Community Co-management Program
Under The Wave started working in June 2025 in a long-term partnership with Blue Ventures to strengthen community-based marine management in North Zanzibar. The goal of this collaboration is to ensure sustainable, continuous management of the sea and marine resources, with the community leading decision-making and implementation.
Within this program, we established a Shehia Fisheries Committee (SFC) together with local communities, covering the area from Kiwengwa, Pwani Mchangani,Β Matemwe, Mbuyu Tende, and Nungwi. All activities follow the Blue Ventures Pillars approach, a globally proven method for sustainable marine management and community empowerment.
Under The WaveΒ coordinates and supports the following priority initiatives:
- Capacity Building:Β Training for SFC members and community facilitators on governance, fisheries management, conflict resolution, monitoring, and financial literacy.
- Participatory Decision-Making:Β Establishing and supporting SFC meetings, elections, and follow-ups to strengthen local governance of fisheries.
- Marine Resource Management:Β Conducting participatory marine mapping, habitat monitoring, and supporting community-led restoration projects to improve biodiversity and reef health.
- Fisheries Data Collection:Β Training community members and staff in data collection, monitoring, and analysis to inform sustainable management decisions.
- Food Security & Nutrition:Β Promoting the nutritional value of fish and supporting community awareness on dietary diversity.
- Economic Empowerment:Β Supporting financial inclusion through training on savings, credit, and community-managed financial groups (VSLAs).
- Community Learning & Exchange:Β Facilitating visits to other locations to share knowledge, experiences, and best practices in sustainable fisheries management.
Through these activities, th
Key Community-Led Activities
Under The Wave coordinates all SFC meetings, provides training, technical support, and ensures continuous follow-up. Our team connects the community with government and partner organizations and facilitates monitoring, data collection, and community-led restoration initiatives.
Communities are enthusiastic about this program, which represents aΒ sustainable, locally-led approach to securing the future of Zanzibarβs marine resources and livelihoods.
Support This Program
You can help strengthen community-led marine management and conservation in Zanzibar. Your contribution will support training, restoration projects, and ongoing community capacity building.
