Blue finance in West Africa is starting to move from discussion to market preparation.
Last week in Abuja, at the Blue Economy Investment Summit, Titia Sjenitzer and I spoke about what it takes to mobilise sustainable ocean finance, with a focus on the frameworks, instruments, and institutional partnerships needed to make blue bonds possible in the region.
Beyond the stage, the real work happened in the margins. We met with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Nigeria, the DEBT MANAGEMENT OFFICE, NIGERIA, the NSIA: Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority, the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Development Bank of Nigeria, and Nexim Bank, among others, engaging the full spectrum of actors needed to support credible blue/green capital market development.
These conversations reinforce what we are seeing across West Africa: the appetite is there. What is needed now is the right technical architecture, the right enabling environment, and sustained commitment from institutions willing to lead.
Glad to be working with the Blue Bond Accelerator to help ensure this work is grounded in high standards and credible market practice.
A big thank you to our local partner, Gadfly Consult, especially Uche Igwe, Ph.D, Cedric Ogwu, and Philemon Ajeduko, for helping make these exchanges possible and brining their local expertise.
Congratulations, Princess Ronke Kosoko, for organizing the Summit.
More to come!
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This activity is part of the Blue Facility under WASOPâs Sustainable Blue Economy Pillar. It aims to support the development of a sustainable and inclusive #blueeconomy in #WestAfrica. Through technical assistance to regional organisations, and in complement to WASOP beneficiary countries, the Blue Facility contributes to: (i) establishing a regional institutional, regulatory, and financial framework conducive to the growth of the sustainable blue economy, and (ii) supporting sustainable blue economy operations across the region.
#WASOP, the West Africa Sustainable Ocean Programme, is a five-year EU-funded initiative with a budget of âŹ59 million. It is the EUâs flagship programme for ocean governance, sustainable blue economy development, and marine ecosystem protection in West Africa under the EU Global Gateway Africa strategy. The programme is structured around three pillars: ocean governance, sustainable blue economy, and ecosystem preservation.
Expertise France, Agence Française de Développement, European Commission 'Timi Agama Theodore Anthonioz Fabris C. Laure Kuhn Bruma BérengÚre Batiot Coach Régina BANDE TIENSBANDE Nana Skari Maidugu Okey Umeano Ocean Risk and Resilience Action Alliance Abba Bello Dabney Shall-Holma
Last week in Abuja, at the Blue Economy Investment Summit, Titia Sjenitzer and I spoke about what it takes to mobilise sustainable ocean finance, with a focus on the frameworks, instruments, and institutional partnerships needed to make blue bonds possible in the region.
Beyond the stage, the real work happened in the margins. We met with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Nigeria, the DEBT MANAGEMENT OFFICE, NIGERIA, the NSIA: Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority, the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Development Bank of Nigeria, and Nexim Bank, among others, engaging the full spectrum of actors needed to support credible blue/green capital market development.
These conversations reinforce what we are seeing across West Africa: the appetite is there. What is needed now is the right technical architecture, the right enabling environment, and sustained commitment from institutions willing to lead.
Glad to be working with the Blue Bond Accelerator to help ensure this work is grounded in high standards and credible market practice.
A big thank you to our local partner, Gadfly Consult, especially Uche Igwe, Ph.D, Cedric Ogwu, and Philemon Ajeduko, for helping make these exchanges possible and brining their local expertise.
Congratulations, Princess Ronke Kosoko, for organizing the Summit.
More to come!
----
This activity is part of the Blue Facility under WASOPâs Sustainable Blue Economy Pillar. It aims to support the development of a sustainable and inclusive #blueeconomy in #WestAfrica. Through technical assistance to regional organisations, and in complement to WASOP beneficiary countries, the Blue Facility contributes to: (i) establishing a regional institutional, regulatory, and financial framework conducive to the growth of the sustainable blue economy, and (ii) supporting sustainable blue economy operations across the region.
#WASOP, the West Africa Sustainable Ocean Programme, is a five-year EU-funded initiative with a budget of âŹ59 million. It is the EUâs flagship programme for ocean governance, sustainable blue economy development, and marine ecosystem protection in West Africa under the EU Global Gateway Africa strategy. The programme is structured around three pillars: ocean governance, sustainable blue economy, and ecosystem preservation.
Expertise France, Agence Française de Développement, European Commission 'Timi Agama Theodore Anthonioz Fabris C. Laure Kuhn Bruma BérengÚre Batiot Coach Régina BANDE TIENSBANDE Nana Skari Maidugu Okey Umeano Ocean Risk and Resilience Action Alliance Abba Bello Dabney Shall-Holma
