Livelihood Opportunities Through Scaling Marine and Coastal EbA

The paper examines marine and coastal ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region, focusing on how these interventions can provide sustainable livelihood opportunities. It identifies a successful incremental model used in the Western Indian Ocean (WIO) region, where periodic fishery closures (PFCs) serve as an entry point to broader conservation and restoration efforts. The study highlights the role of Locally Managed Marine Areas (LMMAs) and networks like MIHARI and Mwambao in scaling these benefits. While some projects rely on large external funding, the paper argues for community-centered designs that prioritize immediate food security to ensure long-term sustainability and uptake.

• An effective incremental model for scaling EbA in the Western Indian Ocean (WIO) region begins with periodic fishery closures (PFCs), which address immediate food security needs and act as a gateway to more extensive ecosystem restoration and conservation.
• Locally Managed Marine Areas (LMMAs) provide a scalable, cost-effective, and socially acceptable alternative to top-down marine resource management, placing decision-making in the hands of local resource users.
• The Velondriake project in Madagascar demonstrates a successful long-term scaling of EbA, evolving from temporary octopus closures to a 683km2 area incorporating permanent reserves, aquaculture, and the Tahiry Honko mangrove carbon conservation project.
• Networks of LMMAs, such as MIHARI in Madagascar and Mwambao in Tanzania, facilitate scaling through peer-to-peer learning, advocacy, and collective capacity building.
• Financial sustainability for EbA livelihoods is being pursued through diverse mechanisms, including micro-lending, eco-credit schemes like the 'Mkuba' in Tanzania, and the sale of blue carbon credits.
• Large-scale, resource-intensive projects funded by entities like the Green Climate Fund or GEF can impact many communities but face challenges regarding post-project sustainability once direct funding and project-provided markets cease.
• There is a significant lack of documented coastal or marine EbA programmes with livelihood co-benefits in Namibia, Angola, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
• The success of EbA interventions depends on strong partnerships between communities, NGOs, and governments, as well as the prioritization of community-led stewardship over external prescriptions.

APA

PRICE, P., & BOULLE, T. (2023). Livelihood Opportunities Through Scaling Marine and Coastal EbA. South African Institute of International Affairs. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/SAIIA_OP_347_LivelihoodOpportunitiesEbA.pdf

Chicago

PRICE, PENELOPE, and THÉRÈSE BOULLE. Livelihood Opportunities Through Scaling Marine and Coastal EbA. South African Institute of International Affairs, 2023. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/SAIIA_OP_347_LivelihoodOpportunitiesEbA.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=PRICE |first1=PENELOPE |last2=BOULLE |first2=THÉRÈSE |title=Livelihood Opportunities Through Scaling Marine and Coastal EbA |publisher=South African Institute of International Affairs |date=May 2023 |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/SAIIA_OP_347_LivelihoodOpportunitiesEbA.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{price2023livelihood, author = {PRICE, PENELOPE and BOULLE, THÉRÈSE}, title = {{Livelihood Opportunities Through Scaling Marine and Coastal EbA}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2023}, month = may, url = {https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/SAIIA_OP_347_LivelihoodOpportunitiesEbA.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }