Linking Science to Coastal and Marine Governance

Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association - www.wiomsa.org

Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association (WIOMSA) is a regional professional, non-profit, membership organization, established in 1993 and is based in Zanzibar, Tanzania. It is dedicated to advancing regional cooperation in all aspects of coastal and marine sciences including those linking related to the impacts of climate change. The central tenet of WIOMSA is to support sustainable development in the Western Indian Ocean (WIO) region of Africa, while promoting interdisciplinary and multi disciplinary approaches to marine and costal research and management. WIOMSA has a particular interest in linking the knowledge that emerges from research to the management and governance issues that affect marine and coastal ecosystems in the WIO region.

WIOMSA's Core Activities

	Research Capacity Building: WIOMSA promotes marine science research through the award of research grants under the Marine Science for Management (MASMA) and the Marine Research Grant (MARG) programmes. MASMA's research grants are competitive and designed to support activities that foster the development of research and resource management capacity as well as dissemination of the knowledge being generated. Impacts of climate changes on coastal and marine environment as well as on coastal communities are one of the main priority research themes of the MASMA programme. A number of regional research projects addressing these issues are currently being supported by the MASMA programme.
	Development of Capacity to Manage: Builds technical and managerial capacity and professionalism, to produce experts and practitioners capable of developing, disseminating and implementing effective coastal governance practice.
	Building Networks and Partnerships: Partnership and collaboration are key features of promoting and fostering inter-institutional linkages within and beyond the region.
	Promotion of Policy Dialogue on Key Issues: WIOMSA has considerable influence in promoting and advocating appropriate policies and practice, and highlighting and opposing those that are unsustainable.
	Promotion of Exchange of Information and Experiences: Disseminate research results generated from the region and increase the international visibility of the coastal and marine issues experienced.

WIOMSA's Strength and Vision
WIOMSA's strength lies in its regional character, its multi-disciplinary membership, strong reputation for the effective implementation of projects/programs, broad experience and extensive network. It is guided by an elected Board of Trustees and Country Coordinators and run by a highly competent Secretariat of professionals.

WIOMSA's vision is that by 2020 it should have the following characteristics:

	A dynamic and interactive body of member scientists and institutions (including management agencies), providing scientific knowledge and management practices in support of the well-being of coastal population and of managing the region's natural assets for long-term sustainable benefits;
	Regional and international recognition as a source of reliable and accessible scientific knowledge on the WIO Region;
	A well-established regional organization providing forums and regional learning networks;
	Sourcing and maintaining substantial funding attracted by a reputation for fostering scientific excellence and merit and
	Recognition as an indispensable partner by governments, international organizations, donor agencies, NGOs and major regional initiatives in the WIO Region.

WIOMSA as an Implementing Agency
WIOMSA has a number of characteristics that make it particularly suitable as an implementing agency for regional activities:

	Extensive knowledge and understanding of regional issues, priorities and processes;
	A close working relationship with key individuals as well as a number of institutions within and outside the WIO region;
	A multi-disciplinary membership representing a pool of expertise that could be called upon to participate in the implementation of activities;
	Proven experience in designing and implementing activities, in collaboration with regional and international partners and
	WIOMSA's financial and management systems comply with international standards verified by assessments conducted by international organization organizations such as the KPMG-Bohling, Sweden and PACT-Kenya.

For further information about WIOMSA and its activities, please contact: