On-going initiatives:

NEPAD Coastal and Marine Programme (COSMAR): The overall objective of the NEPAD Coastal and Marine Secretariat (COSMAR) is to contribute to the reversal of the trend of marine and coastal environmental degradation that contributes to, and heightens, poverty in Africa. http://www.nepad.org

WIOMSA: Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association (WIOMSA) promotes the educational, scientific and technological development of all aspects of marine sciences throughout the Western Indian Ocean region with a view toward sustaining the use and conservation of its marine resources. http://www.wiomsa.org/about_us.htm

IOC/UNESCO: The Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO provides an essential mechanism for global co-operation in the study of the ocean. It assists governments to address their individual and collective ocean and coastal problems through the sharing of knowledge, information and technology and through coordinated national programs. http://ioc.unesco.org/iocweb/index.php

World Wildlife Fund: WWF’s mission is to stop the degradation of the planet’s natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by: conserving the world’s biological diversity; ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption.  www.wwf.org; http://www.panda.org/

World Conservation Union: The Union’s mission is to influence, encourage and assist societies throughout the world to conserve the integrity and diversity of nature and to ensure that any use of natural resources is equitable and ecologically sustainable. www.iucn.org

IAEA/Marine Environment Laboratory: The IAEA-MEL helps Member States understand, monitor and protect the marine environment and co-ordinates technical aspects of international ocean protection, training and assistance programmes. It is also an international centre for analytical quality control services for radioactive and non-radioactive marine pollutants. http://www.iaea.or.at/

UNEP/Nairobi Convention: Convention for the Protection, Management and Development of the Marine and Coastal Environment of the Eastern African Region provides an inter-governmental framework to coordinate marine and coastal programmes in the WIO region. http://www.unep.org/easternafrica/

Also see UNEP/Regional Seas: http://www.unep.org/regionalseas/

Nairobi Convention Clearinghouse and Information Sharing System: The Clearinghouse and information system improves the coordination and participation of the Western Indian Ocean countries in implementing the Action Plan for the protection, management and development of the marine and coastal environment of Eastern Africa Region. http://gridnairobi.unep.org/CHMPortal/ptk

UNEP/GPA: The Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities and the Washington Declaration was adopted in 1995. The comprehensive, multi-sectoral approach of the GPA also reflects the desire of Governments to strengthen the collaboration and coordination of all agencies with mandates relevant to the impact of land-based activities on the marine environment, through their participation in a global programme. http://www.gpa.unep.org/

UNEP/SIDS: This website is an information gateway to UNEP's assistance in SIDS. The core of the website is a database that shows UNEP's most relevant activities in SIDS in the last ten years, as well as ongoing and future activities.The site also includes decisions that have been adopted in the context of UNEP's Governing Bodies, information on the International Meeting to Review the Implementation of the Barbados Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of SIDS, links to other relevant SIDS sites, and UNEP reports and publications that pertain to SIDS. http://www.sids.unep.org/

African Coelacanth Project (ACEP): Using the coelacanth as an icon, ACEP is exploring the Western Indian Ocean to promote the wise collective management of marine resources, sustainability and an improved quality of life for all countries involved. http://www.acep.co.za/

GEF: The Global Environment Facility, established in 1991, helps developing countries fund projects and programs that protect the global environment. GEF grants support projects related to biodiversity, climate change, international waters, land degradation, the ozone layer, and persistent organic pollutants. http://dgef.unep.org/