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January 28, 2025 (Arta, Djibouti): The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) through its Blue Economy Programme, with financial support from the Government of Sweden, Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), commenced a 3-day Planning and Awareness Creation Retreat,  January 2025 under the project “Enhancing Blue Economy in the IGAD Member States for Biodiversity Conservation and Livelihoods Diversification”.

The three-day retreat convened the Blue Economy unit team to work on the third Project Steering Committee recommendations and visit some Marine Protected Area (MPA) sites in Djibouti as they are the basis for Blue Economy growth, marine biodiversity conservation, and community livelihood diversification to strengthen.

At the official opening of the retreat Daher Elmi, IGAD’s Director of the Agriculture and Environment Division highlighted the future focuses of the Division and he provided clear messages that a well-structured policy brief serves as the foundation for all proposals and developments to mobilize resources. The policy brief is prepared based on the thorough evaluation of existing interventions and it helps to guide in setting follow-up actions by considering projective objectives, key achievements, gaps/challenges, and recommendations. Grants received from partners should lead to tangible outcomes for our member states, fostering long-term commitment through strategic investments.

“IGAD’s Region marine ecosystems are rich in biodiversity. Their natural resources are fundamental to the sustainable development of the coastal countries. Marine Protected Areas (MPA) are crucial to protect biodiversity. Visiting MPAs in the coastline of Djibouti will give the experience to scale up good practices in other aquatic ecosystems of the region.” Eshete Dejen (PhD), IGAD’s Program Manager, AED-Sustainable Environment Unit added.

As part of the retreat, a field visit was organised to showcase Djibouti’s rich marine biodiversity and impactful Blue Economy activities around Arta City and the Douda locality. This includes exploring Marine Protected Areas around Arta Beach and visiting the mangrove rehabilitating ecosystem in Douda natural reserve. The visit offered a hands-on opportunity to understand ongoing efforts in marine and coastal biodiversity conservation, gain insights into local community initiatives, and discover sustainable eco-tourism models that support livelihoods while protecting the environment.

The 3-day Planning Retreat and Awareness Creation concluded successfully and below are the key highlights.

  • Reflected on the recommendations of the recent Project Steering Committee and preparing for the project’s second phase.
  • Conducted field visits to coastal areas to engage with local communities and technically support ground-level activities in managing marine protected areas.
  • Prepared essential project documentation, including project extension plans for implementation until 31 December 2025, ensuring sustained impact.

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