Small-scale fisheries (SSF) are the backbone of the economy and society in many coastal countries, providing income and food security to millions of people. SSF remain however poorly known due to their diversity and complex social-spatial structures. Although often simply considered as a resource use problem, the sustainability of SSF extends well beyond Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14 and relates to community livelihoods, markets, political economy, among other factors, which has a determinant role on SSF viability. This project will create/strengthen national-level SSF communities of practice in six countries (Colombia, Ecuador, Kenya, Madagascar, Mexico & Nigeria) and help summarize existing knowledge related to the interactions between SSF and SDGs in those countries. We will first develop a rapid appraisal framework, based on key indicators and descriptions of interactions, that will help characterize the interactions between SSF and SDGs. In a second time, we will use this approach in each of the six countries by engaging with diverse stakeholders, helping create a community of practices at the interface between SSF and SDGs. This will help assess evidence-informed synergies and trade-offs between SDGs. Finally, we will analyze the data collected, comparing and contrasting the findings of each country and identifying data, knowledge, and policy gaps. Findings will then be shared with stakeholders from those countries in order to help them identify potential pathways for sustainability in their own national context as well as international organizations in order to help inform policies. Beyond scientific findings, this work will support transformative changes in SSF from the local to the international levels in order to better contribute to SDGs.

Violence related to the gender is the most widespread violation of human rights. The high rates of incidents and the fact that only some of the cases are reported and registered, place the tackling of this problem in a significant position on public discussions and the political agendas in Europe and worldwide. This project aims at supporting Colombia, Mexico and Peru to tackle gender-based violence by involving the Institutions of higher education. The creation of a Master Degree in Gender Based Violence will provide the necessary capacity to university students and future employees to define, spot, address, prevent and mitigate this type of violence in different areas. It will offer a holistic, modern and innovative approach by bringing together different faculties of many universities from the involved countries to cooperate, supported by European universities’ experience in the topic and the engagement of digital technology. An important part of the project is the creation of an Observatory Unit, which will be run by the universities with the aim to support the research and the monitoring of gender-based violence at a local, national, regional and international level. During the implementation of the project, university students and civil society actors will not just benefit, but they will have a significant role, in order to ensure interest, relevance and participation, and to maximize the impact to the extent possible. MDinGBV will not only offer knowledge, skills and capacities to students and academic staff on problem solving towards vulnerable groups, but it will modernize the universities through internationalization. The MDinGBV will raise awareness on gender-based violence, increase students' future employability and will create a network with specialized professionals that will support the countries towards democratic governance and sustainable development for all.

STOREM project aims at curriculum development of 5 Caribbean HEIs of LA and ACP regions under the subject Environmental Science - a thematic priority of both regions involved. Private and public actors of geographical regions express needs for skills useful to a proper management of the natural environment, in face of climate change threats, and other risks that affect the coastline. The action is aimed at implementing of 3 new graduate (master) curricula in the field of sustainable tourism and resource management in 2 Colombian and 1 Costa Rican HEIs, while integrating existing graduate pathways of 2 other HEIs. The proposed capacity building action integrates the EU HEIs multidisciplinary learning and research expertise on sustainability issues with the experience of the most important HEI in the Caribbean part of the ACP region (University of West Indies, UWI) in training graduates in various aspect of natural resources management. The project aims also at developing an interaction model between HEIs, private and public actors in the region through the activities of the foreseen Observatories on Sustainable Tourism at PCs’ universities, useful for supporting the courses and raising awareness in the tourism business communities. The project addresses also the cross cutting priority on refugees integration in HEIs: 2 out of 5 HEIs in our network include in their student population a relevant component of internal displaced population (IDPs) , people with a lower level of formal education. Activities within the project will concentrate on facilitating the university enrollment of IDP students in the long-term. Developing new skills in sustainability issues will eventually advance the social and economic development of both LA and ACP areas and equip academics, tourism professionals and administrations. These will lead to an empowered market aware of the need to designate funds and resources for guaranteeing the continuation of the academic offer in place.

The changes in educational paradigms and development of ICT are promoting the modernization of universities and the establishment of open and flexible study programs, freeing academic boundaries.Quality, accessibility and innovation are concepts that are driving the changes of virtual higher education. ACAI-LA Universities Network undertake the challenge of modernizing and internationalizing higher education, and contributing to development and social cohesion in Latin America, with an academic offer in pursuit of excellence, equitable and innovative.This academic offer will be available in the ACAI-LA Virtual Campus with accessible:- Life long learning program, MOOC.- Master for training of trainers, MOOC, certified by the consortium universities.This university campus will integrate online services for: support to students, support to graduates and job placement, and guidance to teachers in methodologies and innovative educational techniques.The curricula will:- Be open and flexible.- Form its students with ICT skills required by the labour market.- Include educational materials and laboratories, accessible to social groups with learning difficulties because of economic, ethnicity, gender or disabilities reasons.- Be available in: English, Spanish, Mayan and / or African descent languages.A sustainable business model will be supported for capacity building in:- Young graduates.- Teachers, who create innovative educational, quality and accessible resources.This scientific and educational cooperation network shows the diversity in Latin America. The ACAI-LA Network consists of three European universities and eight Latin American, four of which are located in less developed countries of Central America and the others are from South America. This condition will improve the impact, dissemination and exploitation of project results, publications and open educational materials.

The Project takes its name from the sea nymphs of Greek mythology because the main intention of the planned activities is to introduce in Mexico and Colombia a new system to protect the coastline and marine environment from pollution to accelerate the transition towards a just green and circular economy. At the educational level, with the support of European universities, actions will be taken on both content and methodology, with the accreditation and delivery of six new courses (both face-to-face and MOOCs) selected on the basis of an analysis of local needs with the aim of improving the level of competences, skills and employability potential of students. At the methodological level, concepts such as active learning, internationalisation and the student-oriented educational process that underpin the Bologna Process will be introduced through specific training sessions.Trainings will also be addressed to both academic staff (mobility, ToTs) and technical/administrative staff (inclusion, sustainability, green approach, project management) in order to promote inclusive education, equity, non-discrimination and to improve some aspects of management and entrepreneurial capacities of the beneficiary universities. Thanks to the participation of the associate partners and the involvement of local stakeholders, a network will be created with private entities engaged in the field of environmental protection and sustainable tourism, which will be involved in WP5 both in the business skills labs, to transfer practical and useful skills to the students to facilitate their entry into the world of green jobs, and in the internships, making them more competitive and innovative. Another important objective of the project is to have an impact on society's level of climate awareness on the importance of protecting the environment, acting on both prevention and education. All to contribute to a profound environmental protection-oriented changes in people's behaviour.