As 2025 comes to a close, the Hifadhi Blu Programme is pleased to share an update on the remarkable response to this year’s call for applications. The programme received 71 applications from across the Western Indian Ocean (WIO) region — the highest number to date — underscoring the growing recognition of Hifadhi Blu as a trusted mechanism for strengthening management effectiveness in coastal ocean conservation areas.
The review and selection process for Cohorts 2 and 3 is currently underway. While final decisions have not yet been made, the breadth and quality of submissions offer a powerful insight into the region’s commitment to improving site-level management and governance.
This year’s call received 71 applications from across all 10 Nairobi Convention countries, reflecting strong and diverse regional interest in Hifadhi Blu. Kenya submitted the highest number of applications (22), followed by Tanzania (16), Mozambique (7), Mauritius and South Africa (6 each), Madagascar (5), Somalia (3), and Comoros, Seychelles, and France’s outer territories (La Réunion and Mayotte) with two each. The submissions also showcased a wide range of site governance models: 28 proposals originated from formally designated Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), 24 from Community-Managed Areas, 15 from government-recognised Co-Managed Areas, 3 from Somalia’s newly established Ocean Conservation Areas (OCAs), and 1 submission fell outside the eligible categories (Port Edward, South Africa). This combined distribution highlights not only the geographic breadth of interest but also the diversity of conservation contexts seeking support under the upcoming Hifadhi Blu cohorts.
What Happens Next?
The multi-stage review process — involving detailed technical evaluation, scoring, and interview assessments — is currently in progress. Final grantee announcements will be made once the review panel and programme partners have concluded the evaluation and due diligence process.
During this time, reviewers are assessing:
- Alignment with Hifadhi Blu’s objective of improving management effectiveness
- Feasibility and clarity of proposed interventions
- Governance structures and stakeholder participation models
- Gender and social inclusion considerations
- Budget logic and sustainability
- Diagnostic grounding and readiness for systems-based planning
The next steps will include:
- Completion of Stage 2 and Stage 3 reviews
- Shortlisting of proposals for workshop participation
- Final selection and notification of Cohorts 2 and 3 (May 2026)
Growing Momentum Across the Region
The strong interest in this call reflects a broader shift across the Western Indian Ocean:
a collective desire to strengthen ocean conservation areas through evidence-based planning, improved governance, and integrated capacity development.
As the review process continues, WIOMSA and WIOMPAN extend their appreciation to all applicants for their commitment to marine conservation and for contributing to the growing community of practice shaping the future of effective coastal management in the WIO region
