During the Our Blue Future (OBF) strategy workshop, held in Nairobi, Kenya on 3rd and 4th September 17 partner organisations convened to reinforce their commitment to OBF, and planned how to enhance its effectiveness and influence as the multi-stakeholder initiative to catalyse an inclusive and sustainable blue economy (ISBE) in the WIO region. Over two days, participants discussed and collectively planned concrete actions and pathways to strategically improve OBF’s effectiveness, benefits, and long-term impacts.
The Nairobi Convention Secretariat set the context for the strategy, explaining that OBF has been endorsed to support operationalization of the Regional Ocean Governance Strategy at the 11th Conference of Parties just last month.
Partners conducted a comprehensive review of OBF’s journey, functions, structures, and progress to date. This session also highlighted upcoming funding opportunities, crucial for OBF’s continued growth and impact. Partners critically reviewed the OBF structure and explored ways to enhance effectiveness in key areas, such as advocacy and awareness, knowledge and capacity building, project development and resource mobilisation.
The workshop validated the importance and interconnection of OBF’s various components, encouraging a unified perspective to create a vibrant transformation network of projects partners, and enterprises. Priorities and opportunities for advancing OBF’s mission were identified, crafting a coherent overall structure supported by different components focusing on different key aspects of ISBE.
A significant development was the launch of the OBF Blue Finance Innovation Team by OBF partners and a private sector roundtable on WWF’s report on assessing financial flows in the southwest Indian Ocean blue economy. The discussion featured contributions from Ian Isherwood (WWF), Pauline Mbayah (Stanbic Bank Foundation), Elijah Isaabu (Equity Bank), Joyce Klu (European Investment Bank), Jonas Tesfu (Pangea Accelerator), and Dr. Samantha Peterson (WWF). Additionally, the OBF Blue Tourism Innovation Team presented its initiatives and roadmap, which focus on promoting innovative strategies for blue tourism in the WIO region.
The workshop concluded with a renewed commitment to advancing OBF’s mission, with actionable insights and strategic plans poised to shape the future of the initiative. OBF partners are set to enhance their collective impact and effectiveness, driving forward the shared purpose: stronger together!
For more information on OBF, the Strategy Workshop and its outcomes, please visit www.our-blue-future.org
