blue economy

Implementing organisation: 

The Southwest Indian Ocean Fisheries Commission (SWIOFC through the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the Nairobi Convention through the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for enhanced collaboration to support member countries of the Southwest Indian Ocean Fisheries Commission (SWIOFC)and Nairobi Convention in their commitment towards the sustainable management of their coastal and marine environment and fishery res

Country of implementation: 

The Regional Ocean Governance Strategy (ROGS) support team formed a task force of 24 experts to enhance the development of the ROGS. Representatives from organizations such as the Nairobi Convention, African Union, and Indian Ocean Commission are included in the task force. The team has conducted participatory technical dialogues and information sessions to co-develop the strategy. The four main clusters of focus are maritime security, blue economy, environment and natural resources, and knowledge management and capacity building.

A leadership workshop took place in Mombasa, Kenya, for senior leaders, officials, and policymakers in marine policy and ocean governance. The workshop, held from 27 to 29 May 2024, included 40 participants from ten countries in the region and staff from the Nairobi Convention Secretariat. The unique challenges of having a diverse mix of participants turned out to be a major benefit for building practical skills. The emphasis was on learning through repeated practice and receiving feedback.

The Nairobi Convention parties in the Western Indian Ocean are developing a Regional Ocean Governance Strategy (ROGS) to address maritime security, the blue economy, environment, and knowledge management. A Task Force of 24 members has been working on this since May 2022, engaging in technical dialogues to improve social, economic, and environmental challenges. The draft Strategy will be presented at COP 11 in August 2024 for possible adoption, with implementation planned from 2025 to 2028.

Geographical Information: 

This workshop aims to strengthen Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) across the Western Indian Ocean (WIO) region, specifically focusing on Tanzania, Kenya, Mozambique, Mauritius, Madagascar and Comoros. The goal is to integrate national-level data and the WIO Symphony planning tool into the management of marine resources and human activities, emphasizing conflict resolution, sustainability, and conservation for the blue economy.

 

 

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ECA SRO-EA held its 19th session of the Intergovernmental Committee of Experts (ICE) on 2–5 March 2015, in Antananarivo, Madagascar, on the theme “Harnessing the Blue Economy for the development of Eastern Africa.” The meeting urged States in Africa to mainstream the Blue Economy into their national and regional development plans, where applicable

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Presentation at the UNEP- European Commission Workshop on Regional Ocean Governance by the Head of the Nairobi Convention, Mr.Dixon Waruinge.

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The Regional State of Coast Report for the western Indian Ocean (WIO) is the first comprehensive regional synthesis to provide insights into the enormous economic potential around the WIO, the consequential demand for marine ecosystem goods and services to match the increasing human population, the pace and scale of environmental changes taking place in the region and the opportunities to avoid serious degradation in one of the world’s unique and highly biodiverse oceans.

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Given the coastal and environmental opportunities and challenge facing the Western Indian Ocean (WIO), it makes sense to better integrate existing legal and management tools, and look for creative and novel solutions to existing problems (UNEP-Nairobi Convention & WIOMSA 2015). Economic activities that takes place in the ocean space, receives goods and services from ocean activities and ocean activity (to the ocean) has been recognised as a major contributor to national economies (Park et al. 2014).