Africa Centre of Excellence in Coastal Resilience |  University of Cape Coast

Dr. Edéya Orobiyi Rodrigue Pelebe, a Postdoctoral Fellow of the Centre for Coastal Management- Africa Centre of Excellence in Coastal Resilience (ACECoR) will be working with ECO-BENIN "Benin Ecotourism Concern" in Benin for his one-month professional internship. This initiative is a component of the ACECoR's staff capacity development programme, funded by the World Bank.

ECO-BENIN is an NGO with more than 20 years of experience in the service of nature and communities. It is involved in biodiversity conservation, the application of laws and regulations, the monitoring of illegal practices and advocacy, community development, sustainable income-generating activities for women, and the sustainable use of natural resources and biodiversity for ecotourism. In particular, it has played a key role in the creation of Community Biodiversity Conservation Areas and Marine Protected Areas in Benin.

During his internship, Dr. Pelebe will be involved in activities relating to i) the planning and execution of patrols on the high seas as part of the fight against IUU fishing in Benin, ii) participatory research and conservation of mangroves and turtles, and iii) community management of Community Biodiversity Conservation Areas and Marine Protected Areas in Benin.

Field work is planned for Dr. Pelebe to diagnose emerging fisheries-related issues in key Benin coastal communities.

Dr Pelebe sees this internship as an opportunity to improve his skills in community based interventions for aquatic biodiversity conservation and an excellent way to pave the way for future collaboration and project development between ACECoR and ECO-BENIN on factual issues that will be identified. This will support our centre's efforts to increase its regional and international reach.