IUCN Eastern and Southern Africa

📢 Our 2024 Annual Report is LIVE! 📢 Discover how we’re driving urgent, collective action for #Africa's natural heritage. The report emphasizes integrated approaches, youth engagement, sustainable finance, and collaborative governance to tackle #biodiversity loss and climate change head-on. Together, we're safeguarding our rich biodiversity for future generations! ➡️ Read it now! https://xmrrwallet.com/cmx.plnkd.in/dMwxSBzZ 📖 Flipbook version - https://xmrrwallet.com/cmx.plnkd.in/dhEtZb8A Luther Anukur Charles Oluchina Thomas Sberna Innocent Kabenga Leo Niskanen Vhalinavho Khavhagali Dr. Francis Musau Alain NDOLI Elinasi Monga (PhD) Barkha Mossaë Christine Mentzel Debasmita Boral Rolland Curity Ogada Iain Stewart Tara Pelembe Imogen Napper Ghaamid Abdulbasat Emmanuel Godliving Minja Olávio Mário Mazivila IUCN

Please share: IUCN-ESARO is launching a critical exercise on #BBNJ readiness and scientific capability in Africa, and inviting proposals from qualified experts 🧬 🧫 🌊 This consultancy is part of a broader effort at IUCN Eastern and Southern Africa to support the implementation of the #BBNJ Agreement. As we move towards the Agreement's imminent entry into force, this exercise will take stock of the continent’s scientific and technical capacities for the BBNJ Agreement's early implementation, aims to design a regional capacity-building programme and identify potential BBNJ Centres of Excellence pilots. I'm particularly excited about this exercise as its insights and outcomes go beyond BBNJ. 🌊 The Agreement is a catalyst to rethink how science shapes governance and to renew our efforts to close the ocean science gap which matters not only for BBNJ, but also for many aspects of the blue economy and ocean governance as a whole. 🌊 Through this consultancy, the chosen expert(s) will assess existing scientific and technical capacities across the continent and help design a targeted, scalable, and inclusive regional programme, grounded in science equity. 🚨 🛑 Deadline to apply: 8 August 2025, open to African nationals only #OceanGovernance #SciencePolicy #AfricaBlueEconomy #CapacityBuilding #GreatBlueWall #BlueJustice #BBNJReadiness #MarineScience #UNCLOS #IUCN #BBNJ #CBTMT https://xmrrwallet.com/cmx.plnkd.in/dp3T2Ukh

Southern Africa Ramsar Regional Initiative (SARRI) was officially launched on July 24th, 2025, during the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties to the Ramsar Convention #COP15. This landmark moment for our region, signifies a united commitment to enhancing the protection and wise use of Southern Africa's wetland resources. SARRI will play a key role in aligning regional efforts and enhancing collaboration for these invaluable ecosystems. We're particularly pleased to announce that the initiative will be overseen by the SADC Secretariat with the Secretariat hosted by IUCN’s Regional Office in Eastern and Southern Africa (ESARO). Dr Musonda Mumba Luther Anukur Vhalinavho Khavhagali Simba Mandota Melisa Mavhenge Sandra Ponde Convention on Wetlands https://xmrrwallet.com/cmx.plnkd.in/dgJawWh3

Opportunity: Legal Consultancy Opportunity to Support BBNJ Domestication in Madagascar! The IUCN Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office (IUCN ESARO) is seeking a qualified legal expert to conduct a comprehensive review of Madagascar’s legal and policy frameworks to align with the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement. This short-term consultancy will play a vital role in accelerating treaty domestication and strengthening ocean governance in the Western Indian Ocean. 🔹 Duration: August–November 2025 🔹 Location: Madagascar (with virtual & in-person components) 🔹 Deadline to Apply: 11 August 2025 Link to the RfP and Terms of Reference available in the comments section 👇 Let’s drive legal transformation for high seas protection 🌐⚖️ #BBNJ #OceanGovernance #Madagascar #IUCN #MarineBiodiversity #InternationalLaw #LegalConsultancy #WesternIndianOcean #GreatBlueWall #BBNJAgreement #EnvironmentalLaw Jeremy Raguain TIANARISOA Tantely

