Ocean Risk and Resilience Action Alliance

?? Today, WWF and Sanlam Investments launched the report "Assessing Financial Flows within the South West Indian Ocean Blue Economy", authored by WWF and Profundo with funding from Ocean Risk and Resilience Action Alliance. This comprehensive analysis explores financial flows across fisheries, energy, and maritime transport, emphasising the critical role of financial institutions and regulators in promoting sustainable blue finance in the SWIO region. ?? ?? Dr Samantha Petersen, WWF-SWIO Regional Programme Lead, opened the event, setting the stage for critical discussions of the report's content and implications. Ward Warmerdam from Profundo shared the report's key findings and recommended actions, while Dresy Lovasoa from WWF-SWIO highlighted pathways to unlock large-scale finance in the region that benefits local communities. ?? A panel discussion led by Wendy Engel featured experts from Standard Chartered, COPIP, UNEP Finance Initiative, Sanlam Group, and WWF, who discussed strategies for addressing the risks involved with financing sustainable blue enterprises and challenges in sustainable financing. The session concluded with a live Q&A. ?? Dr Deon Nel from WWF South Africa then facilitated a roundtable discussion on what it would take to drive investment into the region's sustainable blue economy. Nedbank, WWF, ORRAA, the Oceans Finance Company and others contributed their voices to a robust discussion. #WWF #SanlamInvestments #BlueEconomy #SustainableFinance #OceanConservation #SWIOFinancialFlows

Transforming the Lives of Small-Scale Fishers, One Smartphone at a Time! ??? ? This powerful article from New Worlder highlights the transformative benefits of ABALOBI’s smartphone app on South Africa’s fishing communities. Small-scale fishers like Hahn Goliath can now log critical data about their catch - including species, size and location – helping to inform sustainable fishing policies and improve their businesses. ??? ? Through a marketplace feature, fishers sell directly to buyers, securing better prices and income stability. The app has even created demand for previously undervalued fish species like Cape Bream, and over 90% of the fish comes from resilient stocks. ??? ? Abalobi’s "Fish With a Story" brand connects customers directly with fishers, adding value to surplus fish while benefiting local communities. ? ? Ocean Risk and Resilience Action Alliance has been supporting add-ins including access to financial services like bank loans and insurance, so that fishers are empowered like never before. ??? ? Read more about how #ABALOBI is driving change: https://lnkd.in/eTHwupiv? ? #SustainableFishing #OceanResilience #Innovation #CoastalCommunities?

?? Calling All Caribbean Sustainable Blue Economy Innovators! ???? ?? We’re excited to announce our partnership with RTI International and the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) to develop the Blue Co Caribbean Umbrella Coordination Programme (Blue Co) Funding Proposal for the Green Climate Fund (GCF) - an initiative that aims to unlock transformative, long-term financing for a climate-resilient, low-emission sustainable blue economy across Caribbean Small Island Developing States (#SIDS). ???? ?? Are you ready to drive meaningful change in the Caribbean??? ?? We’re inviting government agencies, civil society organisations, multilateral institutions, and private sector stakeholders to submit project concepts that:? ? ?Enhance climate resilience? ?Promote innovative financing and insurance mechanisms? ?Support sustainable blue economy initiatives??? ?? Key Details:? ?? Submission Deadline: 31 October 2024 at 23:59 BST? ? ?? Submit your project concept here: https://ow.ly/LRg950TvpUr?? ?? Join us in building a sustainable future for the Caribbean! ???? ? For more information on the required geographical location of the projects, please head to the comments below!?? ? #SustainableBlueEconomy #ClimateFinance #CaribbeanSIDS #GCF?

