FiTI International Secretariat conducts country mission to São Tomé and Príncipe to advance FiTI implementation process

From 5 to 13 March, 2022, the FiTI International Secretariat conducted a mission to the island nation in collaboration with its national implementation partner – the non-governmental organisation MARAPA – to inform and sensitize national authorities, professionals and civil society representatives regarding the sign-up-steps and the transparency requirements of the FiTI Standard, as well as to clarify aspects regarding the country’s ongoing TAKING STOCK assessment.

The mission provided an opportunity to meet and exchange with stakeholders from the country’s government, business and civil society as well as donors interested in enhancing fisheries transparency. This included working sessions with the national authorities and officials of the following national institutions (i.e. Ministry in charge of Fisheries, Directorate of Fisheries, Harbour Master’s Office, Maritime and Ports Institute, National Statistics Institute, Institute of Innovation and Knowledge) as well as fishers’ organisations (e.g. Associacao Pescador de Neves and Associação des Palaêis sobre Transformacar do Pescado).

Discussions were also conducted with World Bank representatives regarding the West Africa Coastal Areas Management Program (WACA) as well as the African Development Bank and Oceans 5.

Furthermore, possible synergies were discussed with the National Coordinator of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) for São Tomé and Príncipe.