The Project entitled ‘Implementation of the Strategic Action Programme for the protection of the Western Indian Ocean from land-based sources and activities’ (WIO-SAP) is intended ‘to reduce impacts from land-based sources and activities and sustainably manage critical coastal-riverine ecosystems through the implementation of the WIO-SAP priorities with the support of partnerships at national and regional levels’. The project builds on the WIO-LaB Strategic Action Programme (SAP)[1]for the protection of the WIO Region from land-based sources and activities that was developed under the auspices of the UNEP-GEF WIO-LaB project[2] and which identified key actions that need to be undertaken in the region in order to reverse the degradation of the coastal and marine ecosystems. The WIO-LaB Project that delivered the SAP was essentially focused on land-based activities and sources of degradation of the coastal and marine environment.

Project Summary

  • Project Status: Active
  • Implementing Agency: UNEP
  • Executing Agency: Nairobi Convention Secretariat
  • Project Period: 2016 – 2021
  • GEF Grant: USD 10,867,000
  • Participating Countries: Comoros, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, Somalia, South Africa, Tanzania, France – Non project beneficiary

Project Components

The project addresses cross-cutting issues of governance and awareness which are important in the sustainable management of the coastal and marine ecosystems in the region. To address these main threats, the project has four main components:

Component A

Sustainable management of critical habitats focuses on the protection, restoration and management of critical coastal habitats and ecosystems recognizing the enormous value of healthy critical coastal and marine habitats for the future well-being of people in the WIO region.

Nairobi Convention Implementation of the Strategic Action Programme for the protection of the Western Indian Ocean from land-based sources and activities (WIO-SAP)

Component B

Improved water quality focuses on the need for the WIO Region’s water quality to attain international standards by the year 2035.

Nairobi Convention Implementation of the Strategic Action Programme for the protection of the Western Indian Ocean from land-based sources and activities (WIO-SAP)

Component C

Sustainable management of river flows aims at promoting wise management of river basins in the region through implementation of a suite of activities aimed at building the capacity for environmental flows assessment and application in river basins of the region.

Nairobi Convention Implementation of the Strategic Action Programme for the protection of the Western Indian Ocean from land-based sources and activities (WIO-SAP)

Component D

Governance and regional collaboration focuses on strengthening governance and awareness in the WIO region with a view to facilitating sustainable management of critical coastal ecosystems and habitats.

Nairobi Convention Implementation of the Strategic Action Programme for the protection of the Western Indian Ocean from land-based sources and activities (WIO-SAP)