Call for Proposals: Support for the Creation of New Marine Protected Areas in West Africa

Deadline: 15-Oct-2026

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is inviting eligible national institutions in West Africa to submit project proposals supporting the identification and establishment of new Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). The initiative aims to strengthen marine and coastal biodiversity conservation by supporting scientific studies, stakeholder engagement, legal processes, and the preparation of technical documentation required to formally establish new MPAs. The call is being launched under the WASOP – Pillar 3 project and focuses on countries across West Africa where marine ecosystems face increasing pressures from overexploitation, habitat degradation, pollution, and climate change. The initiative seeks to strengthen the network of marine protected areas in West Africa by supporting national authorities responsible for establishing MPAs. Marine and coastal ecosystems across the region include: Mangrove forests. Estuaries. Lagoons. Seagrass beds. Coral reefs. Coastal wetlands. Upwelling zones. Other biologically important marine habitats. These ecosystems support biodiversity as well as the livelihoods of millions of people who depend on marine and coastal resources. The current network of MPAs is considered insufficient to provide comprehensive long-term conservation coverage and to meet international biodiversity and conservation commitments.

Organizer: International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)

Programme: WASOP – Pillar 3

Focus: Establishment of new Marine Protected Areas

Geographic focus: West Africa

Eligible applicants: National institutions with a legal mandate to establish MPAs

Project duration: 12 to 30 months

Main focus: Marine and coastal biodiversity conservation

Approach: Scientific research, stakeholder participation, legal preparation, and MPA establishment

Expected outcome: New MPAs supported by scientific studies, legal instruments, technical dossiers, and management plans

The call is specifically intended for national institutions that have a legal mandate to establish marine protected areas.

Eligible countries include:

Mauritania. Cabo Verde. Senegal. The Gambia. Guinea-Bissau. Guinea. Sierra Leone. Liberia. Côte d’Ivoire. Ghana. Togo. Benin. Nigeria. The applicant institution must have the appropriate legal authority to participate in or lead the official process of establishing an MPA. Organizations without the relevant national mandate should therefore consider whether they are eligible to apply directly or whether they should participate as partners with the competent national institution. Projects should focus on advancing the establishment of new marine protected areas.

Eligible activities can include:

Identification of potential MPA sites. Documentation of candidate sites. Ecological assessments. Biological studies. Socio-economic assessments. Legal and institutional studies. Analysis of marine and coastal biodiversity.

Participatory stakeholder consultations

Engagement with local communities. Preparation of technical documentation. Preparation of legal instruments. Development of administrative documentation. Preparation of MPA management plans. Processes leading to the official designation of new MPAs. Projects should demonstrate a clear pathway from site identification and scientific assessment to formal establishment and management of the proposed protected area. Marine protected areas can play an important role in conserving marine biodiversity while supporting sustainable use of marine resources. West Africa’s coastal and marine ecosystems are under pressure from multiple factors, including: Overexploitation of marine resources. Habitat degradation. Pollution. Climate change. Increasing pressure on coastal ecosystems. Unsustainable use of marine resources. Strengthening MPA networks can contribute to: Biodiversity conservation. Protection of critical marine habitats. Sustainable fisheries and marine-resource management. Climate resilience. Protection of coastal ecosystems. Sustainable development of coastal communities. Achievement of international conservation commitments. Proposals should establish a clear sequence of activities leading toward the official creation of an MPA.

Important activities may include:

Applicants should identify potential marine or coastal sites with significant ecological, biological, social, or conservation value. The proposal should provide a technical description of the proposed site, including its geographic characteristics and the reasons it is suitable for MPA designation. Projects are expected to generate the evidence needed to justify protection.

Studies can address:

Ecological characteristics. Biological diversity. Important habitats and species. Marine-resource use. Socio-economic conditions. Conservation priorities. Potential threats and pressures. Understanding the people who depend on marine resources is an important part of the MPA establishment process. Projects should consider the interests and livelihoods of groups such as: Socio-economic studies can help identify potential impacts, opportunities, and measures needed to ensure that MPA planning takes local livelihoods into account. The initiative encourages participatory approaches involving relevant stakeholders throughout the MPA establishment process.

Potential stakeholders include:

National authorities. Local government institutions. NGOs. Research institutions. Universities. Fishing communities. Women’s organizations. Youth groups. Local communities. Other marine-resource users. Stakeholder consultation should contribute to the development of an MPA that is scientifically justified and socially informed. A key objective is to prepare the documentation required for the formal establishment of the proposed MPA.

This can include:

Legal instruments. Administrative documentation. Technical dossiers. Supporting scientific evidence. Institutional documentation. Proposed management arrangements. Applicants should prepare a