Presentation at ECOWAS Stakeholder Meeting nn Maritime Safety and Security, Accra, Ghana 5th–7th September 2023 By Col Barthelémy Blédé SWAIMS Key Expert, in charge of the private sector and civil society, Liaison Officer at CRESMAO

1. Involvement of non-state actors in securing the
maritime sector
Col Barthelémy Blédé, SWAIMS Key Expert, in charge of the private sector and
civil society, Liaison Officer at CRESMAO
Project funded by the European Union
ECOWAS STAKEHOLDER MEETING ON MARITIME
SAFETY AND SECURITY,
Accra, Ghana 5-7 September 2023

2. Introduction
Maritime safety and security are first and
foremost the responsibility of the public
authorities. However, without the contribution of
the private sector and civil society, the efforts
made could be in vain.
This presentation will be limited to CSOs with
which the SWAIMS project cooperates, although
some activities have been undertaken for the
private sector.
Questions to be addressed:
Who are CSOs?
Why focus on CSOs?
How can CSOs contribute to the fight?
How does the SWAIMS project deal with CSOs?

3. Who are CSOs
Civil society organisations (CSOs) are not-for-
profit organisations dedicated to defending the
interests and values of their members and
others. They include but are not limited to:
youth organisations
women’s organisations
trade unions
employers’ unions
faith-based organisations
cooperatives
cheffterie
foundations

4. Why to focus
on CSOs
 CSOs play a key role in voicing local communities’
concerns
CSOs are independent actors of good governance
Their participation in dialogue and policy
development is essential in order to bring grassroots
expertise to bear and develop policies that meet the
real needs of citizens
CSOs’ participation is key to achieve the Sustainable
Development Goals (especially SDGs 14, 16 and 17)
Coastal communities are often the first victims of
maritime insecurity (IUU fishing), but they are also a
breeding ground for the proliferation of maritime
threats
Crime at sea begins and ends in coastal
communities.

5. How CSOs can
contribute to
the fight
Training and raising awareness of
maritime security issues among
members of the corporations they
protect
Cooperating with government
intelligence services
Advocacy and fundraising to promote
the activities concerned
Carrying out research to tackle
maritime insecurity
Raising awareness by example, with
concrete actions on the ground

6. CASE STUDY FROM SWAIMS
SWAIMS opted to cooperate with associations
and umbrella organisations with a strong local
base and giving priority to the empowerment of
women and youth.

8. SWAIMS
activities with
CSOs (1)
Two regional workshops on advocacy, conflict
management and fundraising, in Cotonou and Saly-
Portudal with 50 participants from 8 ECOWAS
countries
Two national face-to-face awareness-raising
workshops in Abidjan and Nouakchott, attended by
50 people
A workshop dedicated to ECOWAS landlocked
countries in Niamey with 30 participants
Ten webinars on maritime security and safety
activities to raise awareness of maritime safety
issues: 600 people
Two regional training workshops on maritime
threats co-organised in Abidjan with ISMI
A CRESMAO Open Day with the support of SWAIMS
(142 visitors)

9. SWAIMS
activities with
CSOs (2)
Four research activities
- Challenges and prospects for
maritime security in Benin
- Post-catch activities in artisanal
fisheries in Côte d'Ivoire
- IUU fishing in West Africa
- Mapping maritime projects in
the Gulf of Guinea

10. Abidjan workshop with youth in artisanal fishing activities, 27 June 2023

11. Nouakchott, Mauritania, 22-23 August 2023

12. Workshop with landlocked countries, Niamey, Niger, 13-14 July 2022

13. 2nd SWAIMS Regional workshop, Saly Portudal, Senegal, 12-14 October 2021

14. Photo of authorities at the CRESMAO open day. From the right to the left: Colonel Assoumou (DGAMP Deputy Director General), Lieutenant-Colonel Dean
ALLEN (USA Defence Attaché), Rear Admiral Albara (CRESMAO Head), Dr Dieng (ECOWAS Regional Security Division Head), Mr. Fofana (Permanent Secretary
of SEPCIM-AEM), Barthelémy Blédé (SWAIMS expert), Mrs. Anne-Catherine CLAUDE (EU Delegation) and Colonel Major Yaké Charles representing the Chief of
General Staff of the armies of Côte d'Ivoire. Source: SWAIMS

15. Lessons to be learned from cooperation with CSOs
Women and young
people are very
active in CSOs
Most CSOs
experience
financial challenges
Some CSOs create
parallel income-
generating
activities
CSOs are tools for
good governance
and development
CSOs in landlocked
countries show a
real interest in
maritime activities

16. MAIN
RECOMMENDATIONS
Take CSOs into account in all maritime
initiatives including CSOs from
landlocked countries
Adopt a regional strategy for CSO
involvement in the protection of the
maritime economy (in progress)
Train CSOs in maritime crime,
advocacy, conflict management and
fundraising
Provide financial and material support
for concrete actions in favour of CSOs

17. CONCLUSION

18. Thanks!!!
Email: barthblede@yahoo.com
Phone: +225 07 78 19 25 13
Follow SWAIMS on social media
/SWAIMSProject