Certification Elements
Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) play a key role in the conservation of coastal and marine resources of the Western Indian Ocean (WIO) region. The number of MPAs in the WIO region increases each year.
One of the major challenges facing MPAs in the Western Indian Ocean today is lack of skilled personnel needed in order to ensure effective management of MPAs in the region. This requires personnel who have the right skills, knowledge and experience. That is where the WIO-COMPAS Programme can help.
Elements
Elements of Education, Experience, Examination and Ethics combine to form the core of the Programme—with a focus on assessing individual competencies in knowledge and skills areas essential to effective MPA management.
The Programme works with those who already meet a certain level of knowledge, skills, and performance standards within six core competency areas—policy and compliance; MPA establishment; communication and stakeholder engagement; financing; operations; and the biophysical and social environments—to provide them with professional development interventions that promote the very kind of critical thinking that is necessary for MPA management in today’s world and regional context.
As a participant in this Programme you receive:
A professional assessment of your skills and knowledge in different aspects of MPA operations and management (each participant is assigned a personal assessor/mentor).
Participation in an 8-day, in-person professional development and assessment event that enhances your MPA skills and knowledge. You will hear from experts speaking on issues of concern to your MPAs. You will take the first steps in becoming part of a larger community of MPA practitioners in your region. And, through interactions with your assessors, speakers, and colleagues, you will share and generate new ideas and begin new ways of thinking about the important work you do and challenges you face.
A “practicum” built around how to better address a real issue facing your MPA. This starts with you coming to the 8-day event with this practicum (“case study”) in hand. Through mentoring from your assessor and exposure to new ideas from other MPA experts and colleagues, you will then begin to revise and refine your practicum to reflect your new thinking about and solutions to that practicum/issue.
Commitment to a code of ethics that signifies that you abide by high standards of professional competence and respect both the rights of the individuals and group stakeholders as well as the mandate of the protected area.
Membership in a regional network of colleagues and experts in MPA management and operations.
Earned recognition as a member of an accomplished group of professionals who meet recognized standards of competence in key areas of MPA management effectiveness.
