Canadian international cooperation partners involved in the Action Climatique et Féministe de l’Afrique Ouest (ACF-AO) project carried out a field mission in Côte d’Ivoire from January 27 to 28, 2025. The mission took place in the locality of Grand-Lahou with INADES-Formation.
From January 27 to 28, 2025, Grand-Lahou welcomed a field mission from Canadian international cooperation partners Affaire Mondiale Canada (AMC), Solidarité Union Coopération (SUCO) and INADES-Formation as part of the Action Climatique et Féministe de l’Afrique Ouest (ACF-AO) project.
The delegation for this mission was made up of the ACF-AO Project Coordinator, Ms Olivia GBODO, Ms ACHI Schah Marcelle MOROH, Communications Officer at INADES-Formation, Mr Christian CHAMPIGNY, Director SUCO Canada, Mr Michel MARLEAU, Senior Climate Program Officer at AMC and Ms Carina BLEUER, Cooperation Secretary at the Canadian Embassy in Côte d’Ivoire.
The visit began with greetings to the region’s Prefect, Governor BRAHIMA Chérif, on the morning of January 28, 2025. After the introductions had been made and the context of the visit set, the Prefect expressed his gratitude for the support received by the people and recognized the usefulness of the project, which perfectly complements other projects supporting the fight against climate change in the region. He also expressed his willingness to support the project wherever possible, should the need arise.
After these exchanges, the delegation headed for the village of Braffedon, one of the project’s beneficiary villages, where it was welcomed by the heads of the fishermen’s and fishmongers’ cooperatives involved in the ACF-AO project.
The frank, warm and rich exchanges focused on the project’s achievements and benefits, the difficulties and challenges faced by the beneficiaries, their expectations, and their medium- and long-term visions and projects.
A tour of the lagoon took us to the mangrove nurseries set up to reforest eroded lagoon banks, and a visit to a reforested mangrove area. Extensive discussions were held with nursery managers to understand how nurseries are set up and monitored.
Journey to the lagoon
The delegation then visited the premises under construction to house improved fish-smoking ovens and cassava grinders in Braffedon and Agoudam, another beneficiary village.
At the end of the visit, the partners expressed their satisfaction, impressed by the dynamism and commitment of the beneficiaries.
This visit comes after almost 2 years of activity for the project, which aims to improve the adaptation and resilience of local communities, particularly women and young people, in the coastal and island regions of Côte d’Ivoire, to the effects of climate change.
In addition to Grand-Lahou, the project is being implemented in Jacqueville, Grand-Bassam and Adiaké.
The project is supported by Global Affairs Canada in partnership with Inter Pares and SUCO.
