About Us
A healthy, prosperous and resilient future for the Western Indian Ocean region’s communities, businesses and ecosystems
What we do
Our Blue Future works at many levels, but is primarily focused on mobilising and channelling technical, financial, and advocacy support to support enterprises and communities become more sustainable for the health of the ocean.
Vision
A healthy, prosperous and resilient future for the Western Indian Ocean region’s communities, businesses and ecosystems
Mission
We empower multi-stakeholder collaboration to catalyse an inclusive and sustainable blue economy in the Western Indian Ocean region
About Us
About WIO
The Western Indian Ocean (WIO) region spans over 30 million km2, from the Somalia
region in the north, to the southern tip of South Africa. It encompasses tropical and
subtropical regions of diverse nature, rich stretches of coast along the mainland
countries of Somalia, Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique and South Africa. It also
includes vast oceanic areas surrounding the island states of Madagascar, Seychelles,
Comoros, Mauritius and French Territories. 60 million people live within 100 km of its
15,000 km coastline and directly depend on the ocean for their food security,
livelihoods and climate resilience.
What is ISBE?
An inclusive and sustainable blue economy (ISBE) is one in which people and
countries can derive a continued source of value and wealth, while simultaneously
protecting, maintaining, and restoring diverse, productive, and resilient fresh water
and marine ecosystems. It is reliant upon clean technologies, renewable energy, and
circular material flows. It provides social and economic benefits for current and future
generations. The concept of blue economy is central for sustainable development.
Much of the emphasis has been placed on short-term economic gains and less on
sustainability. As a result, traditional livelihoods and small-scale local operations are frequently outcompeted by, with little regard for social inclusion and environmental
sustainability.
The most fundamental principle of a Sustainable Blue Economy often overlooked in
the interest of these short-term economic gains is that people are at its centre.
Our history
The WIO region is recognized globally as one of the biodiversity hotspots with high
ecological and socio-economic value. However, with increased global demand for
natural resources, pollution, climate change and a diversity of unsustainable
economic activities, the region’s fragile coastal and marine eco-systems are under
threat. In response to this, efforts and innovative solutions were urgently required to
address these challenges. Business as usual scenario is likely to result in the
depletion of coastal and marine resources and the associated socio-economic
benefits.
In 2020, to bolster collective leadership between states, private sector and civil
society actors, discussions between key actors in the region were initiated with
support from GIZ’s Western Indian Ocean Governance Initiative to develop a regional
multi stakeholder initiative for an ISBE in the WIO region. Our Blue Future (OBF) was
initiated in 2021 upon adoption of a decision (COP 10/12/2c) at the 10th Nairobi
Convention Conference of Parties to support the development of a multi-stakeholder
initiative to catalyze an ISBE in the WIO region.
Our Blue Future is being developed using a multi-stakeholder approach (Read more).
Its vision is a healthy, prosperous, and resilient WIO region for all, underpinned by
participatory governance, sustainable economies and thriving coastal and marine
ecosystems (Read
Our Approach
Part of OBF’S DNA is to take an inclusive and participatory multi-stakeholder
approach in all aspects of the initiative. This approach:
1. Increases ownership, participation, resources and strategic capital, with a
focus on action and impacts.
2. Is made up of businesses, governments, civil society, and international,
regional and local organisations that collectively develop and steer Our Blue
Future.
3. Models a culture of dialogue and collaboration by taking a collective
leadership approach.
Meet Our Partners
