The lasting elements of PRA port profiles in Conakry, Guinea : lessons for sustainability.

In 1991 the Guinean Fisheries department and staff based at Conakry of an FAO regional artisanal fisheries project carried out 'PRA port profiles' or participatory analyses with user groups of landing site problems and opportunities. Twelve of the landing sites involved in these PRA activities formed Land Site Development Committees which received support from FAO and became involved in activities to solve some of the problems identified, such as construction of breakwaters to protect anchored canoes. Funding terminated in 1995 and this article examines the situation in 1997 when only two of these LSDC's continue to be active. Elements contributing to the continuation of these compared with those which ceased to function are discussed. Key elements of sustainability identified include, the importance of strong support from local elected officials, the need for legal status for LSDC's and the provision of regular follow-up by PRA trained field officers, reporting to a co-ordinating committee. it was also considered important that LSDC's should have assistance with small project proposal planning and writing and provision of technical support for activities involving physical port infrastructure.