Africa-Press – Cape verde. Fauna & Flora, an international non-governmental organization based in Cambridge, England, is strengthening its presence in Cape Verde by opening an office in São Vicente later this month. The information was given today to Rádio Morabeza by Mariana Carvalho, senior program manager for São Tomé and Príncipe and Cape Verde.
The person in charge explains that the objective is to channel more substantial support to strengthen civil society and maintain greater proximity with local partners, through the coordination of conservation projects for endangered species and ecosystems, as it does in several parts of the world.
“We are already here. We hope to move to our office later this month. Fauna & Flora’s headquarters in Mindelo was approved by the Ministry of Justice last year. The process of setting up a team here began at the beginning of last year. I am based in England and we cannot work remotely.
Fauna & Flora, present in more than 40 countries, has been based in São Vicente since March, in a space provided by its partner NGO Biosfera. The move to its own office is expected to take place this month. Mariana Carvalho explains that the international organization does not aim to carry out field work in Cape Verde. “It is important to stress that Fauna & Flora International is not here to do field work, to supersede the fantastic work that our partners do, but rather to facilitate this coordination between everyone at a national level. The islands have different characteristics and accessibility and the fact that there is an office here and people dedicated to managing this consortium, information, data, communication, etc., makes things much easier,” she says. Fauna & Flora has been in the country for over a decade, having started its work with the Maio Biodiversity Foundation, the first partner organization in the archipelago. Janete Agues, the NGO’s executive director, believes that the physical presence of the international organization facilitates both the implementation of projects and access to international funds. “It is a big step. Fauna & Flora International has been a great partner in the issue of protecting marine biodiversity. Having a representation in Cape Verde greatly facilitates coordination in the implementation of projects and in the team that manages the entire project”, she believes.
Marine biologist Patrícia Rendall Rocha is the coordinator of Fauna & Flora International in Cape Verde and will be responsible for a team of six people.
Fauna & Flora’s mission is to conserve threatened species and ecosystems around the world, adopting sustainable solutions, based on solid science and taking into account the needs of local communities.
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