🌳Celebrating mangrove conservation in Kenya! 🌊 This past week was commemorative for #mangrove conservation in Kenya! IUCN Eastern and Southern Africa was proud to join the Kenya Forest Service and the National Mangrove Management Committee in commemorating the International Day for the Conservation of Mangrove Ecosystems. Our team, led by Francis Okalo (Programme Manager, Coastal and Ocean Resilience - Kenya), participated in a series of events: ➡️ July 24: Mangrove planting at Mida Creek, contributing directly to the restoration of these important ecosystems. ➡️ July 25: A national dialogue in Kilifi focused on policies, innovations, financing, and community practices for sustainable mangrove management. ➡️ July 26: We were part of the MoU signing of the Global Mangrove Alliance (Kenya chapter), together with Conservation International WWF-Kenya Wetlands International Eastern Africa and The Nature Conservancy. Followed by the national celebrations at the Kenya Forest Service Gede Forest Station, bringing together stakeholders to highlight the importance of mangroves. As a member of the National Mangrove Management Committee, IUCN is committed to strengthening collaboration among partners. Our main objective is to facilitate national dialogue on policies, innovations, financing, and community practices for sustainable mangrove management. Luther Anukur Charles Oluchina Thomas Sberna Denise Nicolau Vatosoa Rakotondrazafy Curity Ogada BUSOLO BONFACE Nathan M. Global Mangrove Alliance

IUCN Eastern and Southern Africa , Conservation International, The Nature Conservancy, Wetlands International Eastern Africa and WWF-Kenya have officially signed an MoU. This agreement establishes the Global Mangrove Alliance (GMA) - Kenya chapter. This collaboration is a significant commitment to speed up on-the-ground mangrove conservation efforts across Kenya. By working together, these organizations will strengthen national conservation goals and contribute to global ambitions, including the Mangrove Breakthrough objectives. This united effort by the GMA Kenya chapter is a major step forward in safeguarding these essential natural assets for both people and the environment. Read the press release here: https://xmrrwallet.com/cmx.plnkd.in/dKfEXbfZ Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) #WorldMangroveDay #SaveOurMangroves #COP15

This week marked a significant milestone for the SfN (Solutions from Nature) initiative with the inaugural meeting of its The Great Blue Wall Steering Committee in Ambilobe, Madagascar. The meeting was incredibly productive, officially launching the two demonstration sites for the SfN initiative. We also saw the validation of the Conservation Leadership program for local communities, empowering those at the forefront of conservation efforts. A key outcome was the establishment of the NbS (Nature-based Solutions) practitioners’ network, named G.A. SfN Diana (Group of NbS Actors in the Diana Seascape). This collaborative group developed a comprehensive strategic plan and identified priority actions for both demonstration sites. They also laid out the next steps for field interventions. These achievements represent a powerful step forward for nature-based solutions and community-led conservation in the Diana Seascape.

