The Gender-Responsive Conservation Project

The Gender-Responsive Conservation: Integrating GBV Considerations into the Proposed Marine Protected Area of the Greater Cape Three Points Area, Ghana project is an innovative initiative that brings together environmental protection and social justice to ensure that marine conservation is inclusive, safe, and equitable for all. The project is implemented by CEWEFIA in partnership with Hen Mpoano, with funding from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) under the RISE Grants Challenge. It runs until 28th February 2027, subject to the availability of donor funds.
This project recognizes that conservation efforts are most effective when they address the social realities of the communities that depend on marine resources. In coastal areas, women, youth, and vulnerable groups often face gender-based violence (GBV), inequality, and limited participation in decision-making processes. By integrating GBV considerations into the design and implementation of the proposed Marine Protected Area (MPA) for the Greater Cape Three Points Area, the project ensures that marine conservation promotes dignity, safety, and equal opportunity alongside environmental sustainability.
The project seeks to strengthen community awareness and response systems around GBV and Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment (SEAH), while building the capacity of stakeholders to adopt gender-responsive approaches to conservation. It supports inclusive community engagement, meaningful participation of women and marginalized groups, and the development of social safeguards that protect vulnerable populations within conservation frameworks.
A core focus of the project is to ensure that the proposed MPA does not only protect marine biodiversity but also contributes to safer and more resilient coastal communities. Through sensitization programmes, stakeholder dialogues, and capacity-building activities, CEWEFIA and Hen Mpoano are promoting a conservation model that recognizes human rights as fundamental to environmental protection.
The project also aligns with IUCN’s Environmental and Social Management System (ESMS), ensuring that all interventions are screened for potential social and environmental risks and that appropriate mitigation measures are applied. This includes stakeholder engagement, transparency, grievance redress mechanisms, and adherence to international standards on gender equality and protection from harm.
Through this initiative, CEWEFIA continues to advance its commitment to gender equity, community empowerment, and sustainable fisheries governance. The project contributes to the creation of a Marine Protected Area that is not only ecologically effective but also socially responsible—where conservation strengthens community wellbeing, promotes justice, and safeguards the rights and dignity of all people, especially women and vulnerable groups.