 The Omali Vida Nón project is recruiting a Graphic Designer to provide graphic design services for the creation of Marine Protected Areas in São Tomé and Príncipe.
BACKGROUND São Tomé and Príncipe faces a number of challenges related to overfishing and the widespread degradation of marine habitats. Rapid population growth has increased pressure on these habitats and their marine resources, resulting in the use of non-selective and destructive fishing techniques to maximise fish catches and meet the growing demand of the domestic market. With the overall objective of protecting and securing marine biodiversity, fisheries sustainability and the livelihoods of families’ dependent on marine resources in São Tomé and Príncipe, the project "Establishing a network of marine protected areas in São Tomé and Príncipe through a co-management approach" started in 2018. Funded by the Blue Action Fund and Arcadia, and implemented by Fauna & Flora International (FFI), in consortium with Fundação Príncipe (FP), Oikos-Cooperação e Desenvolvimento, and Marapa, this project has been contributing to the creation of the first National Network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in the country, through an extended participatory process. OBJECTIVE OF PROVISION OF SERVICE To develop the brand identity of the Marine Protected Areas Network of São Tomé and Príncipe and the design of communication materials with the aim of publicising the existence of these areas, the legislation in force, the surveillance and management measures, to contribute to the development of a collective awareness and knowledge about the importance of these areas, and to encourage a feeling of ownership, participation and cooperation, by the local population, especially of the communities adjacent to the MPAs. REQUIREMENTS AND SKILLS Essential
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 It is with great pride that after 5 weeks, we come to the end of the 100-hour training in Business Planning and Management given to fishermen, fish traders and their children by the #OmaliVidaNón project.
Fifty-six trainees successfully completed this training, with 55 submitting a total of 39 small business proposals, of which 32 were individual proposals and 7 were group proposals. A total of 16 proposals were approved to be supported by the #OmaliVidaNón project, which will support their implementation and monitor their development, contributing to the diversification of the livelihoods of fishing communities. Criteria such as environmental sustainability, technical and financial viability, social impact, among others, were used by the 9-member multi-sectoral jury team to select the winning proposals. Congratulations to all the trainees and a big thank you to all the members of the jury for making themselves available to evaluate all the proposals presented!  The #Omalividanón project has a new documentary available that provides an overview of the Marine Protected Areas creation process in São Tomé and Príncipe.
Watch it here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewQhoaQgtUQ  The Omali Vida Nón team took part in the 2022 UN Ocean Conference held in Lisbon last week and was able to attend the President of the Autonomous Region of Príncipe's commitment announcement on the creation of the six marine protected areas, showcasing the fantastic results we have achieved on the island with the #OmaliVidaNón project. Thank you to everyone who has contributed to these results so far!
Congratulations to Príncipe, that once again demonstrates it is in the lead of environmental conservation and protection of our oceans. #unoceanconference2022 #unoc2022 #SaveOurOcean  The project Omali Vida Nón / Kike da Mungu together with its partners, the Regional Secretariat of Environment, Regional Department of Fisheries, Directorate of Fisheries and representatives of fishing communities of the islands of São Tomé and Príncipe, participated in an exchange trip with Maio Biodiversity Foundation this past May, on Maio island in Cape Verde. This exchange trip aimed to share experiences and knowledge on the establishment of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs).
The various participants had the opportunity to learn about the MPAs of Maio Island, the process that led to their establishment and the processes, rules and practices that operationalize their surveillance and management. Among these practices, and with whom the participants had the opportunity to engage, are the “Núcleo de Fiscalização Conjunta” (Joint Surveillance Unit), composed of the main authorities and institutions of Maio, and whose aim is to join forces and resources to combat illegal activities on the island; and the project “Guardiões do Mar” (Guardians of the Sea) implemented by Maio Biodiversity Foundation, which works with a group of volunteer fishermen who monitor their fishing areas for illegal fishing activities and presence of marine megafauna. The projects Homestay, led by female heads of households on the island of Maio and which aims to promote the well-being of communities and generate income by hosting tourists and volunteers in their homes who preserve local biodiversity and protected areas; and EcoGuias which supports local youths in developing ecotourism activities to promote sustainable, environmental and environmentally friendly tourism, are two more projects that together with the above-mentioned ones, show the diversity of strategies that can be used in the management, supervision, monitoring and economic valorisation of MPAs. The exchange allowed participants to gain a new range of knowledge and experience that will be shared with the other stakeholders of the project and used in the current process of implementation of Marine Protected Areas in the islands of São Tomé and Príncipe.  The handmade soap of Abade’s fishing community from Príncipe Island, through the project Omali Vida Nón, has been increasingly gaining the space in our local market, thus supporting the sustainability of our environment.
 Once again, the Omali vida Nón project met with the Technical Working Group comprised of fishermen and palaiês together with government entities, to work in more detail on the delimitation of the MPAs designated at the 2nd co-management assembly in Príncipe.
 We are proud to see our Omali Vida Nón project highlighted in the Blue Action Fund's Impact Report as we work with local communities, government and partners Fauna & Flora International, Oikos- Cooperation and Development and Marapa to create a network of co-managed Marine Protected Areas in São Tomé and Príncipe. See our and other inspiring stories about protecting the oceans and contributing to improving the livelihoods of coastal communities through link: http://omaliprincipe.weebly.com/uploads/2/5/6/2/25623460/impact-report_5-years-of-blue-action.pdf
Last September, the Omali Vida Nón / Kike of Mungu projects carried out the mid-term socio-economic monitoring of the project. For this purpose, 2378 people were interviewed in 37 fishing communities (15 in Príncipe and 22 in São Tomé), to assess the impacts of the project on the communities and assess the marine conservation perceptions evolution, especially the importance of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs).
In Príncipe there has been a considerable improvement in attitudes towards marine conservation (97% in 2021 vs 61% in 2019). Regarding the creation of MPAs, support is widespread in Príncipe (97%) and also high in São Tomé (82%). omaliprincipeen.weebly.com/uploads/2/5/6/2/25623460/socio-economic_monitoring_2021.pdf  In the community of Praia Abade there is a committee of local fishermen and palaiês that produces handmade soap.
This committee has its origins in the intervention of the Omali Vida Nón project in the fishing communities with which it has been working. This group of fishermen and palaiês participated in a community ideas competition, which aims to promote sustainable income alternatives in fishing communities, with the proposal of producing handmade coconut soap. The support they have received (training and materials) has enabled them to produce handmade soap made from coconut oil, which has many benefits for our skin and body. The project continues to support the group, which has allowed them to continue producing soap and making it available to the local population. This soap is available for sale at Bela Casa, Lusocash, and Mr. Hipólito's shop, all located in the city of Santo António. |
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