Home – Great Blue Wall

It is a Global South-led movement.

We are building a network of regenerative seascapes and resilient coastal communities through Nature based Solutions for climate adaptation, inclusive ocean governance, and empowering local leadership across Africa and beyond.

It is a Global South-led movement.

The truth is simple

The ocean that sustains us is under pressure, and recovery is no longer guaranteed.

Globally, marine ecosystems are declining faster than they can regenerate. In the Western Indian Ocean, this threatens food security, culture, and economic stability for millions.

WHY NOW

The Western Indian Ocean is at a tipping point.

Marine ecosystems are declining faster than they can regenerate. In this region, millions depend on the ocean for food, culture, and livelihoods. Without immediate action, we risk permanent loss, but recovery is still possible if we act now.

Our Impact

500

THE JOURNEY AHEAD

The Great Blue Wall is entering its next chapter, a decade of scaling ocean restoration, strengthening community leadership, and building a truly regenerative blue economy across the Western Indian Ocean.

After laying the foundation, the mission now is to accelerate collective impact and deepen regional unity for people, nature, and climate.

Strengthening Inclusive Governance and Seascape Management

Building from successful pilots toward interconnected regenerative seascapes through inclusive governance, community stewardship, and locally led management systems. These approaches strengthen coordination, decision making, and long-term resilience by placing coastal communities, local priorities, and shared ownership at the centre of ocean governance.

Scaling Multi-Ecosystem Conservation and Restoration

Expanding conservation and restoration efforts across interconnected coastal and marine ecosystems, including mangroves, seagrasses, coral reefs, salt marshes and dunes. These actions are guided by science, local knowledge, and ecosystem connectivity to strengthen biodiversity, climate resilience, and ocean health.

Building a Regenerative Blue Economy

Coastal communities are taking the lead in ocean-based enterprises such as fisheries, seaweed farming, ecotourism, and conservation finance. The focus is on creating lasting livelihoods while unlocking new funding streams through blue bonds, blended finance, and carbon markets.

Shaping Global and Regional Ocean Policy

Positioning the Great Blue Wall as a global pathway for scaling a regenerative blue economy while strengthening Western Indian Ocean and Global South leadership in ocean governance. The initiative promotes South–South collaboration through knowledge exchange, capacity strengthening, and stronger local voices in international processes, helping accelerate shared action across the Global South.

By 2030, the Great Blue Wall Will be;

01.

conserving at least 30% (2 million km²) of the WIO region

02.

protecting and restoring critical ecosystems, including 2 million hectares of coastal habitats capable of storing up to 100 million tons of CO₂

03.

advancing a regenerative blue economy that supports 65 million coastal people

04.

creating 2 million jobs and builds long-term resilience.

Blue Planet

Focuses on this effort by supporting the establishment of relevant governance frameworks at seascape level and the necessary enabling
policy frameworks at national, regional, and international levels.

Blue Nature

Focuses on securing the integrity of critical ecosystems by accelerating and upscaling the restoration and conservation of critical blue ecosystems by driving the implementation at scale of Nature-based Solutions.

Blue People

Focuses on unlocking the potential of our blue natural capital by supporting the development of a regenerative blue economy.

Blue Partnerships

Because overcoming today’s challenges will require all parties to join forces, and for conservation efforts to be sustainable and impactful at scale, innovative and ambitious partnerships will be a critical piece of the solution.

Our Geographies

GBW works across East Africa and the Western Indian Ocean—spanning Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, Madagascar, Seychelles, Mauritius, and Comoros—where communities, governments, and partners unite to restore mangroves, coral reefs, and seagrass, strengthen locally managed marine areas, reduce plastic waste, and improve coastal livelihoods through sustainable blue economy practice

Together, these geographies showcase GBW’s vision of resilient oceans, thriving communities, and a sustainable blue economy.

Our Geographies

GBW works across across eastern and southern africa as well as the Western Indian and The Atlantic oceans, spanning Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, Madagascar, Seychelles, Mauritius, Comoros, Angola, Namibia, Cabo Verde, and São Tomé e Príncipe, where communities, governments, and partners unite to restore mangroves, coral reefs, and seagrass; strengthen locally managed marine areas; reduce plastic waste; and improve coastal livelihoods through sustainable blue economy practices.

Together, these geographies showcase GBW’s vision of resilient oceans, thriving communities, and a sustainable blue economy.