International Development Grant
Adaptation of Coastal Communities and the Blue Economy (APOCEB)
Project Number: CA-3-P007667001
Status: Closed
Country/Region:
Maximum Contribution: $7,300,000.00
Start Date: March 16, 2020
End Date: December 31, 2024
Duration: 4.8 years
Project Description
This project supports coastal communities in Cacheu Park (Guinea-Bissau) Tristao Islands (Guinea) Niumi National Park (The Gambia) and Abéné MPA (Senegal). It aims to foster sustainable economic social and environmental development improve living and health conditions and strengthen climate resilience. The project focuses on protecting or restoring mangroves and managing resources and renewable energy. It aims to enhance value chains in mariculture tourism waste management and the circular economy and promote gender equality and rights of vulnerable groups. The project also seeks to engage youth in economic governance and climate resilience. Global Affairs Canada implements this project through partnerships with local organizations including the Department of Parks and Wildlife Management (The Gambia) the Institute of Biodiversity and Protected Areas (Guinea-Bissau) the National Centre of Fisheries Sciences of Boussoura (Guinea) and the University Institute of Fisheries and Aquaculture of Dakar (Senegal). Project activities include: (1) training women to choose climate-resilient income-generating activities; (2) supporting women in collecting field data on high-potential natural resources; (3) selecting 20 youth per country as climate ambassadors to raise awareness and drive change; (4) reforesting and monitoring mangroves; (5) defining a circular economy model to create jobs address seasonal challenges and support youth education especially for girls; (6) training women in fish and aquaculture product processing; and (7) developing high-value products like oysters to meet consumer demands.
Expected Results
The expected outcomes of this project include: (1) strengthened women’s economic governance in adapting to climate change and sustainable development in the 4 countries’ targeted protected areas; and (2) strengthened the blue circular economy innovation and increased commercialization for women and young women and men in the coastal communities of The Gambia Guinea Guinea Bissau and Senegal.
Progress & Results Achieved
Results achieved at the end of the project (December 2024) include: (1) reached 20 857 direct beneficiaries including 15 100 households trained in tree planting market gardening and processing local products to boost food security and livelihoods and 5 755 individuals (3 115 women and 2 640 men) working in management positions or in processing units. The project also reached 46 886 indirect beneficiaries in the 4 targeted countries; (2) established 20 management committees (15 management committees and 5 zonal committees) to ensure the ongoing operations of the processing units in the 4 countries; (3) formalized 134 economic interest groups (21 in The Gambia 47 in Guinea 30 in Guinea-Bissau and 36 in Senegal); (4) promoted 314 women to managerial positions exceeding the target of 120 (60 young women and 60 more senior women); (5) trained 191 managers in the 10 management tools in The Gambia Guinea and Senegal. In Guinea-Bissau delays in setting up processing units postponed manager training now planned post-project using Cegep departmental funds; (6) processing units were established at all sites starting in The Gambia Guinea and Senegal where 100% of products like fruit juices and dried seafood are sold locally; (7) Launched 28 women-led micro-enterprises in areas like market gardening baking and honey production—such as village bakeries in Casamance producing bread and pastries locally; and (8) 1 118 households surveyed cited adopting responsible environmental behavior such as mangrove conservation and protection. On average climate ambassadors reached 2 people per household including 1 026 in The Gambia 1 491 in Guinea 944 in Guinea-Bissau and 685 in Senegal. Beyond promoting mangrove conservation these ambassadors played a key role in fostering broader environmental stewardship at the community level. Their efforts contributed to improved sanitation through organized clean-up campaigns the establishment of composting units and the devel
Key Information
Executing Agency:
Collège d’enseignement général et professionnel de la Gaspésie et des
Reporting Organization:
Global Affairs Canada
Program:
YFMInternaAssistPartnershp&Programing Br
Last Modified:
September 19, 2025
Development Classifications
DAC Sector:
Aid Type: Project-type interventions
Collaboration: Bilateral
Finance Type: Aid grant excluding debt reorganisation
Selection Mechanism:
Department-Initiated