Member States of IORA are diverse in their respective social and economic capabilities and capacities. Despite such diversity and differences, these countries are bound together by the Indian Ocean, and they are all committed to promote the sustained growth and balanced development of the region and to create common ground for regional economic co-operation.The disparity in the capacities of the Member States is a challenge that needs to be addressed through concrete programs. The IORA Sustainable Development Program (ISDP) was introduced in 2014 dedicated for the least developed countries (LDCs) that require assistance and support to conduct projects, and with the main purpose to promote sharing experiences and best practices among IORA Member States, as well as strengthen regional cooperation and forge new partnerships within IORA Member States and Dialogue Partners.

Objectives of the ISDP:

• To encourage the lesser developed Member States to actively participate and to optimize the benefits from its cooperation with the Association;
• To encourage peer-to-peer learning, capacity building, and the sharing of information, experiences and best practices;
• To enhance the sense of community and belonging among the Member States and to strengthen the sense of participation in the activities and programs of the Association;
• To extend the opportunity to the less developed Member States to share their experience and expertise in specific areas that would benefit their economies;
• To create opportunities for the less developed Member State to be able to host events under IORA banner.

Past events:

Training workshop on Research and sustainable management of Blue Carbon Ecosystems in the Indian Ocean, 27 November - 2 December 2022, Toliara, Madagascar.

Participants from 11 Member States participated in the workshop on Training workshop on “Research for sustainable management of Blue Carbon Ecosystems in the Indian Ocean” organised by the Institut Halieutique et des Sciences Marines (IH.SM), University of Toliara, Madagascar, in collaboration with the IORA Secretariat. The training workshop also provided a platform where Members States could share experiences, best practices and success stories, for the sustainable management of the blue carbon ecosystems in the Indian Ocean. The training focused on seagrass mapping, assessment of stored carbon in seagrass meadows and measurement of total carbon in a seagrass soil.

Workshop on Best Practices in Sea cucumber seed production and Seaweed tubular farming (through two demonstration projects in Mozambique and Zanzibar, Tanzania), 7-11 November 2022, Zanzibar

The main objective of the training workshop was to train the IORA MS on the best practices of seeding and farming techniques for seaweed and sea cucumber and share the experiences and lessons learnt so that they can contribute to the sustainable development and management of aquaculture resources. Two species were selected for the demonstration projects, which were implemented in Nacala, Mozambique and Zanzibar, Tanzania, for sea cucumbers and seaweeds, respectively. In addition, the management and best practices in hatchery management and biosecurity, as well as the processing of raw products into the final product and its final uses were also covered. The training provided opportunities for participants to experience some of the derived products from these two species and the experience and lessons learnt from Zanzibar, Tanzania.

Upcoming events:

Electricity production using Salinity gradient of the Sea Water adjacent to the Saint Martin’s of Bangladesh