In March 2025, a workshop was held to solidify a regional network of learning institutions aimed at supporting coastal community capacity building across the Western Indian Ocean (WIO) region. Organized by WIOMSA, WRTI, and IUCN, in partnership with WWF and CORDIO East Africa, the workshop addressed long-standing capacity gaps that had limited coastal communities from effectively managing natural resources. Prior reports and a preceding forum in Mahajanga, Madagascar in September 2024 had highlighted these challenges, noting that most capacity-building initiatives had been project-based and time-limited.
The workshop focused on refining the next steps for implementing the network, pooling existing resources, and coordinating fundraising opportunities. Participants exchanged ideas on roles and responsibilities, streamlined ongoing regional initiatives, and evaluated critical gaps in community-focused learning.
Discussions culminated in a clear plan that finalized the conceptualization of the learning network, identified key pilot phase activities with milestones, and established financial support requirements. Stakeholders left the event with a unified vision and concrete recommendations for advancing coastal community capacity building across the region throughout 2025.