On this year’s #AfricaDayofSeasandOceans, IUCN’s Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office (IUCN-ESARO) joins the African Union and partners in celebrating Africa’s remarkable ocean heritage and the coastal communities that steward it. This year marks the end of the Africa Decade of Seas and Oceans (2015–2025) a milestone that has laid the foundation for stronger commitments to marine protection, climate resilience, and sustainable blue economies. As we mark this transition, IUCN calls for the launch of a new Decade of Ocean Regeneration and Equity, rooted in African leadership, community-driven innovation, and South–South collaboration. Through the Great Blue Wall (GBW) initiative, African countries supported by IUCN and partners are scaling up interconnected regenerative seascapes to address biodiversity loss, climate change, and pollution. From the WIOCOR project, which is investing over $800,000 in local seagrass conservation and climate adaptation across five countries, to ISLANDPLAS, a circular economy initiative tackling plastic pollution in African island states, GBW’s reach is growing. In Tanzania, Pamoja Tuhifadhi Bahari Yetu is protecting coastal ecosystems while improving livelihoods, while the ReSea Project has already engaged 8,000+ people 53% women and 37% youth—in nature-based solutions, governance, and local economic resilience. Together, these projects reflect a transformative approach to ocean conservation and inclusive development. As part of IUCN’s ocean diplomacy efforts, we are thrilled to announce the Africa BBNJ Information Series—a free monthly webinar series starting in August 2025, open to all stakeholders across the continent. This series will unpack the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement through an African lens, with topics ranging from marine genetic resources and the Preparatory Commission to the ocean-biodiversity-climate nexus. Join us to strengthen Africa’s collective voice in the High Seas Treaty process and prepare for meaningful engagement at #COP30 and beyond. Sign up now: https://xmrrwallet.com/cmx.plnkd.in/dZv9iCWe , let’s shape the future of ocean governance together. #AfricanDayOfSeasAndOceans #ReSeaProject #GreatBlueWall #WIORegion #BlueEconomy #NatureBasedSolutions #GenderEquality #ClimateAction #OceanConservation #BlueResilience #IUCN #CoastalCommunities #WomenInConservation #YouthForOceans #SustainableOceans #ZeroPlasticWasteIslands #VoicesForBlueBeyond #BlueNature #BluePeople WIOMSA - Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association European Union African Union AUDA NEPAD Minderoo Foundation Fonds français pour l'environnement mondial (FFEM) IUCN Eastern and Southern Africa Global Affairs Canada | Affaires mondiales Canada ReSea Project ESARO WWF Tanzania WWF Ghaamid Abdulbasat Jeremy Raguain Thomas Sberna Climate High-Level Champions Minderoo Foundation Agence Française de Développement Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH High Seas Alliance

As we are approaching the #MangrovesDay, In #Mozambique, Morrumbene communities have been selected for pilot #Mangrove Restoration efforts in #Inhambane seascape We’re excited to share that the communities of Jogo Maiwane and Jogo Matuvi in Morrumbene District, Mozambique have been selected as pilot sites for a new community-based mangrove restoration initiative under the CORE RESTOR Project. This milestone was marked by a joint field visit involving representatives from the Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Fisheries, the District Government of Morrumbene, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The visit aimed to inform and engage local administrative and community entities, ensuring transparency and ownership from the outset. The selection was based on ecological, socio-economic, and technical criteria, aligning with our shared goal of promoting sustainable development and resilient coastal ecosystems in Inhambane Province. Community engagement is at the heart of this work. Local leadership and the Community Fisheries Council were briefed on the project's objectives, their roles, and the importance of active participation throughout the restoration process. The mission included, at the provincial level, the Provincial Director of Agriculture and Fisheries, the Head of the Fisheries Department, a technician from the Mozambique Oceanographic Institute, and an IUCN officer. At the district level, the District Director of Economic Activities participated on behalf of the District Administrator of Morrumbene, along with the Head of the Fisheries Division. The CORE RESTOR Project — “Strengthening Coastal Governance and Ecosystem Restoration for a Resilient Blue Economy” — is funded by the Embassy of Ireland and implemented by IUCN in close collaboration with the provincial and district governments of Inhambane. Together, we are restoring nature and strengthening community stewardship for the long term. 💪🏽🌍 #MangroveRestoration #CommunityBasedConservation #BlueEconomy #CORERESTOR #IUCN #Mozambique #NatureBasedSolutions #ClimateResilience #Inhambane #greatbluewall Olávio Mário Mazivila, Manuel Daniel, Tara Pelembe

The IUCN World Conservation Congress 2025. A global gathering of leading conservation experts, leaders and decision-makers. And a pivotal opportunity to address the needs of both nature and people. Register for the #IUCNcongress before 31 July to take advantage of a 20% discount ➡️ http://xmrrwallet.com/cmx.pbit.ly/4iFPpGh