Mauritius has taken a significant step towards a more sustainable and inclusive Blue Economy, as national leaders, government representatives, development partners and key stakeholders gathered in Port Louis on 17 August 2026 for the AfriSIDS Mauritius Pilot Demonstration Inception Workshop, marking the start of implementation of the country’s pilot project under the UNDP-GEF “Supporting Sustainable Inclusive Blue Economy Transformation in African Small Island Developing States (AfriSIDS) Project”. The workshop introduced the national demonstration, which will focus on sustainable offshore fishing approaches and value addition among local artisanal fishing communities. The workshop also reviewed the joint work plan and set implementation priorities, with a clear focus on turning blue economy ambitions into practical results for people and marine ecosystems.
The milestone comes at a time when small island developing states globally are under increasing pressure to balance economic growth, food and livelihood security, climate resilience and the sustainable use of ocean resources. For Mauritius and other African SIDS, the blue economy is therefore not simply an environmental agenda; it is increasingly central to economic resilience and the future of coastal communities. The AfriSIDS demonstration responds to this wider challenge by testing practical approaches that can generate evidence, lessons, and solutions relevant beyond Mauritius.
By promoting more sustainable use of marine resources and strengthening opportunities to add value to fisheries products and livelihoods, the Mauritius initiative will support healthier marine ecosystems, stronger local economies, and greater resilience for communities whose lives depend on the ocean. The approach recognises that a successful blue economy transition must deliver benefits for both nature and people.
“If we want to widen the circle of opportunities, our institutions must come together and ensure that our fishers are fully on board because no one loses when we work together; we all gain,”
noted Dr the Hon. Arvin Boolell, Minister of Agro-Industry, Food Security, Blue Economy and Fisheries, Mauritius. His message highlights a critical lesson for Blue Economy transformation globally; sustainable solutions are more likely to succeed when the people whose livelihoods depend on natural resources are actively involved in shaping and implementing them.
Hon. Gilles Fabrice David, Junior Minister of Agro-Industry, Food Security, Blue Economy and Fisheries, reinforced the need to bridge the gap between policy and lived experience, noting,
“This is where policy meets people. This is where strategies translate into practical support.”
For AfriSIDS, this connection is central to demonstrating solutions that are locally owned, practical, and capable of delivering environmental, social, and economic benefits.
The workshop signals an important shift in the programme's approach,
“Let us move from plans to delivery, from activities to results, and from pilot interventions to solutions that can be sustained and scaled,”
said Ms Shamiso Kumbirai, AfriSIDS Project Coordinator. This transition from planning to implementation is perhaps the most important outcome of the Mauritius milestone. The value of the demonstration will be measured not only by what happens locally, but also by the knowledge generated and lessons that can be shared across the six participating African SIDS: Cabo Verde, Comoros, Guinea-Bissau, Mauritius, São Tomé and Príncipe, and Seychelles.
As Mauritius moves into implementation, its experience offers a timely opportunity to demonstrate what inclusive Blue Economy transformation can look like in practice, stronger institutions, sustainable use of ocean resources, empowered fishing communities and solutions that can be adapted and scaled. The lessons emerging from Mauritius can contribute to a wider global conversation on how SIDS can turn the immense potential of their oceans into sustainable opportunities, ensuring that as the Blue Economy grows, communities and ecosystems grow stronger together.
The AfriSIDS Project is funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and led by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) as GEF Implementing Agency, in partnership with the Global Water Partnership Southern Africa (GWPSA) as Executing Agency. The African Union Commission (AUC) serves as the focal custodian for project implementation.
AfriSIDS Mauritius Pilot Demonstration Inception Workshop
Photos by GIS Mauritius.
About the Project
About the project
Small Island Developing States (SIDS) face unique challenges, but they also offer valuable opportunities to protect their natural environments and meet their socio-economic development needs. Against this backdrop, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Global Environment Facility (GEF) project -“Supporting Sustainable Inclusive Blue Economy Transformation in African SIDS” (the African SIDS Project)- has been launched to support six African island nations in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans: Cabo Verde, Guinea-Bissau, São Tomé and Príncipe, Comoros, Mauritius, and Seychelles. The project seeks to help these countries move towards sustainable, inclusive, and climate-resilient blue economy development.
In São Tomé and Príncipe, the project will place special focus on restoring degraded land and reducing ocean pollution caused by land-based activities.
While acknowledging the broad range of development needs faced by African SIDS, the project has been strategically designed to address the root causes that often block progress and to remove barriers to sustainable blue economy growth. It will do so by fostering South-South learning and triangular cooperation, allowing countries to share knowledge, experiences, and solutions.
The African SIDS Project will strengthen governance and policy environments in all participating countries, creating the foundation for national blue economy transformation. It will also pilot six national blue economy demonstration projects and one land degradation neutrality “ridge-to-reef” demonstration project, showcasing innovative practices and solutions that can be scaled up.
Words by GWPSAF.
Thumbnail by Dan Freeman / Unsplash.