This Project builds on the previous work completed under the UNDP supported GEF financed Agulhas and Somali Current Large Marine Ecosystems (ASCLME) Project in close collaboration with a number of partners. The ASCLME Project delivered the intended regional TDA and ministerially endorsed SAP for the western Indian Ocean LMEs as well as individual Marine Ecosystem Diagnostic Analyses (MEDAs) for each participating country. The ASCLME Project also created the Western Indian Ocean Sustainable Ecosystem Alliance (WIOSEA). The SAPPHIRE Project aims to support and assist the appropriate and formally mandated government institutions and intergovernmental bodies in the region to implement the activities which they require in order to deliver the SAP and to ensure sustainability of efforts and actions toward long-term management of activities within the LMEs as well as the sustainability of associated institutional arrangements and partnerships. The project’s activities have several cross-cutting themes, which will seek to meaningfully address progress towards meeting UNDP goals and targets with respect to sustainable development, poverty alleviation, early warning of disaster and climate change, SDGs, gender mainstreaming and youth. Throughout the implementation, the project will coordinate closely with the UNDEP GEF WIOLaB SAP project with the intention of harmonizing activities and ultimately combining institutional and administrative process for a single implementation strategy for the two WIO SAPs

We aim to improve significantly the accuracy, completeness and currency of information in the World Database on Protected Areas, developing more comprehensive data on all types of protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures and improved
contextual information.

The Contracting Parties to the Nairobi Convention have received funding from the Global Environment Facility
(GEF) to implement a Project entitled ‘Implementation of the Strategic Action Programme for the protection of
the Western Indian Ocean from land-based sources and activities’ (WIOSAP).
The Project will be implemented and executed through a ‘Partnerships Approach’ with the UNEP Nairobi
Convention Secretariat being the Executing Agency. The participating countries include Comoros, France (La
Reinion – which wont be a direct beneficiary), Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles, Mozambique, Kenya,
Tanzania, Somalia and South Africa. As part of this “Partnership Approach” WIO-C members including WWF,
IUCN, CORDIO, WCS and BirdLife among others are strongly encouraged to express interest and submit
concepts especially those aligned to their current investments in the region to leverage on co-financing for greater
impact.