Community Co-management Program

In collaboration with Blue Ventures

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, Matemwe, Mbuyu Tende, and Nungwi. All activities follow the Blue Ventures Pillars approach, a globally proven method for sustainable marine management and community empowerment.

Key Community-Led Activities

Under The Wave coordinates and supports the following priority initiatives:

Capacity Building: Training for SFC members and community facilitators on governance, fisheries management, conflict resolution, monitoring, and financial literacy.
Participatory Decision-Making: Establishing and supporting SFC meetings, elections, and follow-ups to strengthen local governance of fisheries.
Marine Resource Management: Conducting participatory marine mapping, habitat monitoring, and supporting community-led restoration projects to improve biodiversity and reef health.
Fisheries Data Collection: Training community members and staff in data collection, monitoring, and analysis to inform sustainable management decisions.
Food Security & Nutrition: Promoting the nutritional value of fish and supporting community awareness on dietary diversity.
Economic Empowerment: Supporting financial inclusion through training on savings, credit, and community-managed financial groups (VSLAs).
Community Learning & Exchange: Facilitating visits to other locations to share knowledge, experiences, and best practices in sustainable fisheries management.

Through these activities, th

Role of Under The Wave

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 a sustainable, locally-led approach to securing the future of Zanzibar’s marine resources and livelihoods.

Blue Venture Community project in Zanzibar4

Blue Venture Community project in Zanzibar3

Blue Venture Community project in Zanzibar1

Blue Venture Community project in Zanzibar2jpeg

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.