1.1.1 Support the national consultations in Madagascar, Mozambique, Comoros and Tanzania to build commitment for a regionally and nationally aligned MSP processes, and which is aligned with the regional voluntary commitments to SDG14

Hypothesis : Countries agree on the issues and the future

Indicators : Regional vision for MSP and SDG 14 established between governments and partners; Government and partner commitment to MSP process

1.1.2 Guide and support national multi-sectoral and multi-actor platforms to mainstream sustainability principles in their respective MSP process; and support the future regional MSP platform to ensure coherence of national approaches on MSP

Hypothesis : Countries are sufficiently engaged to participate regularly in meetings and workshops both nationally but also interested in participating to the regional effort

Indicators : MSP Working Group formed and functional; Framework of national and regional MSP partnerships

The SWIO/ NMCi Coordination Unit conducted a workshop in November 2022 to deliver capacity strengthening of national CSO coalitions around MSP, integrated ocean management and governance.

1.1.3 Establish links with relevant regional bodies, including Regional Economic Commissions (IOC, SADC, EAC, COMESA, RFMOs)

Hypothesis : Regional organizations are ready to engage with the NCS to accompany the process in their area of expertise

Indicators : Links with relevant regional bodies established – possible MOUs

The meetings with the RECS are taking place every 2 years, the last one took place on December 4th 2023’ change to ‘The Nocamo project was presented at the Marine Regions Forum in October 2023 and at the Science to Policy Platform (SPP) of the Nairobi Convention in December 2023 where audiences included representatives from the NMC countries, SADC and IOC.

1.1.4 Facilitate experience exchanges with relevant regional conventions (e.g. HELCOM, Barcelona conv.) as well as other ongoing regional IOM processes (Regional Seas, Oceanscapes, etc)

Hypothesis : The other regional seas have advanced in their process and are ready to share it

Indicators : Experience exchange missions and meetings undertaken

NCS works with the Regional Seas Coordinator at the global level (Ecosystems Integration Branch) under this activity.

An important meeting took place during the Marine Region Forum in Dar Es Salam on 5 to 7 of November 2023. A side event for NOCAMO, was an opportunity for NCS and implementing partners to showcase the project to stakeholders and interested parties such as other Regional Seas Conventions that were invited. Another meeting convening all the Regional Seas Secretariats had taken place in Barbados, the Global Annual Meeting for the Regional Seas (20 to 23 November 2023), all Secretariat’s projects were showcased.

1.1.5 Support additional capacity in the NCS for a regional coordinating role in support of project implementation and guiding the MSP process

Indicators : Coordinator based at NCS

A  technical consultant will he hired for this activity.

1.2.1 Establish a dedicated interactive/online atlas that harmonizes, collects and shares data across natural, social, economic, and governance capitals

Hypothesis: Projects and stakeholders in the region agree to share their data; A consensus is found for a sustainable organization of regional data information systems

Indicators : Online database; Interactive atlas; Thematic mapping (natural, social, economic capitals) and cross-mapping for decision making

Capacity Building and Open Data Access:

In 2020-2021, the NCS, under the SAPPHIRE project, enhanced capacity for nine National Data Centres (NDCs) housing Marine Ecosystem Diagnostic Analysis (MEDA) data. The focus is on continued support and mentorship for NDCs, aligning with the Nairobi Convention's commitment to open and accessible data.

WIO Symphony and Clearing House Mechanism (CHM):

WIO Symphony, a collaboration with the Swedish Agency, is a marine spatial planning tool developed in consultation with the regional MSP Technical Working Group. The NCS utilized the CHM to visualize Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in the region. CI introduced the Ocean Health Hub (OHH) in pilot countries, and the NCS will integrate it into the CHM for improved ocean data management.

1.2.2 Map and value coastal and marine goods and services of the NMC, and link with the national Natural Capital accounts and processes

Indicators : Assessment of current health and economic value of NMC ecosystem; Mapping of values

CI has established the interactive tool called Ocean Health Hub (OHH) after having engaged stakeholders within the pilot countries Madagascar, Tanzania and Mozambique (with WWF’s co-funding).The key next steps will be to take the OHH framework (designed with inputs from stakeholders) and integrate it into the CHM, and train data managers and socialize to countries so stakeholders can begin to integrate their data into the system to deal better ocean data management and visualize/track ocean metrics. These next steps are to be undertaken by the NCS, in collaboration with consultants yet to be hired.

1.2.3 Develop a set of scenarios for the NMC with respect to future developments in key economic sectors, demographics and climate change patterns

Indicators : Future scenarios developed and validated

This activity was completed around 2017-2018. At that time, CORDIO, Reos Partners and WWF jointly developed the “Scenarios for the future of the Northern Mozambique Channel” in a participatory way in the region. The Scenarios took a year to be finalized and the discussions amongst regional stakeholders have mainly occurred over three regional workshops (organized by WWF in different WIO countries in May and November 2017, March 2018).

1.3.1 Assess the appropriateness of existing spatial and temporal management tools and institutional arrangements, their potential gaps and points of conflicts

Indicators : Assessment of existing spatial and temporal management tools and institutional mechanisms undertaken

This activity has been completed in December 2021 for Madagascar and in February 2022 for Tanzania. From the above study, under co-funding of SIDA: 

• In May 2022, in Madagascar, 3 ministries agreed with WWF that the follow-up of the process with the consultants One Ocean Hub (OOH) should be the exploration of the development of MSP in one region. Along the same line, WWF has been instrumental in establishing the Blue Economy and Ocean Governance cluster, at national level and regional (such as in DIANA, Menabe, and Atsimo Andrefana). The consulting firm “BE X2Z” has been hired to follow-up the process and proceed with the exploration of the development of MSP in the chosen pilot region of Diana.

Steps achieved in the DIANA region (in co-funding with SIDA):

• Mapping of stakeholders and their respective interventions across the DIANA region (Diego, Ambilobe, Nosy Be and Ambanja)

• Compatibility chart between maritime activities in the region, with an analysis of the interactions between resources and their uses

• SWOT analysis of different sectors and themes including natural resources and environment, maritime infrastructure and maritime equipment, governance as well as social and economic development

• A report of the diagnostic analysis and updated information for each thematic area of the regional maritime atlas

• In Tanzania, WWF Tanzania (WWF TCO) in collaboration with CSIRO Australia and TNC Tanzania, organized an inaugural meeting for the technical committee on Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) for Tanzania in March 2022

• Technical documents are available from the workshop Report 1 -  the works undertaken by the NMCi Coordination Unit on the assessment of the appropriateness of existing spatial and temporal management tools (act.1.3.1) has been completed in December 2021 for Madagascar and February 2022 for Tanzania

1.3.2 Based on the assessment of the specific implications for each scenario and the content of the future regional MSP strategy (and guidelines), develop and propose a more technical guideline designed to support the development and implementation of MSP by the NMC countries

Indicators : Draft of regional MSP framework with chapter for each country; Regional roadmap

The MSP Vision and Roadmap event took place in Maputo, Mozambique, on May 15th and 16th.

1.3.3 Support national and regional level consultative processes to validate the regional MSP technical guideline, with a particular focus on integration with national level (MSP/ICZM) decision processes

Indicators : MSP Regional Framework validated; MSP regional framework integrated into national MSP / ICZM processes; Political commitment for the road map

This activity is scheduled to begin in 2024.