Year Two Summary Self-Assessment, Integrated Coastal and Fisheries Governance Initiative for the Western Region, Ghana

The program is structured into three phases, with the first phase concluding in September 2010, the second phase beginning in October 2010 and concluding in September 2012, and the third phase beginning in October 2012 and concluding in September 2013. The central objective of the ICFG Initiative is to assemble the pre-conditions for a formally constituted and decentralized coastal and fisheries governance program for Ghana's Western Region that can serve as a model for the nation. The preconditions include clearly defined goals that resonate with stakeholders, constituencies that support such goals and a plan of action to achieve them, governmental commitment expressed as a mandate, the necessary authorities and the resources to successfully implement the program, and the institutional capacity to sustain the initiative on into the future. The ICFG project has been working to define specific goals for improving coastal and fisheries governance in the coastal districts of the Western Region. A central strategy during this second phase is to build the constituencies among key stakeholders and enhance their capacity to carry forward new and more effective approaches to coastal and fisheries governance that will maintain the flow of goods and services that the people of the Western Region want and need. The program has been conducting a wide range of activities, including consultation, information gathering, and the preparation of a baseline that documents trends, current conditions, and issues as they relate to integrated coastal zone management (ICM) and governance in the Coastal Districts of the Western Region and in fisheries management and governance as they were perceived by project participants at the start of the project. The ICFG project has also been working to build the institutional capacity to sustain the initiative on into the future. This includes enhancing the capacity of local stakeholders to carry forward new and more effective approaches to coastal and fisheries governance, and building the necessary authorities and resources to successfully implement the program. The program has been using a scorecard system to assess progress and identify areas for improvement. The scorecard system includes two main components: Scorecard #1, which assesses progress through the policy cycle, and Scorecard #2, which assesses the maturity of the enabling conditions. The results of the scorecard system have been used to identify areas where the program needs to focus its efforts in order to achieve its goals. The ICFG project has also been working to build partnerships with local stakeholders, including government agencies, civil society organizations, and private sector entities. These partnerships are critical to the success of the program, as they provide the necessary support and resources to implement the program's goals and objectives. Overall, the ICFG project is making significant progress in its efforts to assemble the pre-conditions for a formally constituted and decentralized coastal and fisheries governance program for Ghana's Western Region. The program's focus on building the institutional capacity to sustain the initiative on into the future, and its use of a scorecard system to assess progress and identify areas for improvement, are key components of its success. The program's work in the Western Region has also been focused on improving the livelihoods of local communities. This includes working to improve the management of coastal and fisheries resources, and to enhance the capacity of local stakeholders to carry forward new and more effective approaches to coastal and fisheries governance. The ICFG project has also been working to build the necessary authorities and resources to successfully implement the program. This includes working with government agencies to develop policies and regulations that support the program's goals and objectives, and to provide the necessary funding and resources to implement the program. The program's work in the Western Region has also been focused on improving the management of coastal and fisheries resources. This includes working to improve the management of fish stocks, and to enhance the capacity of local stakeholders to carry forward new and more effective approaches to coastal and fisheries governance. The ICFG project has also been working to build the necessary partnerships with local stakeholders to support the program's goals and objectives. This includes working with government agencies, civil society organizations, and private sector entities to build the necessary support and resources to implement the program.