Climate + Ocean = Planet ??? ? We’re excited to unveil our Q4 communications theme, ‘Climate + Ocean = Planet,’ highlighting the intrinsic connection between climate and the Ocean, and their combined impact on our planet.? ? This quarterly theme aligns with several key global events taking place in the coming months:? ?? ? The Global Nature Positive Summit (8th-10th October) ? ? Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting – CHOGM (21st-26th October) ? Convention on Biological Diversity COP16 (21st October – 1st November) ? UN Climate Change Conference COP29 (11th-22nd November)?? ?? We will focus on the critical role of regenerative and sustainable blue finance mechanisms in driving much-needed investment towards ocean and coastal community initiatives. While climate finance is more established, it can serve as a vital pathway for increasing investment in these crucial areas. ??? ? Join us as we explore how climate and ocean health are inextricably linked, shaping the future of our planet.?? ?? #ORRAA #Climate #Ocean #Planet #SustainableBlueFinance?

?? Ocean Risk and Resilience Action Alliance’s Karen Sack and Melissa Walsh, PhD and The Development Guarantee Group's Lasitha Perera recently spoke with Julian Lewis at International Financing Review (#IFR) to discuss our Sea Change Impact Financing Facility (#SCIFF) and its groundbreaking financial instruments!? ? ?? The SCIFF is a pioneering platform focused on mobilising at least $1billion capital to leverage $2.5billion of investment for coastal and ocean ecosystems by 2030, with an emphasis on coastal developing countries and Small Island States.? ? The article highlights:? ? ?The Nautilus Blue Guarantee Company designed to de-risk regenerative and sustainable blue finance in climate-vulnerable developing nations. ?The Blue Bond Incubator which aims to support corporate and sovereign blue bond issuers from developing regions. ? ?Outrigger Impact, which invests in regenerative and sustainable blue economy sectors, with a focus on small island developing states (#SIDS).? ? ?? Why It Matters: As Karen Sack, #ORRAA's Executive Director, emphasises, the SCIFF financial instruments like Nautilus are creating "a capital market for the ocean."? ? Read the full article and discover how SCIFF is shaping the future of regenerative and sustainable blue finance!? ? https://lnkd.in/e7wMFiid ? #BlueFinance #OceanResilience #SustainableInvesting #SCIFF??

?? Join Ocean Risk and Resilience Action Alliance’s Senior Director of Innovation and Pipeline Chip Cunliffe for the launch of the WWF’s groundbreaking report which ORRAA supported: ‘Assessing Financial Flows within the Southwest Indian Ocean Blue Economy’ ?? ? ?? ?? Date: 8th October 2024??? ?? Time: 14:00-15:15 CET??? ?? This hybrid event, co-hosted by ORRAA Member WWF and Sanlam Investments, will shed light on:? ?Current financing patterns in the Southwest Indian Ocean (SWIO) region? ? ?Investors and creditors in key sustainable blue economy sectors? ?Financial institutions’ policies on sustainable blue investments? ?Regulatory frameworks protecting the region’s blue assets.?? ?? The SWIO, as the second-most biodiverse ocean region globally, is critical for millions of coastal inhabitants.?? ? Supported by Government of Canada through ORRAA, this report aims to guide future financing towards sustainable development pathways that enhance ecosystem health and coastal community resilience.?? ? ? Don’t miss this opportunity (either virtually or in-person) to explore sustainable blue finance opportunities and encourage stronger commitments from financial institutions to protect the SWIO’s biodiverse marine environment, while securing the livelihoods of coastal communities. ?????? ? ??? Register now: https://lnkd.in/eS9rmVgM?? ?? #SustainableFinance #OceanResilience #SWIO #WWF #Sanlam? ? Environment and Climate Change Canada?

