Service projects were included as part of the Coastal Resources Center/Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association’s Learning and Performing training program. This was an innovative and important element.

During the course, participants developed detailed “ service project” proposals that, if implemented, would both advance integrated coastal management in the participant’s country and provide them with actual implementation experience. In the final course module, participants presented their proposals to a review panel and were judged on multiple criteria. Three grants were awarded to those proposals which ranked the highest on the selection criteria. Each award was for US$3,000 and was given to allow the grantees to carry out an approved project.

Two service projects, one entitled Establishing the Seaweed Raft Method of Cultivation at Moa and Kijiru Villages in Muheza, Tanga Region of Tanzania and the other entitled Mangrove Conservation through Introduction of Improved Stoves in Zanzibar were evaluated and found to be progressing well according to the project work plans. The third project entitled Enhancing Community Ownership of Intervention Processes and Products through Meaningful Participation in the ICM Policy Development did not proceed according to the time-line and was considered less successful — although it was recognized that factors outside the control of the grant holder (e.g. the National elections and the delay in starting up the second phase of the Kenya Coastal Management Initiative) contributed to this situation.