Project Name: UNDP-GEF Project “Supporting Sustainable Inclusive Blue Economy Transformation in African Small Island Developing States (SIDS)
Financing: Global Environment Facility (GEF)
Duration: 2025 to 2028
Implementing Agency: United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
Executing Agency: Global Water Partnership Southern Africa (GWPSA)
Continental Custodians: African Union Commission (AUC)
Project Value: USD 32.2 million (GEF grant of USD 9 million and co-financing of USD 23.2 million)
Geographical Location: Cabo Verde, Comoros, Guinea-Bissau, Mauritius, São Tomé and Príncipe, Seychelles

About the Project

Small Island Developing States (SIDS) face unique challenges, but they also hold valuable opportunities when it comes to protecting their natural environments and meeting their socio-economic development needs. Against this backdrop, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Global Environment Facility (GEF) project -“Supporting Sustainable Inclusive Blue Economy Transformation in African SIDS” (the African SIDS Project), has been launched to support six African island nations in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans: Cabo Verde, Guinea-Bissau, São Tomé and Príncipe, Comoros, Mauritius, and Seychelles. The project seeks to help these countries move towards sustainable, inclusive, and climate-resilient blue economy development.

In São Tomé and Príncipe, the project will place special focus on restoring degraded land and reducing ocean pollution caused by land-based activities.

While acknowledging the broad range of development needs faced by African SIDS, the project has been strategically designed to address the root causes that often block progress and to remove barriers to sustainable blue economy growth. It will do so by fostering South-South learning and triangular cooperation, allowing countries to share knowledge, experiences, and solutions.

The African SIDS Project will strengthen governance and policy environments in all participating countries, creating the foundation for national blue economy transformation. It will also pilot six national blue economy demonstration projects and one land degradation neutrality “ridge-to-reef” demonstration project, showcasing innovative practices and solutions that can be scaled up.

In addition, the project will promote information sharing and knowledge management, ensuring that data, lessons, and good practices are accessible to all stakeholders. This will not only enhance cooperation among African SIDS but also connect them with the wider global SIDS and ocean community.

The project contributes to the African Union’s Blue Economy Strategy, Agenda 2063, and global commitments, including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 14: Life Below Water, and SDG 13: Climate Action.