Executive Summary:

Poverty and food insecurity in Coastal East and West Africa contribute to environmental degradation. Medical Care Development International and the Climate Foundation propose Coastal Community Value Chains with Marine Permaculture (CVC-MPs) to increase food security, restore soils, improve health outcomes, and provide economic empowerment. Locals will lead offshore seaweed production with Marine Permaculture, and produce seaweed extract linked to local and international offtake markets to create new income streams. Seaweed extracts and compost will help restore degraded cropland, thereby increasing crop production and farmers’ incomes, while reducing the need to clear more forests. This missing link for resource efficiency will provide agency and ensure increased health and economic well-being for the population. Marine Permaculture will provide climate resilience to seaweed farms, fisheries and marine ecosystems. Revitalization of collapsed fisheries will enhance the long term socioeconomic reality for millions of local people struggling to survive, while simultaneously protecting biodiversity.

COVID-19 Response

MCDI has made the following changes due to COVID-19: partial budget reallocation in response to the pandemic, a shift to remote work when possible, and implemented the promotion of hand-washing, use of hand sanitizer and masks, and limiting travel. MCDI’s partner Climate Foundation’s operations in the Philippines have been affected due to an increase in shipping costs as well as delays, and work in the lab in Tasmania has been limited to only the local chief scientist, which may affect data. Changes to the proposal include a focus on preventing the spread of the pandemic and increasing lead times for procurement. Updates to the Barrier Assessment/Risk Mitigation include social disruption, loss of food security, labor shortage, and trade restrictions.