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:
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.
The Western Indian Ocean Science to Policy Platform (SPP) is a multi-stakeholder intermediary, bridging gaps between science, policy, and society in the WIO region. It supports Nairobi Convention efforts by integrating scientific evidence, fostering an understanding of environmental challenges, and facilitating evidence-based decision-making for sustainable coastal and marine development.
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…
Strengthening Resilience of Coastal Marine Ecosystems and Fisheries Management through Cooperation and collaborative Efforts in Kenya [Diani 23 January 2025]. The Southwest Indian Ocean Fisheries Commission (SWIOFC) and the Nairobi Convention with support from the Swedish International Development Agency, held the first National Project Steering Committee meeting for Kenya and the launch of the project…
Strengthening Marine Ecosystems: The Case of Mauritius The Nairobi Convention serves as a regional platform to address the challenges facing coastal and marine ecosystems in the Western Indian Ocean (WIO) through collective interventions, dialogue, and partnerships. Contracting Parties, including Kenya, Mozambique, Somalia, South Africa, Tanzania, Comoros, Mauritius, Madagascar, Reunion (France), and Seychelles, collaborate on national and…
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The Nairobi Convention Clearinghouse – data and information for improved management and protection of the Western Indian Ocean
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