Big News for #BackBlue! ?? We're delighted to share that our lead global banking partner, Deutsche Bank, is stepping up its commitment to ocean health under our World Economic Forum supported #BackBlue global initiative, designed to ensure the Ocean is incorporated into finance and insurance decisions. ?? Deutsche Bank is setting new standards in ocean protection by enhancing its policies and introducing stricter guidelines for maritime transport and infrastructure to ensure compliance with UN conventions. It has also expanded due diligence to better protect sensitive marine habitats and critical ecosystems, as well as strengthened oversight on investment into marine aquaculture and fisheries. Notably, Deutsche Bank has prohibited direct financing for deep-sea mining projects, recognising the regulatory gaps and environmental risks involved. ???? Thank you to Deutsche Bank’s Chief Investment Officer ESG & Global Head of Chief Investment Office, Markus H.-P. Müller for the following powerful reminder: “A healthy global economy requires a healthy ocean. Our understanding of this connection has improved dramatically in recent years, and with it our sense of urgency about the need to conserve the marine environment.” This partnership and the strengthened commitments to the #BackBlue initiative show how finance can be a powerful force for good, driving the creation of a regenerative and sustainable blue economy. ?? Find out more here: https://lnkd.in/emqDnRGg? #OceanConservation #SustainableFinance #SustainableBlueEconomy #ClimateAction?

Thank you Peter Thomson, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for the Ocean, and renowned Ocean advocate, for sharing an important message with us at the Ocean Risk and Resilience Action Alliance Member Meeting in New York last week. ?? The UN Special Envoy shared an uplifting video message, emphasising the importance of Ocean Finance. He says: “It's clear that financing ocean regeneration and resilience is vital for the well-being of coastal cities and coastal communities, as it is indeed for global food security.” ? ? Referring to the UN Ocean Conference being co-hosted by France and Costa Rica in June 2025, he said, “In Nice, at the UN Ocean Conference, we expect to arrive at the innovative financial instruments with which we can accelerate investment solutions and the projects necessary to mobilise public, philanthropic and private finance into a regenerative and sustainable Ocean.” #ORRAAMemberMeeting2024 #ClimateWeekNYC #BuildingResilientCoastalCommunities Don’t miss Special Envoy Thomson’s important message, watch ??

WATCH: ?? Ocean Risk and Resilience Action Alliance is thrilled to announce that our Project Delivery Partner, Coast 4C, has been named a finalist for the prestigious The Earthshot Prize! This recognition shines a spotlight on its groundbreaking work in regenerative seaweed farming and marine conservation in the Philippines. ? ? #Coast 4C's women-led initiatives are pioneering new approaches that link sustainable livelihoods with the enhancement of Marine Protected Areas (#MPAs). Its work is driving impactful change in poverty reduction, biodiversity conservation, and climate action. ?? This achievement wouldn't have been possible without the support of the UK Government, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. ?? During New York Climate Week, we celebrated this achievement alongside other ORRAA members at our Member Meeting hosted by Deutsche Bank. ? It’s a powerful reminder of what radical collaboration can achieve for our Ocean and climate-vulnerable coastal communities whose livelihoods depend on it. ?? A huge congratulations to Coast 4C on this well-deserved recognition! We look forward to seeing its continued impact on ocean health and community resilience. ? Here Coast 4C's CEO Nick Hill catches up with Rishi Bhattacharya. Learn more about Coast 4C's Earthshot Prize nomination: https://lnkd.in/gfWXeuju #EarthshotPrize #Coast4C #OceanResilience #ORRAA

?? A Special Message from H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco to all Ocean Risk and Resilience Action Alliance members! ?? During our recent ORRAA Member Meeting in New York, we had the honour of receiving a personal message from His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco, who has for years been a champion of Ocean conservation and protection to safeguard the future of our planet.? ?? While he couldn’t join us in person, he shared a powerful video with our members, highlighting his hope and priorities including the need to mobilise funding for the advancement of sustainable solutions.?? ? “Despite the constant wave of bad news, we continue to receive positive signals. This meeting, like all the initiatives led by the Ocean Risk and Resilience Action Alliance, is one of those signals...I stand with you alongside the blue economy and all its key players.” - H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco We are thankful for His Serene Highness’ continued support towards finding the solutions we need to promote and scale a regenerative and sustainable blue economy. Watch the video below to hear his inspiring words. ?? #ORRAAMemberMeeting2024 #ClimateWeekNYC #BuildingResilientCoastalCommunities?