The Western Indian Ocean is being degraded by activities that harm marine life, undermine coastal communities and negatively affect human health. These threats make it more important than ever for governments in the region to work together to strengthen protection of the ocean.
Administered by UNEP, the Nairobi Convention—signed by Comoros, France, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, Somalia, Tanzania and the Republic of South Africa — provides a platform for governments, civil society, and the private sector to work together for the sustainable management and use of the marine and coastal environment.
Integrated Management of the Marine and Coastal Resources of the Northern Mozambique Channel (NoCaMo) Project
African, Caribbean, and Pacific (ACP) Countries Capacity Building of Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) project
A Partnership project for Marine and Coastal Governance and Fisheries Management for Sustainable Blue Growth in the Western Indian Ocean
The Western Indian Ocean Large Marine Ecosystems Strategic Action Programme Policy Harmonisation and Institutional Reforms (SAPPHIRE)
Implementation of the Strategic Action Programme for the protection of the Western Indian Ocean from land-based sources and activities (WIOSAP)
The Western Indian Ocean Governance Initiative (WIOGI)
The Nairobi Convention area extends from Somalia in the north to South Africa in the south, covering 10 African States.
The participating countries are:
In October 2024, Tanzania hosted a workshop to launch COP 11 implementation, fostering collaboration on ocean governance, pollution, and ecosystem protection. Partners explored synergies, with follow-up meetings between 27-31 January 2025 to give technical reviews to action plans and monitoring frameworks, approve workplans, and monitor progress for the 2025-2028 Programme of Work under the Nairobi Convention.
The Conference of Parties (COP) is the decision-making forum of the Nairobi Convention where policies and strategies are agreed on to continue the protection, management, and development of the Western Indian Ocean. The Nairobi Convention’s 11th Conference of Parties (COP11) is scheduled for August 20-22, 2024. COP 11 will be hosted in Antananarivo, Madagascar.
Shore to Policy- Women’s Role in Marine Conservation and Governance in the Western Indian Ocean Region The Western Indian Ocean (WIO) is a biodiversity-rich region and an economic lifeline, supporting millions through livelihoods, food security, and vital ecosystems. But climate change, overfishing, and pollution threaten its future. Strong ocean governance is key to sustainable management.…
Read proceedings from Workshops to formally kickstart implementation of Decisions from COP 11 and the Nairobi Convention 2025-2028 Programme of Work in the newsletter below, or click here to read it from your browser. – – – Related Event Page
The Future of Marine Ecosystems: Technical Review of the proposed Ocean Acidification Action Plan **[Dar es Salaam, 27 January 2025]** – The Ocean Acidification (OA) Workshop for the for the Western Indian Ocean was successfully organized in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania on 27 January 2025. The review meeting of the proposed Ocean Acidification Action Plan by…
Quick access to Nairobi Convention’s frequently searched publications and tools.
The Nairobi Convention Clearinghouse – data and information for improved management and protection of the Western Indian Ocean
The Western Indian Ocean Science to Policy Platform (SPP) is “a multi-stakeholder platform comprising representatives of formal and informal knowledge-generating institutions, practitioners, policymakers, communities and the private sector within the WIO region.
