WorldBank, Global, 2022
Context
Fisheries management is critical for ensuring equitable and sustainable marine resources. Unfortunately, many countries face challenges due to a lack of transparency and accountability in the allocation of resources, leading to issues such as Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing, overfishing, corruption, and poor management practices. These issues are compounded by the untimely dissemination of key information related to fisheries management, affecting both citizens and decision-makers.
To address these challenges, the Fisheries Transparency Initiative (FiTI) was developed to support global, regional, and national efforts for responsible fisheries governance. Established in Seychelles in January 2020, FiTI focuses on increasing transparency and participation in fisheries governance. With the support of the World Bank’s PROBLUE Umbrella multi-donor Trust Fund, FiTI aims to enhance sustainable marine fisheries management globally.
FiTI operates with a clear framework requiring member countries to produce annual reports, assess compliance with the FiTI Standard’s 12 transparency requirements, and promote better public understanding of the fisheries sector.
Objectives
The primary objectives of the FiTI initiative are:
- To promote transparency in fisheries management to address IUU fishing and related issues.
- To create a sustainable fisheries governance framework by fostering multi-stakeholder participation.
- To establish a reusable and visually appealing reporting template that helps member countries standardize and streamline their annual FiTI Reports.
The specific contract goal was to develop a comprehensive, reusable, and modular report template adaptable for all FiTI member countries, ensuring enhanced visual communication and cost-effectiveness in report production.
Solution
The project focused on three key tasks:
- Tool Selection: MondoForte was tasked with identifying five graphical tools (e.g., Adobe InDesign, Infogram, Tableau) and evaluating them based on usability, scalability, and costs. The goal was to recommend the most suitable tool that would facilitate the easy production of visually compelling and adaptable FiTI Reports.
- Report Design: MondoForte developed a standard template for FiTI Reports, drawing on Seychelles’ first FiTI Report as a reference. This included the creation of a portfolio of graphic elements related to transparency, fisheries, and oceans, ensuring future reports are both informative and visually engaging.
- Implementation and Know-How Transfer: A training session was held to ensure that the FiTI International Secretariat could effectively use the new template. The second FiTI Report for Seychelles was produced using the new design and tools, demonstrating the process for future replication by other FiTI member countries.
Results
- Modular Reporting Template: A standardized report template was successfully developed, enabling FiTI member countries to produce reports more efficiently and consistently. The template’s modular design ensures that it can be adapted to different reporting needs while maintaining visual consistency.
- Visual Enhancements: The reports now feature dynamic graphical representations of data, improving the readability and engagement for recipients. This includes the use of icons, charts, and visual elements that align with the themes of transparency, fisheries, and oceans.
- Improved Public Understanding: The enhanced visual language of the reports has contributed to a better public understanding of fisheries governance and transparency issues. By making these reports more accessible online and as downloadable PDFs, FiTI has increased the accessibility of crucial fisheries information.
- Sustainability: The use of reusable templates has reduced production costs and improved the efficiency of report generation for FiTI member countries. The know-how transfer sessions have empowered these countries to produce their reports independently in the future.
- Global Impact: The initiative has helped increase awareness and participation in responsible fisheries management in Seychelles, the South West Indian Ocean region, and globally. The successful implementation of FiTI Reports in Seychelles and Mauritania provides a blueprint for other countries to follow, enhancing global transparency in fisheries governance.
