten better at financial bookkeeping and I have become very confident."
Stay updated
Our annual newsletter highlights our program impacts and updates on livelihood and conservation activities and milestones.
