81319680 - Expert opinions, consulting and training to strengthen collective measures for the protection of marine and coastal biodiversity in the Western Indian Ocean

The coastal and marine ecosystems of the Western Indian Ocean (WIO) host a rich and unique biodiversity. These ecosystems are also crucial for the food security and economic development of over 60 million people in the region's coastal states - Somalia, Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, South Africa, Seychelles, Comoros, Mauritius, and Réunion (France). However, increasing coastal migration, global demand for natural resources, marine pollution, climate change, and unsustainable economic activities threaten the region's resources. Regional and cross-border cooperation between states, the private sector, and civil society actors at all levels is crucial for improved marine policy, the conservation of marine and coastal biodiversity, and an inclusive and sustainable blue economy (ISBE). An ISBE aims to increase prosperity and improve social justice through initiatives that restore and preserve the integrity and productivity of ecosystems. ProsperBlue, formerly the Western Indian Ocean Governance Initiative (WIOGI), strengthens the joint contributions of relevant actors to the protection and sustainable use of marine and coastal biodiversity with a view to an inclusive and sustainable blue economy (ISBE) in the Western Indian Ocean region. The project pursues an integrated approach to strengthening cooperation from the regional to the local level and involves stakeholders to meet regional needs and find compromises. Inclusivity, gender equality, and conflict sensitivity are fundamental design elements of this initiative, enabling and promoting the participation of all stakeholders. The project works through multi-stakeholder platforms such as Our Blue Future (OBF) to strengthen cooperation between public, private, civil society, and international actors, improve learning processes, build mutual capacities, and coordinate joint contributions to an ISBE. It focuses on strengthening the capacities of communities, including the participation of women and youth in decision-making processes, to manage coastal areas and reshape business practices to contribute to the conservation and sustainable use of natural resources. The initiative is implemented jointly with partners and the current four implementing countries Mozambique, Madagascar, Somalia, and Tanzania through five interconnected components: 1) Strengthening the capacities of regional and local actors to cooperate in the conservation and sustainable use of marine and coastal biodiversity. 2) Ensuring that women-led micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) benefit from improved business services for an ISBE. 3) Strengthening the professional, technical, and entrepreneurial skills of local actors for an ISBE. 4) Improving the availability of adapted financial services for MSMEs in the blue economy. 5) Improving the participation of local communities in initiatives for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity in coastal and marine areas.