The PROCARIBE+ Project facilitated a successful Blue Economy Twinning Exchange, a peer-to-peer learning mission that strengthened SIDS-to-SIDS collaboration between the Caribbean and Africa. Jointly supported by GEF IW:LEARN, PROCARIBE+, and the African SIDS Blue Economy Projects, the mission aimed at transferring knowledge and experiences on sustainable ocean management and innovative financing. Participants included Mrs. Shamiso Mlilwana, Project Coordinator of the African SIDS Blue Economy Project; Mr. Vianey Assonfack Ndemasse from the African Union Commission; and Ms. Sonia Gautreau, Senior Project Officer of the PROCARIBE+ Project.
Setting the Regional Stage in Cartagena, Colombia
To kick-start the exchange, all participants travelled to Cartagena, Colombia, to join the First Regional Partnership Forum of the Wider Caribbean Ocean Coordination Mechanism (OCM). This forum, held in conjunction with the 78th Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute (GCFI) annual meeting, was a critical milestone to mobilize support for the newly operationalized OCM. The Forum brought together experts and stakeholders to strengthen cooperation on ocean governance across the Wider Caribbean Region, providing an important opportunity for the African colleagues to showcase African Blue Economy frameworks and learn from experiences in the Caribbean and beyond.
Belize: Learning People-Centric Approaches for Ocean Conservation
For the second, impactful leg of the exchange, the representatives travelled to Belize to learn on-the-ground experiences on how the nation has advanced innovative financing, sustainable fisheries management, and marine conservation policy and planning to promote a thriving, ocean-based economy. The team was honored to be hosted by the Ministry of Blue Economy and Marine Conservation (MBEMC).
Belize is showing the world that a people-centric conservation agenda can be successful at protecting marine and coastal resources while benefiting its communities. The groundbreaking Blue Bonds for Ocean Conservation, which establishes long-term funding for marine protection in the country, was showcased by representatives from the Blue Bond and Finance Permanence Unit. Further discussions covered the innovative Resilient Bold Belize (RBB) initiative, a collaboration between the Government of Belize and WWF, which is set to raise over $160 million to promote nature-based livelihoods and climate resilience through an inclusive stakeholder approach.
Beyond finance, the exchange included detailed sessions on Sustainable Fisheries Management by the Belize Fisheries Department and the country's Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) Process led by the Coastal Zone Management Authority & Institute. Participants gained insights into transformative Marine Protected Area (MPA) Management, including innovative blue finance and the use of technology for enforcement and adaptive management, presented by the Turneffe Atoll Sustainability Association (TASA). TASA's work at the Turneffe Atoll Marine Reserve (TAMR) served as a practical example of strong stakeholder engagement and collaboration in MPA management.
To close the exchange, a meeting was held with the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism to identify cross-regional synergies for future collaboration between the African Commission and the CRFM.
On-the-Ground Conservation and Community Engagement
The mission also included an exceptional site visit to the Sapodilla Cayes Marine Reserve (SCMR), where colleagues observed the Toledo Institute for Development and Environment (TIDE)'s work on MPA management and community engagement. A major focus was on the establishment of Fishery Replenishment Zones (FRZs) in the SCMR, a crucial activity implemented through a partnership with the Mesoamerican Reef Fund (MAR Fund) and TIDE, co-financed by the PROCARIBE+ Project. This work, which includes the legal designation of new Fish Spawning Aggregation (FSA) sites, will contribute significantly to Belize’s coral reef protection targets.
New friendships were forged, and our colleagues from the African SIDS Project are returning home with concrete ideas on how to implement these best practices and financing mechanisms in their own countries. The exchange was a first step in solidifying South-South and SIDS to SIDS collaboration between the organizations involved.
Partners Involved in the ExchangeWe would like to thank all the partners and organizations involved in making this transformative peer-to-peer exchange a success:
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