We were selected among the Biodiversity and Protected Areas Management (BIOPAMA) action to take part on the Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in Territories of European Overseas Initiative (BEST) and BIOPAMA Grants Knowledge Sharing Journey at the Windsor Golf Hotel and Country Club in Nairobi (Kenya) on 02-06 May 2023. 80 participants attended this workshop including 25 IUCN staffs and 55 Grantees from Caraibes, Africa, Indian Ocean and Pacific regions.
In 2021, we received funding from BIOPAMA to support our project entitled: “Mangabe Reserve, a home for people and biodiversity benefiting each other”. As our main results, we purchased two motorbikes, we updated the management plan of Mangabe reserve and other Protected Areas we manage in Alaotra Mangoro Region for five years, we built three information centres at three villages (Mangabe, Andranomandry, and Avolo), and we improved our campsite in Andakana.
Through these results, our Regional Coordinator Voahirana Randriamamonjy who led the project was our representative and took part on this journey. This event was a great opportunity for both Madagasikara Voakajy and Voahirana to promote learning and knowledge sharing between grantees from BEST and BIOPAMA.
This journey was the perfect time to reflect on and share our grant experiences, to capitalise based on results, lessons learned and good practices identified in order to apply in future projects, and to develop networking opportunities for future partnerships and collaboration. The journey was also a great opportunity to celebrate the success of all the grantees and IUCN staff by visiting the Nairobi National Park on 05th May 2023. The end of the journey was marked by the distribution of the certificate of the grant completion awarded to 32 grantees including Madagasikara Voakajy.
We would like to present our sincere thanks to BIOPAMA for funding our project.
