Context
The coastal areas of the West African region face some major challenges in adapting to the changing climatic conditions. The coastal zone is responsible for a large part of the region's economic activities and changing coastal dynamics are already threatening societal and economic interests. Coastal challenges have been noted at a number of Pan-African Ministerial conferences and action has recently been taken to develop a closer regional collaboration with the establishment of the coastal coordination mechanism, the "West African Coastal Observation Mission (WACOM)". Currently, 11 West African countries are part of the mechanism, including Mauritania, Senegal, the Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo and Benin. The WACOM aims to coordinate and implement regional coastal hazard management activities to ensure a sustainable coastal development and timely adaptation to climate change.
Requested CTCN Response
• Establishment of a regional coastal classification, hazard management and standardized communication scheme utilizing the Coastal Hazard Wheel
• Assistance in liaising with international financial institutions and donor countries for subsequent implementation and scale up of management measures
Expected Results
• Informed and consistent system for managing key coastal hazards
• Improved regional coastal coordination and decision-base for national and regional adaption activities
• Continued improvements in the data system and facilitation of data exchange with scientists, international organizations and the wider global community
Check our webinar in French and in English on the methodology and the practical application of the CHW tool provided to WACOM's national antennas and Cameroon's technical counterpart.
You can also find the webinars of the regional training on the data management available in the CHW system for risk mapping and adaptation options given to the experts of the national antennas and the regional coordination unit of WACOM as well as the Technical Counterpart of Cameroon and relevant researchers in each country in French (Senegal's example) and in English (Ghana's example).
