4 October 2022
The KAIPTC and the Danish Government is implementing a 5-year project on Integrated Responses to Threats to Maritime Safety and Security in the Gulf of Guinea Maritime Domain in West and Central Africa (2022-2026). This 5-year project leverages on the experiences of the previous 3 -year project (2019-2021) on Enhancing regional research, capacity building and convening of stakeholders towards a safer maritime domain in the Gulf of Guinea. It seeks to provide a platform for maritime stakeholders in the GoG to better understand the maritime security landscape, deepen their collaboration and coordination and pool individual and collective resources in efforts at strengthening maritime security in the GoG. It continues along the lines of enhanced research, dialogue and capacity building from the previous project. The 5-year project, broadly focus on women and vulnerable groups in maritime security, examine connections between land and sea based crimes as well as the areas of maritime norms, frameworks and mechanisms which shapes how maritime actors coordinate responses on maritime security in the GoG. A maritime code for women is envisaged to be done and eventually taught as a module on the capacity building courses as well as in the long term domesticated in the legal texts of GoG member states.
In line with activities slated under this new 5-year project document, the KAIPTC organized a Steering Committee Meeting on 4 October 2022 to lead project implementation arrangements. This committee consisted of senior representatives from the KAIPTC and relevant partners such as ECOWAS, ECCAS, ICC in Cameroon, the Embassy of Denmark in Ghana, the ECOWAS regional maritime monitoring and observation Centres in Cote d’Ivoire and Congo (i.e. CRESMAO and CRESMAC), and UNODC. The objective of the Steering committee was to consider and approve annual proposals from the project team including commitments to set activities, narrative and financial reporting, project activities and disbursements among others.