African Marine Conservation Leadership Programme
Backing Africa’s marine conservation leaders
Leaders of trailblazing marine conservation organisations across the Western Indian Ocean have joined forces in an innovative initiative aimed at accelerating community-led marine conservation efforts, for those communities on the front lines of ocean protection.
The African Marine Conservation Leadership Programme is the first initiative of its kind, designed to bolster the skills, confidence and effectiveness of leaders of local and national marine conservation organisations in coastal east Africa and the Western Indian Ocean region.
Conservation organisations face complex challenges in the face of the climate emergency. Dynamic, effective leadership is more important than ever. We’re working to transform the capabilities of national and regional organisations that work with coastal communities to rebuild fisheries, halt biodiversity loss and tackle poverty.
Designed by Blue Ventures and conservation leadership specialist Maliasili, the programme is delivering bespoke leadership training to support organisations’ effectiveness and to amplify the impact of a new generation of African ocean changemakers.
Leaders receive sustained training, mentoring and leadership building, and the programme creates new opportunities for peer support and learning among regional conservation leaders and social entrepreneurs.
Community
Since 2020, we have brought together 17 outstanding conservation leaders from eight high impact conservation organisations, connecting peers through a supportive community of practise across east Africa and the western Indian Ocean.
Development
Over twelve months leaders are supported with a blend of virtual and self paced learning, as well as one to one and peer coaching sessions tailored to meet participants’ needs.
Learning
Training areas include management, strategic planning, building effective teams, fundraising, conflict resolution, partnership development, communications and wellbeing.
The inaugural 2020-2021 cohort of leaders brought together marine conservationists from the Comoros, Kenya, Somalia, mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar.