33 master’s program, a joint master’s degree program on managing impacts from the extractive sector, held at the University of Nouakchott and the University Gaston Berger of Saint Louis, Senegal. The master’s degree program was developed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the German Development Institute (GIZ), MAVA Foundation, Global Environment Facility (GEF), the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), and the two universities for students from Mauritania, Senegal, and other African countries. Kosmos is supporting the GAED master’s program by providing our employees as guest lecturers, hosting field trips and internships, and providing financial support. Mauritania’s Biodiversity Oil and Gas Program (BGP) is a public- private partnership supported by the Ministry of Environment and Ministry of Energy. Kosmos is pleased to be engaged with the BGP team and provide support for marine research and policy development. The BGP Program aims to bring stakeholders together to improve marine biodiversity protection, regulatory capacity, and engagement among the various groups that use the ocean. Kosmos has participated in BGP stakeholder dialogues, as well as served as an industry resource for the program. We aim to reassure the fishing and scientific communities interested in this area that Kosmos understands their concerns, takes environmental and social risks seriously and will not only work to mitigate risks but also endeavor to have a positive impact in the area. In 2016, we sponsored BGP researchers on a multi-week marine survey to increase knowledge and data about biodiversity in the waters offshore Mauritania. The results of their research are available at http://www.kosmosenergy.com/ responsibility/environment.php. While many of our social programs are based in Nouakchott and support national development, we believe it is also important to benefit coastal communities in the Ndiago region, which is directly onshore from our license areas near the border with Senegal. Because there was little demographic and economic information available on the Ndiago region when we entered Mauritania in 2013, we began our work in the area by conducting a community needs assessment. The assessment identified energy access as a local need in Ndiago. During stakeholder meetings, community and local authorities had suggested that the local economy could greatly benefit from electrification projects. The needs assessment had also highlighted several solar panel installation projects that had been successful in the region. Thus, in 2016 Kosmos developed a rural electrification project in Ndiago in partnership with the local community and the Ministry of Energy. Kosmos is building solar installations in remote areas of Ndiago that are not connected to the power grid. The project is designed to deliver electricity for more than 2,000 local people. It is our hope that reliable power will lead to increases in quality of life. Additional electrification is expected to improve health and indoor air quality; increase connectivity through mobile device charging and better access to radio and television; and result in greater productivity in economic activities. Fisheries are a key income provider in the Ndiago region. Understandably, the local community strongly prioritizes the safety of its fishermen and their vessels, as well as the safety of those engaged in ancillary activities such as fish processing. After consulting with representatives of the community and monitoring usage of previously donated items, in 2016 we provided additional safety gear and fish processing equipment to the Ndiago community to reduce health risks and improve working conditions. Researchers with the Biodiversity Oil and Gas Program analyze marine mammal and sea bird activity while on a marine survey offshore Mauritania sponsored by Kosmos.