Expertise France and Blue Economy

The “blue economy” approach developed by Expertise France is fully in line with the commitments of AFD Group, which recognises the ocean as a common space of life and development. The Group’s objective is to contribute to restoring the balance between the preservation of its good environmental status and its many uses by humanity.

Expertise France supports the vision of the European Union and the strategy of AFD Group which recognises the crucial role played by marine and coastal ecosystems for a sustainable future. Its strategy for the deployment of the blue economy is based on safeguarding the health of marine and coastal ecosystems as a foundation for the development of our societies.

The four pillars of Expertise France's action in the Blue Economy

A cross-cutting and inter-sectoral range of services

The cross-cutting and inter-sectoral nature of the blue economy requires the establishment of a governance adapted to marine and coastal areas. This ensures that public policies are coherent and that these issues are territorialised, from the supranational level to the local level, based on the principle of subsidiarity.

Expertise France has developed a range of services covering all aspects of the blue economy

Developing appropriate governance for marine and coastal areas

• Developing integrated and participatory governance

The blue economy promotes an integrated, multi-level and participatory governance of coastal and marine areas. At European level, several initiatives are working towards the development of an integrated planning of these areas. In 2014, the European Union adopted a Framework Directive on Marine Spatial Planning (FDMSP) which includes processes and tools, such as the planning of maritime areas and integrated coastal zone management.

Expertise France helps partner countries and institutions detect, investigate and prosecute maritime crimes and offences in their maritime areas (illegal fishing, pollution, trafficking, piracy…), especially by supporting regional and national maritime surveillance centres.

• Improving knowledge to promote the transition towards the blue economy

Converting the theoretical concept of the blue economy into public policies and development projects that address the specific issues of each territory is a real challenge. The development and mobilisation of new knowledge, as well as data collection and processing tools, must be central to approaches to the blue economy. It is essential to inform and convince all the stakeholders of the benefits of the blue economy, in order to trigger the political, financial and human commitments required for its implementation.

Expertise France assists partner countries and institutions with the implementation of knowledge production and management systems. In partnership with civil society, the agency also carries out awareness-raising activities among communities on marine issues.

Working for resilient and productive marine and coastal areas

• Restoring and protecting marine and coastal ecosystems

The regulation of economic activities is not sufficient to maintain and/or restore the good environmental status of ecosystems. Concrete action for restoration and protection is essential.

Expertise France contributes to the preservation of marine and coastal ecosystems through awareness-raising, networking, capacity building and by pooling the efforts of all public, private and civil society stakeholders. Through its projects, Expertise France supports the managers of marine protected areas and assists with the restoration of degraded and endangered coastal ecosystems, such as mangroves and coral reefs, through grants allocated to local associations and by training field operators

• Strengthening the socioeconomic resilience of coastal communities

The diversification of economic activities, the promotion of investment and entrepreneurship, as well as the professionalisation of the various economic sectors of the blue economy offer real employment opportunities for people and the empowerment of young people and women.

Expertise France assists its partner countries with the development of inclusive and sustainable production models. This includes the implementation of the circular economy in marine and coastal areas.