The Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association (WIOMSA), through the Tanzania Chapter of the Western Indian Ocean Marine Protected Areas Management Network (WIOMPAN), conducted a training workshop on the Integrated Management Effectiveness Tracking Tool (IMET). The workshop builds on capacity-building programmes conducted in 2023 and 2024 and represents another important step toward strengthening marine protected area’s (MPA’s) management in Tanzania.
The training was designed to enhance and update the technical skills of staff from the Marine Parks and Reserves Unit (MPRU), enabling them to independently conduct management effectiveness assessments in their respective MPAs. It also contributes to Tanzania’s efforts to implement Target 3 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), which calls for the effective conservation and management of protected areas important for biodiversity.
The workshop brought together MPRU staff who had participated in the previous IMET training and assessments conducted in their respective MPAs, including Mafia Island Marine Park (MIMP), Mnazi Bay-Ruvuma Estuary Marine Park (MBREMP), Tanga Coelacanth Marine Park (TACMP), and the Dar es Salaam Marine Reserves System (DMRS).
The training was officially inaugurated by WIOMSA Executive Director Dr. Arthur Tuda and facilitated by Dr. Milali Machumu, Mr. Amin Abdallah, and Mr. Julius Pagu, all WIOMPAN members with extensive regional experience in MPA management effectiveness assessments and capacity development.
Rather than relying solely on classroom presentations, the training combined interactive sessions, practical exercises, presentations, group discussions, and knowledge-sharing activities. This hands-on approach enabled participants to strengthen their ability to assess key dimensions of MPA management, including planning, governance, management processes, available resources, and conservation outcomes.
A key focus of the training workshop was demonstrating how IMET can serve as a practical tool for generating reliable evidence to support management decisions. Through systematic assessments, MPA’s managers and stakeholders can identify gaps and threats, track management interventions, understand what is working and what needs improvement, and prioritize actions to strengthen the effectiveness of MPAs.
The initiative marks an important milestone in Tanzania’s efforts to build a stronger culture of evidence-based, adaptive, and effective marine protected area management. By developing a pool of skilled resource persons and IMET coaches, the programme is expected to create a multiplier effect. Trained staff will be better equipped to conduct systematic assessments, share experiences and lessons learned, train colleagues and other marine practitioners, and support continuous improvement within their respective MPAs.
Beyond strengthening technical capacity, the initiative demonstrates Tanzania’s continued commitment to sustainable ocean stewardship, marine ecosystem conservation, protection of coastal livelihoods and building strong support for a sustainable blue economy in Tanzania. It also contributes to advancing the implementation of Target 3 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework by supporting the effective assessment and management of areas critical to biodiversity conservation.
Ultimately, strengthening the capacity of MPA managers to assess, learn, and adapt is essential for ensuring that Tanzania’s marine protected areas deliver lasting benefits for people, biodiversity, and ocean.
