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The WASOP program is stepping up its support for the blue economy ahead of the Africa Forward Summit

Project Press Release

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Christophe Lecourtier (AFD), Françoise Lombard (Proparco), and Jérémie Pellet (Expertise France), alongside Serge Ekué, President of BOAD, and Henriette Geiger, EU Ambassador to Kenya, at the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the AFD Group

Turning commitments into high-impact investments: within the framework of the Global Gateway of the European Union, is mobilising large-scale financing and partnerships to accelerate the development of a sustainable blue economy — a key sector for advancing the socio-economic aspirations of Africa and Europe, and for strengthening food security and climate resilience.

WASOP – West Africa Sustainable Ocean Programme – is participating in the Africa Forward Summit (AFS) from 11 to 12 May 2026 in Nairobi (Kenya), alongside key partners: the Port Management Association of West and Central Africa (AGPAOC PMAWCA), the West African Development Bank (BOAD), and the European Union. This international event, held under the high patronage of the Presidents of the Republic of Kenya and the French Republic, brings together Heads of State and Government, international financial institutions, the African Union, high-level private sector representatives, businesses, civil society organisations and youth representatives.
In line with the Team Europe approach, funded by the European Union up to €59 million under the Global Gateway initiative, WASOP is a pioneering and ambitious initiative that combines coordinated ocean governance, sustainable blue economy and the protection of marine and coastal ecosystems in West Africa. It is integrated into the European Ocean Pact and aims to encourage public and private sector participation in the rapidly growing blue economy.

The prefiguration of a credit line from the AFD1 to the BOAD, aimed at supporting the regional bank’s climateocean ambition, to be accompanied by WASOP technical assistance to strengthen blue/ocean dimensions in this perspective.
A letter of intent between AFD, BOAD and Expertise France for WASOP will be signed at the Summit in the presence of the European Union.
 

The launch of the “Blue & Green Port Network” by PMAWCA, which aims to bring together a network of public and private stakeholders committed to the environmental transition of the port and maritime sector in West and Central Africa to support sustainable port partnerships and operations, with the technical support of WASOP.
A partnership agreement between Expertise France and PMAWCA will be signed at the Summit, in the presence of the European Union. This agreement will cover PMAWACA’s collaboration with the WASOP programme and the SCOPE Africa project on port security.
At the Africa Forward Summit, WASOP and its partners reaffirm a shared vision: to strengthen regional synergies to mobilise responsible and sustainable financing, catalyse private investment, accelerate the port transition towards greener and bluer port models, and enhance the competitiveness, resilience and sustainability of logistics and
maritime supply chains.

The Africa Forward Summit is a major opportunity to bring together public and private partners around a sustainable blue economy. With WASOP, we are supporting the transformation of potential into concrete, structured projects with measurable impacts for the coastal countries of West Africa.

Jérémie Pellet, Director general of Expertise France

As President of the IDFC, we have a duty to lead by example; “Djoliba La Suite” is precisely that: giving ourselves the means to achieve our climate and blue ambitions, by forging strategic alliances with our longstanding partners such as AFD, and more recent ones like WASOP, and by further mobilising the private sector with the right tools.

Serge Ekué, President of BOAD

The transition of ports towards greener and bluer models is a strategic lever for the competitiveness, security and resilience of our economies. By strengthening partnerships and sharing of best practices, we can accelerate the adoption of sustainable solutions for the benefit of the region.

Jean-Marie Koffi, Secretary-General of AGPAOC PMAWCA

The European Commission is committed alongside its partners, in a Team Europe approach, to financing infrastructure and high-impact projects under the Global Gateway initiative. Accelerating the sustainable blue economy in Africa means investing in sustainable value chains, a maritime transition driven by solutions compatible with climate and biodiversity objectives, in order to strengthen both the competitiveness and resilience of all stakeholders.

Henriette Geiger, EU Ambassador to Kenya

WASOP and its partners will participate in a side event on 11 May 2026 at 10:30 a.m. (local time) at the Agora Produce, entitled “Blue Economy — maritime sovereignty and sustainable resource development” which will present the ambitions and financing instruments of the EU and BOAD to develop a sustainable and competitive blue economy, as well as public-private partnerships in favour of an environmental transition of port and maritime activities.
For more information on the WASOP programme: visit the UE website

Contact

Laure KUHN BRUMA, Director of the WASOP Sustainable Blue Economy Project
laure.bruma@expertisefrance.fr | +238 590 78 55

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