Eight concept notes submissions have been approved in the 3rd call of proposal of the Blue Grant Fund (BGF) from SeyCCAT for small to medium grants up to SR100,000. A committee has been established to assess the submissions. The process is straightforward for the small to medium grants which upon approval of the concept note, and due diligence, disbursement follows. We take a look at the eight projects and how they are planning to make a difference in the Blue Economy landscape in Seychelles.
Blue Education: The key to equipping the youths of Seychelles with skills, knowledge and understanding to become engaged, productive and successful in investing in Seychelles Blue Future. By Nathalie Duval. The project aims to integrate various aspects of the ‘Blue Economy’ in school curriculums across secondary schools in the country by developing an activity workbook “The Blue Economy and Me”. The book will focus on past, ongoing and future research and projects especially in the area of fisheries and equip the students with skills, knowledge and understanding on the topic.
Citizen’s Guide to Climate Change booklet . By SUSTAINABILITY FOR SEYCHELLES (S4S) . It is always a good time to improve access of information about climate change to the general public and this is exactly what this project aims to do by printing and disseminating English and Creole versions of A Citizen’s Guide to Climate Change booklet. Copies of the booklet, which was developed and funded under a separate grant, has ran out and Sustainability 4 Seychelles and their partners need more copies for their climate change education and outreach programs. The booklet looks at climate change impacts and appropriate action in Seychelles in order to build resilience.
SeyCCat Route to Market Survey . By Active Group. The gap in market intelligence in the fisheries sector is what this project aims to bridge by conducting surveys amongst artisanal fishermen, food business owners and consumers. The data collected will be valuable to fisheries stakeholders right through to investors in terms of better-informed decisions with regards to what species need more protection and which value-added products can be invested in by SMEs.
Caiman Project. By Allen Boniface. Rubiaceae – latin name for ‘mangliye’ is a plant which has several benefits to coastal areas, reefs and the general eco-system. Patches of ‘mangliye’ within the Caiman region have been facing threats due to man-made interferences such as construction and pollution. This project wants to bring light to this situation through a documentary which will sensitise inhabitants of the region on the importance of ‘mangliye’, why it needs to be protected and how shifts in certain behavior can help sustain its population.
Blue Economy Internship Programme (BEIP) – 4th Edition. By SYAH-Seychelles. BIEP aims to improve the knowledge of Seychellois youth on the opportunities offered by the Blue Economy and inspire them to pursue careers in the field, through the on-the-job experience provided host organisations which support the BIEP’s objectives. Three editions of this programme have been successfully ran, with increased participation each time. This project is calling for funding for the fourth edition. The programme enables Seychellois youth aged between 15-30 years old to undertake a two-week internship in different local organizations that fall within the Blue Economy sector. It essentially advances the capacity building of Seychellois within the sector, enhances public awareness and contributes to the 2030 prioritized agenda for action and investment in the ‘Blue Economy Strategic Roadmap’.
River mapping and monitoring and mangrove habitat mapping project for the sustainable development of Praslin island. By Department of Energy and Climate Change. Economic prosperity of the country v/s its environmental sustainability; a battle that is not always black and white. An anticipated increase in the coming years in coastline development has raised concerns regarding threats such as poor planning practices when it comes to integrating water bodies with development. This project hopes to redress these issues by purchasing a detailed satellite imagery map of the island of Praslin to enable GIS officers to map out water bodies, including river dynamics, and mangrove species with greater accuracy.
Seaweeds: A Hidden Resource – a Recycling Project of Waste. By Women in Action and Solidarity Organisation (WASO). This project focuses on collecting seaweed from local beaches and converting them into compost for home gardens – in other words, clean up and re-use! Home organic waste is, most of the time, insufficient for providing the necessary compost for gardens of certain sizes. Seaweed compost can complement such cases as well as provide all the compost needs to gardens in general.
Sustainable Coastal Protection and Management. By Anse Etoile Primary School. We only hold the Earth on trust for future generations. This project enables children and teachers to participate in helping with the rehabilitation of the heavily eroded coast at the North East Point Beach. Rather than relying on textbooks from abroad and children learning about habitats they are unfamiliar with, this project enables teachers to develop relevant and relatable lesson plans and enable children to learn on the field and partake in the management of the area.