Authors: Gillian Faith Achieng, Joel Onyango

As a comprehensive and sustainable strategy for maximizing the potential of oceans and marine resources, the blue economy has gained a lot of support in recent years. The core of this economic paradigm is centered around inclusivity, which prioritizes the ethical utilization of marine ecosystems for the advantage of all parties involved, ranging from coastal communities to worldwide companies. A sustainable blue economy not only places environmental preservation as a top priority but also seeks to empower underprivileged areas, promoting social fairness and economic durability.

By Joel Onyango

In Kenya's coastal regions, women play a vital role in their communities, particularly in sectors such as fishing, small-scale agriculture, and tourism. However, they often face numerous challenges that limit their economic opportunities and hinder their ability to fully participate in local development. In recent years, there has been a growing recognition of the importance of inclusive business models, which are deliberate interventions that sustainably integrate low-income and marginalized individuals or groups into the value chains of core business activities in a community with a view to improving their economic livelihoods.

By Alfred Oduor and Fiona Makayoto

The increasing global demand for seaweed is driving its production in East Africa.  Apart from being the main ingredient in pharmaceutical, cleaning and personal care products, the aquatic plant also plays a key role in ocean ecosystems and the planet.

By Alfred Oduor and Fiona Makayoto

The interplay between local micro-economic factors juxtaposed with gender dynamics in the context of environmental conservation determines – to a large extent – the social welfare and wellbeing of a community.

By Eva Komba

Women empowerment is an important developmental agenda that has been adopted worldwide. This has therefore placed the subject as a major element of developmental policy that is reflected in major international, regional and sub-regional as well as national frameworks.

Eva Komba, Kenneth Odary and Alfred Oduor

Tucked deep in Kenya’s south coast is Kibuyuni village, home to generations of coastal fisher folks, a place where Fatuma Usi, calls home. Respectfully referred to as Mama, Fatuma, her presence in Kibuyuni is announced by her well-built house constructed of limestone quarry blocks and roofed with tin metal sheets. Standing at four feet seven inches, Mama Fatuma’s diminutive frame and humble demeanour betrays the gentle giant that she is.

Eva Komba,  Kenneth Odary & Alfred Oduor

The increasing adoption of seaweed farming in Kenya’s coastal region is promising to transform women’s economic fortunes in the area. And now, a new initiative - Blue Empowerment - is expected to catalyse this transformation even further by introducing a novel technological model that integrates seaweed and fish farming.

By Samwel Juma (C-Weeds Corporation, Kenya)

Our marine and coastal areas are extremely full of potential, especially in terms of economic benefits, social gains, and climate change. The Go-Blue initiatives like the Blue Empowerment lobby on using the biggest untapped resource (Ocean) of up to 850km coastline. These initiatives aim to bring inclusive and integrated approaches that may provide opportunities for the youth and women.

Joel Onyango, Alfred Oduor, and Luseka Mwanzi

For many development agencies in the global south, successfully getting a project grant keeps ‘food on the table’. The staff cost implications allow for people to stay employed, the overheads managed, and publishing possible, especially for the fully project funded research non-governmental organizations.