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 regional actions to mitigate environmental stresses,…
The UNEP Nairobi Convention Secretariat has achieved another milestone toward implementing the new Western Indian Ocean Strategic Action Programme in support of a sustainable regional Blue Economy, which was agreed upon by the Contracting Parties to the Nairobi Convention (NC). In partnership with Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA), the Nairobi Convention conducted a six-day Regional Capacity Building Course on…
Durban, South Africa – From March 12-14, 2024, a workshop titled “Country-level Implementation of Regional Framework for Coastal & Marine Water Quality Management (C&MWQM) in the Western Indian Ocean (WIO) Region” was held. Participants included representatives from five Nairobi Convention Contracting Parties: Kenya, Tanzania/Zanzibar, South Africa, Seychelles, and Madagascar. This workshop aimed to enhance the…
Training Workshop: Implementation of the Strategic Framework on Water Quality at national and sub-national levels in the WIO region This workshop will be held in Durban, South Africa between 4-8 March 2024. The training is being held to support capacity building in 5 regional countries as part implementation of Nairobi Convention Decision CP.10/10. Water Quality…
In September 2023, an intrepid team of environmental stewards embarked on a transformative odyssey along the coasts of Boeny and Sofia regions in Madagascar. They sought to assess and engage with local communities on mangrove conservation, restoration and explore blue carbon market initiatives for the sustainability of coastal marine biodiversity in the country. The team…
The Nairobi Convention for the Western Indian Ocean (WIO) and the Basel, Rotterdam, and Stockholm (BRS) Conventions have joined forces to combat the escalating problem of marine litter, with a specific focus on plastics and associated chemicals in the WIO region. This partnership aims to equip WIO countries with improved capacity to implement the legally…
Ports play a crucial role in the global economy as they facilitate the transportation of 90% of global trade and deliver numerous goods that we use every day. However, unsustainable port development can pose severe threats to coastal ecosystems and the goods and services that they provide. Ports are known to cause significant pollution due…
The Seventh GEF Assembly and Associated Meetings will be held from August 22-26, 2023 in Vancouver, Canada. The Assembly is the governing body of the GEF that includes representatives of all 185 member countries, and is responsible for reviewing and evaluating the GEF’s general policies, operations, and membership. It is also responsible for considering and…
Efforts and Progress Wetlands in the Western Indian Ocean region are not just a pretty sight, they are vital ecosystems that support a diverse array of life. They include salt marshes, seagrass beds, and mangrove forests. These unique habitats are homes, breeding and feeding grounds for species such as fish, turtles, sea cucumbers, molluscs, corals,…
The push for more evidence-based policy making The world is currently facing an unprecedented planetary crisis of pollution and waste, climate change, and biodiversity loss. Evidence-based management and policy decision making is critical to inform interventions to turn the tide. Marine scientists, researchers, and experts commendably and constantly publish papers and articles from their respective…