Towards Climate Resilient Ocean Economies in Africa

What:   Webinar :Towards Climate Resilient Ocean Economies in Africa: Governance and investment models

Who:    The African Development Bank Group, the Nordic Development Fund and UNEP Finance Initiative 

When:  Thursday, 24 November 2022; 10:00 – 12:00 GMT

Where: Virtual. Click here to register

The African Development Bank Group’s African Natural Resources Management and Investment Center (ANRC) and its Climate Change and Green Growth Department, in partnership with the Nordic Development Fund and UNEP Finance Initiative will host Towards Climate Resilient Ocean Economies in Africa: Governance and investment models.

The webinar will take place from 10 -12 noon GMT on 24 November 2022.

The session, part of a series on the Blue Economy, will feature experts’  presentations of findings from an ANRC study on climate resilient ocean economies. It will also share insights on governance systems and investment models that can pave the way to explore new opportunities.

In recent years, the Blue Economy concept has gained ground as a sound paradigm for comprehensive and sustainable management of marine and coastal areas and their natural resources. A fundamental principle of the concept is coexistence of all sectors of activity while preserving the long-term quality of ecosystem goods and services.

Climate change is affecting ocean systems in many ways that pose a threat to ports and shipping, fisheries, offshore wind and marine biotechnology as well as maritime natural assets and ecosystem services. Building a climate resilient ocean economy will  require supportive policies, institutional and financial innovations, and access to long-term and large-scale financing

Speakers will include:

Dr. David Obura, Founding Director of Coastal Oceans Research and Development Indian Ocean  Dr. Dennis Fritsch, Associate Programme Lead Nature, UNEP Sustainable Blue Economy Finance Initiative Ms. Siv Ahlberg, Programme Manager, Nordic Development Fund Ms. Piera Tortora, Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development Ms. Karine Measson, Head of Water Management Division, European Investment Bank (EIB) Ms. Katharine Thoday, Principal Environment Specialist, Asian Development Bank  Mr. Christophe Deguenon, Director of Environment and Water Resources, West Africa Economic and Monetary Union Commission Dr Stephen Mbithi Mwikya, Secretary of Blue Economy Resources, The Ocean and Blue Economy Office, Executive Office of The President, Republic of Kenya

Please find the webinar Agenda below

Time	Topic	Speaker
10:00 – 10:10	Introduction and welcoming remarks	African Natural Resources Management and Investment Center
10:10 – 10:30	Presentation of the study	David Obura, CORDIO
10:30– 11:10	Financing options and innovations for the development of a resilient Blue Economy	Ms. Siv Ahlberg, NDF (Moderator) Dr. Dennis Fritsch: UNEP Dr. Piera Tortora, OECD Karine Measson, EIB Ms. Katharine Thoday, ADB
11:10 – 11:20	Q&A	All participants
11:20 – 11:50	Panel discussion - Scaling up resilient Blue Economy financing in Africa: What policy priorities and what role for the Bank?	Gareth Phillips, AfDB (Moderator) Mr. Christophe Deguenon, WAEMU Dr Stephen Mbithi Mwikya, Kenya
11:50 – 11:55	Other contributions
11:55 – 12:00	Wrap up and closing remarks	PECG

Media contact:

Solange KAMUANGA-TOSSOU, Communication and External Relations Department, African Development Bank | Email : media@afdb.org

Expert contact:

Philippe Tous