Stakeholders call for sustained blue economy gains

TANGA: STAKEHOLDERS in the blue economy sector have called for concerted efforts to sustain gains made under the Regenerative Seascapes for People, Climate and Nature (ReSea) Project, saying its success will depend on whether supported enterprises and communities can thrive after the project ends.

The call was made yesterday in Tanga during the opening of a two-day Blue Economy Entrepreneurship Fair, bringing together entrepreneurs from Tanga and Pemba, government institutions, financial institutions, private sector players, buyers and development partners.

ReSea Chief of Party at Mission Inclusion, Ms Perpetua Angima, said the project had strengthened coastal communities, supported blue economy enterprises and promoted women’s economic empowerment, but more effort was needed to turn these gains into lasting opportunities.

“A project can provide training and strengthen capacities, but sustainable impact comes when enterprises can continue to grow, access finance, secure reliable markets, develop partnerships and create decent economic opportunities long after project support has ended,” she said.

Ms Angima said the fair should create lasting business relationships linking entrepreneurs with markets, investors and financial institutions.

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The project is implemented by Mission Inclusion in partnership with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and Women Fund Tanzania Trust (WFTT), with support from the Government of Canada through Global Affairs Canada.

It operates in five Western Indian Ocean countries, including Tanzania, where it covers Tanga and Pemba. Opening the fair, Micheweni North District Commissioner, Haji Mjaja, said achievements should be protected and expanded to ensure communities continued benefiting from opportunities created by the project.

He said 12 groups, four from Tanga and eight from Pemba, had engaged in sardine processing, seaweed farming and value addition, sea cucumber farming and crab fattening.

“The project may have a specific timeframe, but the businesses of these groups should continue,” he said, urging beneficiaries to establish business links, identify markets and explore financing opportunities.

WFTT Director, Ms Rose Marandu, said the project had demonstrated the importance of investing in women and youth as key actors in the blue economy.

She said women had gained confidence, literacy skills and greater participation in development discussions, while awareness of gender rights and mechanisms for reporting gender-based violence had also improved.

Ms Marandu said young people and girls had become more interested in blue economy activities, with sardine processing increasing incomes and creating employment, particularly for women and youth.

She called for continued collaboration among government, communities, businesses and development partners to protect marine and coastal resources and sustain the gains

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