EU and BMZ Launch £60.5 Million Sustainable Western Indian Ocean Programme

Mombasa: The European Union (EU), the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), and their implementing partners have launched the Sustainable Western Indian Ocean Programme (SWIOP) during the 11th Our Ocean Conference held in Mombasa, Kenya. The programme is designed to enhance ocean governance, catalyse investment in the blue economy, and bolster ecosystem resilience in the Western Indian Ocean region. According to European Union, the SWIOP aims to address pressing challenges in the region where over 60 million people rely on coastal and marine ecosystems for sustenance and economic activities. The region faces significant threats from climate change, unsustainable practices, and pressure on marine ecosystems. Illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing alone results in losses exceeding £214 million annually, impacting shared fish stocks and undermining the livelihoods and food security of coastal communities. Furthermore, fewer than one-third of small and medium enterpr ises have access to formal financial resources, with limited investment pipelines and innovative financing solutions hindering the growth of sustainable blue businesses. The SWIOP initiative seeks to promote sustainable, productive, and climate-resilient governance of the Western Indian Ocean, while fostering regional collaboration to enhance environmental and economic resilience. The programme aims to unlock the economic potential of a sustainable blue economy for enterprises and communities, while safeguarding marine ecosystems. European Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans, Costas Kadis, emphasized that the programme embodies the spirit of the Global Gateway, creating partnerships that transform collective challenges into shared opportunities. By enhancing ocean governance, supporting sustainable fisheries, and driving investment, the initiative aims to unlock the potential of the Western Indian Ocean while protecting its ecosystems for future generations. Highlighting the significance of development co operation for a prosperous Western Indian Ocean, Andreas Schaumayer, Head of the Department for Food Security and Fisheries at BMZ, stated that SWIOP reflects a shared regional ambition to strengthen cooperation in the sustainable management of marine and coastal resources while advancing an inclusive blue economy. Through the Team Europe approach, Germany and the EU support food security, climate resilience, sustainable livelihoods, and healthy marine ecosystems. Germany contributes expertise at local, regional, and international levels, supporting community-led conservation in Gazi Bay, advancing fisheries governance through the WTO Fisheries Subsidies Agreement, and promoting transparency initiatives such as the Fisheries Transparency Initiative (FiTI). Kenya's Cabinet Secretary for Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs, Hassan Ali Joho, expressed support for the initiative, noting that regional cooperation is essential given that ocean ecosystems and maritime trade flows transcend national borders. E ffective governance, resilient supply chains, and sustainable investments require regional collaboration, which can amplify impact, spread risks, build resilience, and unlock finance and technology. The SWIOP is the EU's flagship initiative under the Global Gateway strategy, aimed at advancing ocean governance, sustainable blue economy development, and ecosystem resilience in the Western Indian Ocean. The £60.5 million programme is funded by the EU (£58 million) and co-funded by BMZ (£2.5 million) and will be implemented over five years across nine countries: Comoros, Djibouti, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, Somalia, and Tanzania. It is executed by the Nairobi Convention, European Fisheries Control Agency (EFCA), Indian Ocean Commission (IOC), Deutsche Gesellschaft fr Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, and Expertise France.