Brava: Biflores and SMILO reinforce the capacity and dynamics of local associations

Speaking to Inforpress, Domitille Le Huédé, coordinator of the SMILO organization, explained that the objective is to work so that these associations can have more autonomy in finding financing, and implementing projects for the sustainable development of Brava.

Before preparing the training programme, this person in charge highlighted that a diagnosis of the needs of the associations had been carried out and during this training action, which will take place for a week, some practical issues will be addressed, namely the creation, dynamics and animation of a Association.

He also underlined that funding opportunities in Cape Verde will be analyzed to implement projects on Brava, but also how to prepare a funding request, and the management of a project.

As for the organization, he added that it is a French organization, Small Islands Organization (SMILO), based in Marseille that works with an international network of islands, having already reached 40 islands around the world, with a focus on sustainable development.

In Cape Verde, he informed that the NGO has already worked with the island of Santa Luzia and now they are going to start the work they are working on the island of Brava for sustainable management in five thematic areas, pointing to the area of energy, water and sanitation, biodiversity and the landscape.

As well as organizing training, he informed that they also fund projects, even advancing that they already have an ongoing project, in partnership with Biflores in Mato, on the planting and reforestation of endemic plants, and water collection.

On his turn, the director of the Biflores association, Dheeraj Jayant, advanced that the training aims to work on strengthening civil society in Brava, and one of the means to do this is through the various existing associations.

Because, he underlined, Biflores, in its projects, always seeks to work and involve communities in biodiversity conservation works, thus making it necessary to make the connection between Biflores and other community development organizations in Brava.

This training, as he highlighted, “is an opportunity to meet with other conservation, art, music, cooperative associations, among others”, justifying that at Brava everything is interconnected.

In this training action, various associations on the island and also the Vitó project participate.

The same source considers that SMILO is a partner of Brava, as it works with small islands, and in the country there are only Santa Luzia and Brava, but it is also a partner of Biflores for the implementation of a project.