Private Sector Partnerships for a Sustainable Blue Economy in the Western Indian Ocean

The document identifies a history of disappointing outcomes in private sector partnerships within the Western Indian Ocean (WIO) region, often due to the private sector being viewed solely as a funding source and a general lack of trust between stakeholders. It argues that meaningful partnerships must be based on mutual benefit, clearly defined roles, and a recognition of the diverse nature of private sector actors, ranging from micro-enterprises to multinational firms. The briefing supports the adoption of the Strategic Framework for Private Sector Partnership for the Western Indian Ocean Region and suggests exploring a regional platform to facilitate innovation and coordination between government, private sector, and civil society, potentially modeled after the Consortium for the Conservation of the Coastal and Marine Ecosystems in the Western Indian Ocean (WIO-C).

• Private sector partnerships for ocean governance in the Western Indian Ocean (WIO) region have frequently yielded disappointing results because the private sector is often perceived only as a source of funding rather than a partner with diverse roles.
• Several systemic barriers inhibit the success of WIO partnerships, including a lack of trust between stakeholders, a failure to align partnership design with private sector interests, and the absence of common goals and visions.
• Effective engagement must recognize that the private sector is not a homogenous group; it includes a wide array of actors from multimillion-dollar offshore oil and gas investments to small and medium-sized enterprises, which account for approximately 90% of all companies and nearly 80% of employment in Africa.
• The Strategic Framework advocates for private sector involvement that extends beyond financial aid to include technical expertise, managerial resources, and the scaling of innovative technologies to promote sustainability.
• The Strategic Framework proposes several priority partnerships for the WIO region, including a regional alliance for sustainable octopus utilisation, a sustainable tourism council for marine ecotourism, a coordination centre for marine pollution response, and a partnership for ocean accounting frameworks.
• There is a identified need for a regional platform to facilitate innovation and partnership between government, private sector, and civil society, with the Consortium for the Conservation of the Coastal and Marine Ecosystems in the Western Indian Ocean (WIO-C) suggested as a potential model.

APA

South African Institute of International Affairs (2021). Private Sector Partnerships for a Sustainable Blue Economy in the Western Indian Ocean. https://saiia.org.za/research/private-sector-partnerships-for-a-sustainable-blue-economy-in-the-western-indian-ocean/

Chicago

South African Institute of International Affairs. Private Sector Partnerships for a Sustainable Blue Economy in the Western Indian Ocean. 2021. https://saiia.org.za/research/private-sector-partnerships-for-a-sustainable-blue-economy-in-the-western-indian-ocean/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=South African Institute of International Affairs |title=Private Sector Partnerships for a Sustainable Blue Economy in the Western Indian Ocean |date=13 July 2021 |url=https://saiia.org.za/research/private-sector-partnerships-for-a-sustainable-blue-economy-in-the-western-indian-ocean/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{southafricaninstituteofinternationalaffairs2021private, author = {{South African Institute of International Affairs}}, title = {{Private Sector Partnerships for a Sustainable Blue Economy in the Western Indian Ocean}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2021}, month = jul, url = {https://saiia.org.za/research/private-sector-partnerships-for-a-sustainable-blue-economy-in-the-western-indian-ocean/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }