News
Stronger Together: Annual Strategic Workshop and first Annual General Meeting at WIOMSA
September 28th 2025 | Mombasa, Kenya
On 28th September, representatives from the Blue Tourism Initiative took part in the Annual Strategic Workshop and First Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Our Blue Future. The event was held in Mombasa, Kenya, in the lead-up to the 13th WIOMSA Symposium (WIOMSA2025). These gatherings brought together a diverse set of OBF members from across the Western Indian Ocean (WIO) region, reaffirming the collective vision for a sustainable and inclusive blue economy.
The Strategic Workshop centred on OBF’s newly approved Interim Strategy, which outlines a clear path for members to work collaboratively around four key functions:
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Strengthening a common, inclusive, and sustainable blue economy agenda.
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Enhancing regional knowledge and skills.
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Mobilising resources collectively.
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Delivering multi-stakeholder projects with tangible impact.
The session also provided an opportunity to refine OBF’s six Innovation Clusters (formerly Innovation Teams), which serve as engines of collaboration and impact. These clusters – spanning thematic areas such as Blue Tourism, Circular Economy, and Blue Finance – are designed to accelerate solutions and generate value at both local and regional levels.
Within this broader framework, the Blue Tourism Innovation Team, led by Blue Tourism Initiative, is advancing rapidly and preparing to roll out a series of Work Packages. These packages will focus on:
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Alternative livelihoods that strengthen community resilience.
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Conservation pilots tackling marine plastic and coastal ecosystem challenges.
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Knowledge hubs and communities of practice that connect stakeholders and scale learning across the region.
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Coalitions and governance structures that align businesses, policymakers, and local communities.
Our ambition is clear: to position Blue Tourism not just as an economic driver, but as a platform for conservation, social impact, and regional collaboration
As the Blue Tourism Innovation Team, we are committed to ensuring that tourism in the Western Indian Ocean becomes a catalyst for both prosperity and sustainability – demonstrating that we are truly stronger together.
