This 3 sentence summary provides the key details about the Conservation and Sustainable Management of Coastal and Marine Ecosystems (COSME) Project: The COSME Project will be implemented from 2023-2026 in Kenya and Tanzania with $16.5 million CAD in funding from Global Affairs Canada, and will work to improve climate-resilient, equitable economies for communities relying on coastal and marine ecosystems through enhancing the adoption of gender-responsive nature-based solutions for climate change adaptation with biodiversity co-benefits.

1. Conservation and
Sustainable
Management of
Coastal and
Marine
Ecosystems
(COSME) Project

2. Plan International Canada Inc.
Location: Kwale and Kilifi Counties in Kenya and
bordering Regions of Tanga and Pwani in Tanzania
Duration: March 2023 – March 2026
Donor: Global Affairs Canada (GAC)
GAC’s Contribution: $16.5 Million CAD
Implementing Partner: The Jane Goodall Institute
(Canada and Tanzania)
Technical Partners:
• Cascadia Seaweed Corporation (CSC),
• Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI),
• Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KeFRI),
• Kenya Forestry Services (KFS),
• Kenya Fisheries Services (KeFS),
• The Kenyan Ministry of Agriculture
Project Overview
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3. Plan International Canada Inc.
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Reach and Project Participants
Direct Participants Female Male Total
Savings Groups
(Mangrove, Seaweed, Forest Conservation groups, Regenerative Agriculture,
Solar and Fuel-Efficient technologies)
3,000 1,170 4,170
School and Youth Group engagements (4k Clubs and Roots and Shoots Clubs,
School Clean Water Solutions in Kenya)
19,062 17,845 36,907
Forest Conservation Stakeholders 4,020 4,605 8,625
Women’s Rights Organization and Youth Led Organization Members 150 50 200
Total Direct Participants 26,232 23,670 49,902
Indirect Participants Female Male Total
Community Preparedness Plans and Community Forest Conservation
Initiatives, SBCC 166,171 156,412 322,583

4. Plan International Canada Inc.
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Improved climate-resilient, equitable economies within communities relying on coastal
and marine ecosystems, especially women, in Kenya’s Coast Region
Enhanced adoption of
gender-responsive and
socially-inclusive nature-
based solutions (NbS)
for climate change
adaptation with
biodiversity and
ecosystem integrity co-
benefits
Improved gender-
responsive and
child/youth-friendly
governance for climate
adaptation, resilience
and biodiversity
Increased agency of
women in their diversity to
exercise their right to
participate in gender-
responsive NbS with
biodiversity co-benefits to
increase adaptive
capacity and build
household and community
resilience
Project Outcomes

5. Plan International Canada Inc.
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Enhanced adoption of gender-responsive and socially-inclusive nature-based solutions (NbS) for climate
change adaptation with biodiversity and ecosystem integrity co-benefits
Nature-based Solutions (NbS)
Mangrove Restoration and
Conservation
• Increased capacity of communities,
especially women, to undertake
gender-responsive and equitable
mangrove restoration and
conservation with biodiversity co-
benefits
• Women and men trained on
management and conservation
techniques
• Equipped with supplies and inputs
to conduct conservation activities
• Supported with formal registration
with Beach Management Units
(BMUs) and Community Forest
Associations (CFAs), which provides
legal recognition
Regenerative and Sustainable
Seaweed Production
• Increased capacity of women-led
seaweed groups to undertake
regenerative and sustainable seaweed
production, value addition and
commercialization
• Seaweed groups trained, and inputs
provided to enhance their knowledge,
skills, and productivity.
• Provision of annual tide tables to
improve harvest timing, ensure safety,
allocate resources effectively, and
develop long-term strategies for resilient
farming.
• Development of a biobank to store
more resilient seaweed varietals
• Pilot of innovative technologies to
promote the adoption of resilient
practices, improve yields, and explore
high value-addition opportunities.
Locally-Led Forestry
Conservation
• Increased capacity of communities,
especially women, to undertake
gender-responsive, locally-led forest
management and conservation
• Women and men trained on gender-
responsive forest management
and community-centered
conservation
• Groups supported to promote and
pilot NbS based on forestry
management plans, including
establishment of nurseries.
• Community-led forest monitoring
and patrols will be facilitated, and
inter-generational dialogues
between young leaders and women's
groups

6. Plan International Canada Inc.
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COSME’s Potential for Climate Adaptation with
Biodiversity Co-benefits
•Gender- Responsive Nature-
based Solutions
• Mangroves act as natural buffers
against storm surges, protecting
coastal communities and their
ecosystems, including crucial
breeding and feeding grounds for
various species.
• Seaweed farms create habitats that
support diverse marine life,
including fish and invertebrates,
benefiting aquatic ecosystems
and supporting women's coastal
economic activities.
• Community-led forest conservation
protects habitats for a wide range
of terrestrial species, from
mammals to insects, leveraging
women's valuable traditional
knowledge about forest resources
and biodiversity.
•Increased Agency and
Adaptive Capacity of Women
• Women gain access to time-saving
and resilience-building assets that
support soil and water
conservation, regeneration and
biodiversity
• Women's leadership will drive
sustainable Nature-based
livelihoods that are adaptable to
changing environmental conditions
and help preserve biodiversity.
• Women receive regenerative
agriculture training and supplies to
diversify their farming methods
and crops to increase yields,
enhance household food security
and adapt to a changing climate.
oGender Responsive
Governance for Climate
Adaptation and Resilience
• Increase knowledge of primary
school children, particularly girls,
about climate change, Nature-based
Solutions (NbS), and conservation
by supporting school clubs to
implement community-based
climate change and conservation
initiatives.
• Strengthen gender-responsive
community governance structures
to reduce risk and enhance
preparedness to climate change
• Equip Women's Rights
Organizations (WROs) and Youth-
Led Organizations (YLOs) with the
capacity to engage in evidence-
based advocacy for gender-
responsive and inclusive climate
adaptation and resilience.

7. Gender- Responsive
Nature-based Solutions
Increased Agency and
Adaptive Capacity of
Women
Gender Responsive
Governance for Climate
Adaptation and Resilience
GE Integrated Deep Social Norm Change GE Integrated
Individual Level: Promote women’s individual and collective agency through;
o Technical knowledge, skills, and resources to effectively engage in NBSs and improved equitable access to associated markets
o Financial literacy, skills, and opportunities,
o Time-saving resilience building assets, and
o Socio-emotional and life skills that are grounded in gender analysis and women and girls’ equal rights, in a Gender Justice Journey
Relational Level:
o Inclusion of husbands (or elder sons) in a Gender Justice Journey to foster a supportive household environment for women to have the
autonomy and emotional support to invest in personal growth, and conservation/restoration activities and sustainable livelihoods.
o Joint development of climate preparedness household action plans that address gender power relations and inequitable household
dynamics that undermine resilience, and GBV protection issues that intensify in times of crisis.
Community Level:
o Participatory planning for climate adaptation and resilience, with an enhanced role for WROs and YLOs empowered with climate
literacy, a strong sense of climate, environmental and gender justice, as well as tools, leadership skills and resources for effective EBA and
action, laying the groundwork for NbSs and devolved climate governance to be gender responsive and socially inclusive,
o Through 4K Clubs (Kenya) and R&S Clubs (Tanzania), create entry points for GEI in ecological action while supporting community-led
conservation and restoration.
o SBCC messaging will reinforce GEI along with the engagement of community gatekeepers as Change Agents.
Gender
Equality
Strategy

8. Thank you