Policy and Governance

The Western Indian Ocean (WIO) region faces serious threats from climate change and human activities, impacting its rich marine ecosystems and the livelihoods of millions. To address these challenges, stakeholders are using Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) to promote sustainable ocean resource use and support a blue economy. MSP helps coordinate human activities in marine and coastal areas. The Nairobi Convention leads the implementation of MSP, crafting a strategy that focuses on inclusive and sustainable management of ocean resources for human well-being. 
 
The blue carbon ecosystems (BCEs) in the Western Indian Ocean, which include mangroves, seagrasses, and tidal marshes, play a crucial role in fighting climate change and supporting the local economy. These ecosystems store much more carbon than land forests, making them important for climate resilience. However, they are increasingly threatened by population growth, pollution, overexploitation, and climate change. 
 

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.

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The current assessment report is intended to support the development of a private sector engagement strategy for the WIO region which in turn will lead to partnerships aimed at reducing stress on its ecosystems. For the purposes of this report, the private sector is considered to be those enterprises that are run by individuals and companies and are not state controlled. These range from microenterprises to cooperatives to multinationals, including financial institutions, trade associations and organizations that represent private sector interests and philanthropic foundations.

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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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The first negotiation meeting on the text of the Protocol on Integrated Coastal Zone Management in Western Indian Ocean Region was held on 25 and 26 September 2013 in Cape Town, South Africa.

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The Role of Periodic Assessment in Informing Policy: Scenario Setting and Governance.

Paper presented at the Partnership on Science to Policy Forum, Mahe, Seychelles, 11-12 October, 2016

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The meeting on the Partnership on Science to Policy Forum was organized by the Secretariat of the Nairobi Convention for the Protection, Management and Development of the Marine and Coastal Environment of the Western Indian Ocean region in collaboration with the Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association (WIOMSA) and the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC) in Mahe, Seychelles on the 11-12 October 2016.