The IORA-UNECA webinar titled "Unlocking the Value of Blue Resources in Africa and the Indian Ocean: Insights from the UNECA Blue Economy Valuation Toolkit" was co-hosted to address the challenge of under-quantified socio-economic and ecological values of blue resources. Held virtually on 5 March 2025, the event’s primary purpose was to introduce the Blue Economy Valuation Toolkit (BEVTK), demonstrate its practical application, and promote its adoption for evidence-based policymaking across the region.
Key objectives included fostering regional cooperation, demonstrating how blue accounting supports sustainable investments, and aligning regional strategies with global frameworks such as SDG-14. The event was organized by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), through its Sub-Regional Offices for Central and Eastern Africa, in collaboration with the IORA Secretariat. Participation was exceptionally robust and inclusive, featuring over 100 participants from 43 countries, with women accounting for approximately 54% of attendees. High-level representation included officials from 14 Member States,including Tanzania, Kenya, Indonesia, and South Africa, alongside experts from the African Union, the Indian Ocean Commission, and the African Development Bank.
The program featured technical presentations on the BEVTK’s three core models: economic (evaluating GDP and employment), social (analyzing indicators like access to credit), and ecosystem services. A highlight was the case study of Tanzania, where the toolkit revealed that the Blue Economy contributes 5% to the national GDP and 22% to employment. Participants also previewed the upcoming online version of the BEVTK, designed to improve real-time data visualization and accessibility.
Main outcomes included strategic recommendations to institutionalize data collection, establish national research agendas to fill data gaps, and integrate the Blue Economy into national budgeting to secure investments. Participants emphasized the importance of including indigenous and local knowledge in valuation processes. This initiative is directly relevant to IORA’s Blue Economy cross-cutting, specifically supporting the Working Group on Blue Economy (WGBE) and the Action Plan 2022-2027 by enhancing the technical capacity of Member States to quantify and manage their marine natural capital.
