Seventy groups of fish processors and market gardeners from the Lacs 1 and Lacs 3 municipalities received work equipment this Wednesday through financing provided by the WACA ResIP project, for a total value of more than CFAF 26 million.

The equipment package included rechargeable electric sprayers, protective gear, coolers and 520-litre freezers — practical tools designed to address concrete challenges faced by coastal communities. “This equipment comes at the right time, especially as temperatures continue to rise and fish preservation is becoming increasingly difficult,” said Ms. TSEMEKPO Nana, spokesperson for the women fish processors.

This distribution is part of a social subproject valued at CFAF 1.5 billion, designed to offset the impacts of coastal protection works on the three main livelihood activities of local communities: fishing, fish processing and market gardening.

And this is only the beginning. Canoes, outboard engines, fishing nets and life jackets will soon be distributed to fishermen’s groups. Boreholes, latrines and Chorkor ovens are also planned, alongside training activities already launched in February 2025.