The UNDP-GEF Project, “Supporting Sustainable Inclusive Blue Economy Transformation in African Small Island Developing States (African SIDS),” in partnership with the African Union Commission and GWPSA, recently participated in an IW: Learn Twinning Exchange under the Global Environment Facility International Waters (GEF IW): LEARN 5 initiative. Held in Colombia and Belize from 27 October to 4 November 2025, the exchange aimed to foster collaboration and knowledge sharing between International Waters projects across regions. The African SIDS Blue Economy Project and the Caribbean-based PROCARIBE+ Project were formally twinned to strengthen mutual learning and build capacity for sustainable and inclusive Blue Economy development in both African and Caribbean SIDS.
Financed by the Global Environment Facility and led by UNDP with GWPSA as the executing agency, the African SIDS Project is implemented in Cabo Verde, Comoros, Guinea-Bissau, Mauritius, São Tomé and Príncipe, and Seychelles. Ms. Shamiso Kumbirai, Project Coordinator, highlighted that the initiative seeks to advance sustainable Blue Economy practices in African SIDS, which face pressing challenges from climate change, while learning from the experiences of the PROCARIBE+ Project at national and project levels.
During the exchange, the African SIDS Project participated in the 78th Annual Meeting of the Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute (GCFI) in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia, which brought together scientists, fishers, policymakers, and international organizations to advance collaborative ocean solutions. The event offered opportunities to share knowledge, discuss challenges, and explore solutions for protecting marine resources. The project also attended the first Regional Partnership Forum, “Our Sea – Our Source – Our Future,” focusing on integrated and interactive ocean governance and fostering regional and global stakeholder engagement to reduce fragmentation in ocean management efforts.
In Belize, from 2–4 November 2025, the Ministry of Blue Economy and Marine Conservation and the Toledo Institute for Development and Environment (TIDE) hosted the exchange. Participants learned best practices in Blue Economy development and marine spatial planning and visited the Sapodilla Cayes Marine Reserve to observe TIDE’s co-management approach and the establishment of Fishery Replenishment Zones (FRZs). Financial support from the PROCARIBE+ Project, delivered through the MAR Fund, enhances coral reef protection and sustainable fisheries management in the reserve.
The twinning initiative facilitated knowledge sharing and strengthened collaboration between the PROCARIBE+ and African SIDS projects, enhancing sustainable and inclusive Blue Economy development. The exchange enabled participants to understand on-the-ground implementation, from government ministries to grassroots organizations, and provided lessons on integrated governance models, marine protected area management, stakeholder engagement, and strategies for building resilient communities in small island developing states through inclusive economic growth.
