Kwale - Tanga Coast - Transboundary conservation and sustainable management of coastal and marine biodiversity

The aim of the project is to protect marine and coastal biodiversity in the Kwale-Tanga and RUMAKI regions by establishing participatory management of marine and coastal resources. The project supports responsible government agencies and communities to better manage and protect conserved areas. A multi-stakeholder committee in each region is overseeing the governance of selected protected areas and drive key decisions. The committee evaluates and supports sustainable use solutions of the ecosystems by the inhabitants and their organisations. The project’s target group does therefore obtain a stronger awareness of the triad of biodiversity, ecosystem services and sustainable management. Project results are disseminated in relevant networks, digital platforms, and institutions, nationally, regionally and internationally. As a result, neighbouring regions do also benefit from the experiences and results of the project through knowledge transfer.

Project data

Countries: Kenya, Tanzania
IKI funding: 5,000,000.00 €
Duration: 01/2023 till 03/2027
Status: open
Implementing organisation: Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH
Political Partner: Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry (MECCF) - Kenya

Ministry of Livestock Development and Fisheries, Fisheries - Tanzania
Implementing Partner: CORDIO East Africa

Mwambao Coastal Community Network

World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) - Tanzania

Skip to Project data

State of implementation/results

The project conducted four studies on sustainable financing and management of fishing areas, viable livelihoods, and nature-based solutions for resource management along the coasts of Kenya and Tanzania.
The project is working on the creation of a broad multi-stakeholder platform for the participation of relevant groups of people in the elaboration and formulation of a transboundary marine conservation area Kenya-Tanzania (TBCA), especially with the involvement of representatives of the local coastal population.

Kenya:

Community-based fisheries associations have independently planned and agreed upon local protected zones. By strengthening their capacity in administration, financial planning, monitoring, and participatory processes, they have adopted strategies to secure their livelihoods and establish more sustainable fishing grounds.
In collaboration with Mikoko Pamoja and KMFRI, mangrove conservation and restoration were implemented, and the potential of blue carbon and sustainable fisheries in Kwale County was analysed and documented.
A one-year training program qualified 56 beekeepers in Kwale in honey production, marketing, and knowledge transfer. The resulting cooperatives established Ecocredit groups, thereby creating a community-based savings and credit system that generates income and enables investments in sustainable income sources.
In order to better integrate and strengthen the position of the local population living in the vicinity of the transboundary marine conservation approach, the project has organised information events, documented shared positions, and presented them to elected representatives for the TBCA multi-stakeholder processes.

Tanzania:

In collaboration with the Water Police and the Mkinga District, an awareness campaign on cross-border fishing was carried out with the aim of reducing conflicts between fishermen from Kenya and Tanzania.
In the Mkinga District, eight measures from the management plan were implemented in 19 village communities using a participatory approach.
Five action plans have been developed for five Village Land Councils (VLC) within the newly established Mwakimam Co-Management Area (CMA) and are currently being implemented.
Two sustainable income models (Eco-credit Funds and beekeeping) have been implemented in seven village communities, while four additional models (cold chain, dagaa sardines drying, value addition for shrimp, and community microfinance banks) are planned.
A work plan and a budget for the development of the policy on Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures (OECMS) were drawn up in collaboration with the Vice President’s Office.
Project partners appreciated the conducted human rights training, which is now being replicated in all marine protected areas in the country.

Latest Update:
04/2026