ABOUT US

We are developing into an inclusive, well-resourced & effective collaboration between government, business, civil society in the Western Indian Ocean region.

ABOUT THE 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 of coastline and directly depend on the ocean for their food security, livelihoods and climate resilience.

WHAT IS AN INCLUSIVE AND SUSTAINABLE BLUE ECONOMY?

A SBE 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 river basin 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 international corporations and government initiatives, 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 Western Indian Ocean (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 to 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 inclusive and sustainable Blue Economy in the Western Indian Ocean region. The proposal to develop a regional multi stakeholder initiative was presented and endorsed during the tenth Nairobi Convention Conference of Parties (Decision CP.10/12). Our Blue Future is being developed using a multi-stakeholder approach. (Read more). Our Blue Future’s vision is a healthy, prosperous, and resilient WIO region for all, underpinned by participatory governance, sustainable economies and thriving coastal and marine ecosystems. (Read more).

OUR MULTI-STAKEHOLDER APPROACH

Increases ownership, participation, resources and strategic capital, with a focus on action and impacts.

Is made up of businesses, governments, civil society, and international and regional organisations that collectively develop and steer Our Blue Future.

Models a culture of dialogue and collaboration by taking a collective leadership approach.

OUR GOVERNANCE

In the spirit of co-creation and inclusivity, in its development phase OBF is governed by a non-hierarchal, multi-stakeholder Preliminary Steering Team. Each partner allocates a member to the Steering Team. They will provide inspiration, guidance, and mechanisms for collective leadership, supporting a diversity of initiatives to grow in scale and impact in a strategic direction.

It is not a mechanism for coordination and control, as each member organisation, partnership and project have their own governance and accountability mechanisms, and the mandate for regional coordination will always be across multiple organisations.

Once OBF transitions to its interim developmental phase, a Steering Committee will be elected, with equal representation from public sector, private sector and civil society.

OUR PRELIMINARY STEERING TEAM

OBF Interim Structure

OBF Interim Secretariat

OCEAN GOVERNANCE IN THE WIO – BY THE NAIROBI CONVENTION

PARTNERS

We are 25 Partners

A multi-stakeholder initiative provides the framework for engagement between businesses, civil society and other stakeholders such as governments. In the case of Our Blue Future, seeking to address issues of mutual concern around the challenges in the Western Indian Ocean region through a participatory and inclusive design and approach.

Our Blue Future has been developed as a Collaboration System with a transformation network of projects and partnerships.