Strengthening biodiversity governance systems for the sustainable management of living natural resources in Cabo Verde Strengthen national and local governance for the conservation of terrestrial and marine ecosystems and species of global and national significance through effective management and sustainable financing, and firmly position biodiversity as being foundational to the countryâ€™s social and economic resilience. Note: Disbursement data provided is cumulative and covers disbursement made by the project Agency. Through Component 1, the project will deliver an updated and progressive biodiversity policy and legislative framework in line with global best practices, including a new Biodiversity and Natural Resources Policies Law, revised NBSAP and a new plan for PA network management. It will introduce diversified PA governance categories for the national PA network that enable more inclusive approaches to biodiversity conservation including collaborative management. Component 1 also aims to achieve at least a 50% increase in financing for biodiversity management achieved through systematic planning and at least three new financing solutions. These measures will enable improved biodiversity conservation outside PAs, improved management effectiveness of the PA network, and increased and diversified financing that strengthens the resilience of biodiversity governance.     Through Component 2, the reformed PA network management procedures will contribute towards improved overall PA management effectiveness at system level, while enhanced stakeholder engagement (see Stakeholder Engagement Plan, Prodoc Annex 7) will broaden the constituency of support for biodiversity conservation and increase recognition of the value of biodiversity. Collectively, these measures will contribute towards more effective conservation practices, benefiting Cabo Verde’s globally significant species and ecosystems.    Through Component 3, demonstrated co-management of the two pilot sites will inform national policy and practices, facilitating national upscaling with the likely outcome that land use conflicts and external pressures on PAs are reduced, and local communities and businesses become more concerned and engaged in conservation activities. Project support for sustainable livelihoods at the same sites will inform wider adoption of conservation-compatible land uses and strengthen the uptake of PA co-management approaches. Overall, the project contributions are expected to provide direct benefits to a total of 49,748 people, consisting of some 26,534 men and 23,214 women on the two islands that will host the project’s pilot activities: Boa Vista: 6,871 men, 5,927 women and total of 12,798 people; and Santo Antão: 19,663 men, 17,287 women and total of 36,950 people. By the end of the project, these local level actions are expected to result in 2 community landscape management plans approved and implemented,  40 people benefiting from new conservation-related employment opportunities (50% women),  40 people benefiting from new ecotourism development opportunities (50% women),60 fishermen participating in a community-based monitoring scheme that benefits marine biodiversity through more sustainable fishing practices,100 people trained in writing of project proposals / business plans,40 people supported to submit applications to micro-credit schemes and other sources of financing / funding (50% women), and 4 existing community cooperatives, production units and enterprises strengthened, and 4 new ones established and operational (total 8).     Through Component 4, increased capacity for gender mainstreaming and the empowerment of women will strengthen their participation in conservation-related activities and in benefiting from and advocating for biodiversity. The Gender Action Plan (Prodoc Annex 9) specifies specific strategies and actions that will result in gender mainstreaming and the empowerment of women through the project’s activities. The systematic biodiversity monitoring framework will provide increased cumulative benefits from a partnership approach, and provide an increased volume of data that support evidence-based conservation practices that should improve conservation outcomes. Improved knowledge management and information sharing will strengthen overall biodiversity governance by ensuring that it is science-based, well-informed and takes account of a wide variety of sources and experiences. It will also contribute greatly towards national capacity development for effective biodiversity conservation.     Cumulatively, it is anticipated that the project will take the governance of biodiversity in Cabo Verde to a new level, with an improved policy and legal framework, improved capacity for PA management, law enforcement and monitoring, increased financial resources, a clear way forward on co-management of protected areas, increased engagement of private sector businesses and investors, and strengthened monitoring and knowledge management that informs adaptive management and planning. This will increase the management effectiveness of the national PA network and the governance of biodiversity outside PAs, resulting in improved biodiversity status, more secure ecosystem service provision and ecosystem-based adaptation and more resilient rural communities.