Coastal Women and Youth Equipped to Lead in the Blue Economy
By WFT-T
24 June 2025
On 15th June 2025, RESEA, in collaboration with its project partners—Mission inclusion, Women Fund Tanzania Trust (WFT-T), the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and OceanHub Africa—with support from Global Affairs Canada, launched a seven-day Blue Economy Entrepreneurship Incubation Programme. The initiative is designed to equip coastal women and youth groups from the Tanga-Pemba Seascape with the skills and tools necessary to actively engage in the Blue Economy.
The event was officiated by the Tanga Regional Commissioner, Dr. Batilda Buriani, and featured the launch of two key resources: the Blue Economy Entrepreneurship Trainers Manual and the Soft Skills Manual.
The bootcamp brought together 24 women and young people from 12 groups across the Tanga-Pemba Seascape. Participants hailed from Mkinga and Pangani in the Tanga Region, and from Mkoani, Micheweni, Chake Chake, and Wete in Pemba. In her opening remarks, Dr. Buriani encouraged participants to apply the knowledge gained to drive transformation in their communities through enterprise development and innovation.
“You should become role models in your communities by using this training to launch businesses and add value, particularly to marine products,” she emphasized.
Highlighting the importance of inclusion, Andréanne Martel, RESEA Project Director at Mission inclusion, stated: “A just Blue Economy requires women and youth as protagonists, not passive beneficiaries. They already drive innovation and environmental stewardship in coastal communities. This training recognizes their leadership and provides the tools to scale their impact.”
Speaking at the launch, Mr. Carol Mango, representing Women Fund Tanzania Trust (WFT-T), added: “In empowering women and youth to fully participate in Blue Economy opportunities, it is also crucial to build internal capacity within groups—a role that WFT-T is committed to fulfilling.”
Participants such as Saada Salehe Ali from Wete District, Pemba, and Mohamedi Zuberi from Mkinga District, Tanga, expressed hopes that the training would enable them to improve their products and access markets for their marine-based goods.
The two manuals launched during the event will serve as practical tools throughout the seven-month mentorship programme that follows the bootcamp. The Blue Economy Entrepreneurship Manual offers a structured, context-specific guide for delivering business management training tailored to the marine sector. Unlike generic business resources, this manual integrates sector-relevant content, real-life case studies, and local examples, making learning both practical and actionable.
The Blue Economy represents a transformative opportunity for inclusive and sustainable economic growth, especially for coastal communities reliant on marine and aquatic resources. Key sectors—including sustainable fisheries, aquaculture, coastal tourism, maritime transport, seaweed farming, and marine biotechnology—offer immense potential for job creation, food security, and environmental protection.
During the bootcamp, facilitators employed interactive and inclusive methods to ensure a participatory and engaging learning experience. During part one of the training, sessions focused on building key soft skills such as teamwork, leadership, communication, and conflict resolution.
Despite various interventions, many coastal entrepreneurs still face challenges, including limited access to business development skills, inadequate knowledge of sustainable value chains, and weak communication strategies. These gaps hinder their ability to build competitive enterprises, attract investment, and scale their impact. The resources introduced during the bootcamp are designed to address these barriers and unlock the potential of women and youth to thrive in the Blue Economy.
