Competencies & Standards

The Programme focuses on six core competency areas in which MPA professionals need to meet certain standards of skills and knowledge. Below is a list of these six areas and an illustration of one standard under each. There are a total of 76 standards upon which a candidate is assessed. (A detailed explanation of the competencies and standards is available in the Pdf document -ONLINE NEXT WEEK)

Six competency areas (with one example of multiple standards for each area):

Policy, legislation, and compliance frameworks
Standard: Ability to pursue correct legal processes associated with enforcement activities

Approaches to establishing and managing an MPA
Standard: Sound understanding of different institutional models for MPA management including co-management, public/private sector partnerships, etc.

Communications and stakeholder engagement
Standard: Sound understanding of importance of effective and positive engagement with stakeholders, and of the importance of constituency building

Financing of MPAs
Standard: Ability to develop and manage budgets associated with MPA management

MPA management operations
Standard: Ability to identify appropriate infrastructure, equipment and materials for effective management of the MPA

Biophysical and social environments
Standard: Thorough understanding of the key threats to the ecological processes and species in the MPA and surrounding areas and their implications