Stephen Kankam is a Human Ecologist and Co-founder and Deputy Director of Hen Mpoano (“Our Coast”), a Ghanaian non-profit organisation working to strengthen coastal and marine ecosystem governance. Since the organisation’s establishment in 2013, he has helped build its institutional capacity, mobilise resources and lead programmes that connect science, policy and community action to address challenges in fisheries management, marine conservation and coastal development.
With over 15 years of experience, Stephen works with government institutions, fishing communities, traditional authorities, civil society organisations and development partners to advance sustainable fisheries, inclusive marine conservation and resilient coastal livelihoods. His work has contributed to the development of small-scale fisheries co-management arrangements, community-based conservation institutions and the protection and sustainable management of important coastal ecosystems, including mangroves, estuaries, lagoons and wetlands in southwestern Ghana. He has also played a key role in supporting the establishment and implementation of Ghana’s first Marine Protected Area, including stakeholder engagement, governance development and efforts to integrate local knowledge and community participation into management processes.
Stephen holds a PhD in Geography and combines executive leadership and programme development with technical expertise in human ecology, coastal land-use scenario modelling, ecosystem services assessment, and coastal landscape planning and restoration. His research interests include understanding how alternative land-use futures affect ecosystem services and how participatory governance can inform sustainable coastal landscape planning and management. Across his research and professional practice, he seeks to strengthen the connections between ecological science, public policy and community knowledge to deliver lasting conservation and livelihood outcomes.
