Work Package 3 of the PROTEGO project focuses on strengthening the institutional, regulatory, and operational capacity of public authorities to prevent marine litter effectively. Unlike infrastructure-focused or citizen-driven interventions, WP3 addresses the systemic governance challenges that hinder marine litter action across the Gulf of Guinea region particularly in Ghana and Nigeria. These challenges include weak law enforcement, fragmented mandates, underfunded agencies, and limited technical expertise to monitor, regulate, and manage solid waste streams that contribute to ocean pollution.

At its core, WP3 seeks to empower national and local governments such as ministries of environment, local assemblies, port authorities, and sanitation agencies with the tools, knowledge, and institutional alignment needed to implement sustainable marine litter prevention policies. This includes support for the enforcement of national frameworks like Ghana’s National Plastics Management Policy (NPMP) and Nigeria’s related waste regulations, while also promoting localized adaptation of international instruments such as the Basel Convention, MARPOL, and UNCLOS.

One of the key strategies of WP3 is to bridge the gap between policy and implementation. Although both Ghana and Nigeria have introduced policy frameworks addressing plastic waste and marine protection, these frameworks often lack enforcement power due to limited coordination, low funding, and lack of technical expertise. PROTEGO works with these institutions to conduct gap analyses, facilitate multi-stakeholder dialogues, and provide training and tools to enable more robust institutional responses. For example, support is given to help municipalities develop formal waste collection schedules, improve monitoring systems, and align local bylaws with national plastic policies.

Another focus area is on regulatory innovation helping policymakers explore tools such as Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes, fiscal incentives for circular economy businesses, and bans or restrictions on single-use plastics. By engaging relevant ministries, regulatory bodies, and local councils, WP3 fosters more responsive and integrated governance ecosystems.

WP3 also supports the creation of cross-agency task forces to overcome the currently fragmented institutional mandates across ministries, departments, and local bodies. Through training workshops, dialogues, and pilot reforms, the work package ensures that stakeholders at every level understand their roles in marine litter prevention and are equipped to take action.

Ultimately, this work package recognizes that sustainable marine litter reduction requires more than awareness and clean-ups, it demands structural change in how waste is governed. By equipping public authorities with the legal frameworks, institutional clarity, operational guidance, and financial models, PROTEGO contributes to a more resilient, effective, and long-lasting marine litter governance system in West Africa.