News
La Voix du Littoral, Mauritania’s First Media Outlet Dedicated to the Coast
In less than two years, La Voix du Littoral—born from a partnership between WACA Mauritania and Radio Mauritanie—has established itself as the country’s first media outlet entirely dedicated to coastal issues. Since October 2023, nearly one hundred programs have been produced and broadcast in national languages (Hassanya, Pulaar, Soninké, and Wolof), at a pace of four per week. These programs address topics related to the environment, public health, and the impacts of climate change, while also giving communities a platform to voice their concerns.
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UNOC 3: WACA Puts Coastal Resilience at the Forefront of Sustainable Coastal Development in West Africa
On the occasion of the Third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC 3), the West Africa Coastal Areas Management Program (WACA) organized a side event on June 13 in Nice under the theme: “Coastal Resilience as the Foundation of Coastal Development.”
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The WACA Project closes six new coastal breaches to protect Nouakchott from rising sea levels
Following the successful closure of three major breaches, the WACA project in Mauritania has launched work to seal six additional breaches along the coastal dune system that shields Nouakchott. The goal: to strengthen the capital’s resilience to increasing risks of flooding and marine intrusion.
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In Mauritania, WACA takes action against plastic bags
On Oceans Day, August 8, 2025, the WACA project and the Mauritanian Ministry of the Environment launched a major awareness campaign against the dangers of using plastic bags.
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WACA progress and outlook discussed in Bissau
The Regional Steering Committee (CRP) of the WACA Projects held its first meeting of the year from June 30 to July 4, 2025, in Bissau, Republic of Guinea-Bissau.
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Protecting Grand-Lahou: The Minister of Environment and the World Bank visit the coastal stabilization works
The Ivorian Minister of Environment, Sustainable Development, and Ecological Transition, Mr. Jacques Assahoré Konan, and World Bank Vice President for West Africa, Mr. Ousmane Diagana, visited Grand-Lahou on June 28, 2025, to assess progress on critical coastal stabilization works under the West Africa Coastal Areas Management Program (WACA).
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WACA Convenes First National Assembly Forum to Discuss Project Objectives and Activities
The WACA Project convened a joint forum of the National Assembly Select Committee on Environment, Sustainable Development and NGO Affairs, and the Select Committee on Monitoring the Implementation of Government Projects. The meeting, held on February 25, 2025, was intended to brief the committees on the WACA Project’s objectives, initiatives, challenges, and expected impact.
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Over 220 Hectares of Mangroves Restored in Guinea-Bissau Thanks to WACA
To mark the International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem on July 26, the Institute for Biodiversity and Protected Areas (IBAP), through the WACA project, is launching a new national mangrove restoration campaign. In 2024 alone, the initiative has already restored 224.3 hectares in the Cacheu River Mangrove Natural Park, supported by project funding.
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WACA Raises Awareness on Coastal Degradation at the Largest Cultural Festival in the Bijagos Archipelago
As part of its mission to raise awareness about coastal degradation, the WACA Guinea-Bissau project launched a large-scale communications campaign during the Bubaque festivals (Escadinha and Bruce) — the largest cultural events in the Bijagos Archipelago — reaching over 9,000 participants from across the country and the Guinean diaspora.
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The Gambia Strengthens Capacity for Nature-Based Solutions to Urban and Coastal Challenges
From May 26 to 30, 2025, a national training workshop was held in Bakau under the WACA program to enhance the capacity of Gambian stakeholders to apply nature-based solutions (NbS) for urban and coastal resilience. The Project Management Unit in The Gambia organized the event with technical support from IUCN, the NL2120 consortium, and the World Bank. Nearly 50 participants attended, representing government agencies, academic institutions, local authorities, and civil society organizations.
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Government publishes First Draft of Gambia’s Groundbreaking national land policy
The Ministry of Lands, Regional Government, and Religious Affairs has released the first draft of the much-anticipated Gambia’s first-ever National Land Policy, funded by the WACA Project. The policy was published on the Ministry’s website in March for public comments.
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Major Project Milestone: WACA launches feasibility studies and design of the Kotu stream
The WACA Project has launched feasibility studies and detailed engineering design for the Kotu Stream, marking a major milestone in the project’s efforts to restore and reprofile the Stream. Following an extensive and rigorous recruitment process, a joint venture of three firms – including one local – led by HydroNova was selected in February 2025 to conduct the studies within 12 months.
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Togo Validates Environmental Audit of Agbodrafo–Sanvee Condji Coastline
On May 15, 2025, Togo’s Ministry of Environment and Forest Resources validated the environmental and social audit report for coastal protection works along the Agbodrafo–Sanvee Condji segment. The validation followed a site visit by an ad hoc committee, which reviewed infrastructure progress and assessed compliance with the project’s environmental and social commitments.
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WACA ResIP Supports Market Gardeners and Fish Vendors in Gbodjomé–Sanvie Kondji
On May 14, 2025, in Agbodrafo, the WACA ResIP program officially handed over essential work equipment to 30 fish vendor groups and 40 market gardener groups from the Lacs 1 and 3 municipalities. The initiative is part of a social sub-project aimed at strengthening the resilience of local communities along the Gbodjomé–Sanvie Kondji coastline, where coastal erosion has disrupted key economic activities.
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Towards sustainable management of the Baie de l’Étoile nature reserve
On April 10-11, 2025, a stakeholder consultation workshop took place in Nouadhibou to establish a coordinated management approach for the Baie de l’Étoile Nature Reserve. Organized by the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development, with support from the WACA project, this event represented an important step forward in the preservation of this vital coastal ecosystem.