Empowering Blue Futures: Launch of the ReSea Project in Madagascar

Antsiranana, Madagascar, February 2024 - Today, the Regenerative Seascapes for People, Climate and Nature (ReSea) Project was launched at Hôtel de la Poste in Antsiranana, Madagascar. ReSea is a $30 million Canadian Dollar project, made possible with the support of Global Affairs Canada, 19% of which will support the Project implementation in Madagascar. ReSea is executed by Mission Inclusion and the International Union for Conservation of Nature in partnership with C-for-C, in collaboration with the Government of Madagascar.

The project aims to enhance the physical and socio-economic resilience of 275,000 people in coastal communities across Madagascar, Tanzania, Kenya, Mozambique and Comoros to the adverse effects of climate change. It focuses on strengthening the conservation of marine protected areas, implementing nature-based solutions for climate adaptation, and empowering women and youth economically in blue economy value chains. In Madagascar, the project will be implemented in the coastal communities of Antsiranana I and II where approximately 63,668 people who live in these areas will benefit directly from project interventions.

Expressing his support for the project, Minister of Fisheries and Blue Economy Mr Paubert Mahatante Tsimanaoraty stated, “Conservation has a cost. Historically, it has often been communities that bear this burden. Now, it is time to change this situation as we cannot expect a better result with the same approach. In fact, there are three priorities: participatory and effective coastal and marine management, protection and restoration of critical blue ecosystems (mangroves, corals, seagrasses) while addressing increasing pollution, and focus on the critical importance of creating blue economy opportunities for local communities. We welcome the IUCN and Mission Inclusion in Madagascar and the Diana region. I am very much looking forward to working with these organizations and their partners while implementing the ReSea project and beyond for a sustainable, just, equitable and responsible blue economy in Madagascar.”

Acknowledging the timeliness of the ReSea project, Minister of Population and Solidarity, Madam Haingo Elisette Fomendraza remarked, “This project comes at the right time because it will make it possible to strengthen not only the conservation of the environment, but also the resilience of the population, through support and support in income generating activities, through the value chains of the blue economy, of which women are the main beneficiaries.”

The Governor of the Region of Diana, Mr Rakotomanga Taciano said, “The three pillars [of the project] (Blue Nature, Blue Planet and Blue People) by RESEA within the maritime sub-spaces of our Region meet the future 2042 descriptions of the Diana Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) document. The RESEA project is an opportunity for the Diana Region, both to strengthen the governance of protected areas and to improve the livelihoods of local populations in its areas of intervention.”

ReSea brings together agents of change committed to promoting gender equality, women's rights, and social justice while restoring, sustainably managing and marine and coastal ecosystems. “At the heart of our mission is the unwavering belief that empowerment of all individuals, specifically women and youth in marginalized and vulnerable situations, is the cornerstone of progress and development. We envision a world where every individual, regardless of their background or circumstance, is not only included but empowered to thrive. Through the ReSea project, we are committed to bridging gaps and breaking social norms and barriers, ensuring that women and youth in Diego have equitable access to blue business opportunities. Together with other stakeholders, we are not just offering opportunities; we are amplifying voices and fostering agency, paving the way for a truly just and inclusive global community,” stated Mission Inclusion’s ReSea Project Director, Geneviève Morency.

IUCN ESARO’s Regional Head of Coastal and Ocean Resilience Thomas Sberna remarked, “IUCN’s commitment to coastal and ocean resilience is at the forefront of our efforts in the Western Indian Ocean Region. We are addressing critical priorities for sustainable coastal and marine ecosystems management, including climate adaptation, ecosystems conservation, livelihood sustainability, and fostering environmentally sound coastal economic development. The ReSea project, anchored within the Great Blue Wall initiative, is a testament to our collective ambition to forge a connected network of regenerative seascapes in the WIO region, countering the impacts of climate change and biodiversity losses while unleashing the vast potential of a regenerative blue economy. We commend Madagascar’s leadership in biodiversity and ocean actions and are committed to supporting its ambition and vision towards a blue future.”

ReSea seeks to ensure that conservation provides sustainable social, economic and environmental benefits for people. The project promotes socio-economic actions that contribute to the regeneration of the ocean. “We believe in women and that investing in women means investing in the bright future generations. That is why people, especially women and girls, are at the centre of our work. It is not about implementing a project and doing some activities, it is about working together with the community to create a positive impact in their life. For more than 15 years now, C-for-C has been providing economic empowerment activities for women, carrying out gender equity sensitization, and positive masculinity among men and boys. With the Resea project we will have added another avenue of intervention, to be more blue, for sustainable development,” stated local feminist partner, Capacity-building for Communities (C-for-C) Executive Director, Sariaka Nantenaina.

Over the next two years, ReSea will work directly with communities in Antsiranana I and II to implement initiatives aimed at strengthening biodiversity conservation, climate adaptation, and women's economic empowerment. Aligned with the African-led Great Blue Wall initiative, the project represents a significant investment in building the sustainability and resilience of coastal and marine ecosystems, economies, and people in the face of climate change.

About Mission Inclusion

Building on 75 years of experience, Mission Inclusion pursues Cardinal Leger’s dream of a world of fairness and dignity in which no one is left behind. Mission Inclusion works closely with community organisations in Quebec, Canada, and around the world to ensure that the basic needs of the most vulnerable and marginalized people are met. Mission Inclusion believes we must all stand together, in a spirit of generosity, to build an inclusive society that has a place for everyone.

About the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)

IUCN is a membership Union composed of both government and civil society organizations. It harnesses the experience, resources and reach of its more than 1,400 Member organizations and the input of more than 15,000 experts. IUCN is the global authority on the status of the natural world and the measures needed to safeguard it.

About C-for-C

C-For C is an NGO based in Madagascar created in 2007. The mission of C for C is to ensure capacity-building for vulnerable communities including women, girls, people with disabilities, and people victims of discrimination.

About Antsiranana

Antsiranana, the capital of the Diana Region, is a port city in northern Madagascar. Also known as Diego Suarez, the city is located in the second biggest bay in the world (after Rio de Janeiro in Brazil) and is the most pristine. It is home to both mangrove formations, bays renowned for their fishing resources and tourist attractions, and; the high seas of 200 miles for the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

Information and interview requests:

Holy Ratsimanoroarisoa

Mission Inclusion - Madagascar

hratsimanoroarisoa@missioninclusion.ca

+261342228730

Vatosoa Rakotondrazafy

International Union for Conservation of Nature – Madagascar vatosoa.rakotondrazafy@iucn.org

+261 34 20 340 23